2007-01-07 06:25:43 · 12 answers · asked by Micah 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
That everyone is our brother. We should not help others based on anything except the fact that they need help. This is my opinion.
2007-01-07 07:03:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It becomes evident by reading the whole chapter. It starts with a parable about not being able to slave for two masters. Then he points out to the Pharisees that God knows their hearts, and because they sneer is no reason to believe they are correct. Then he makes a couple of statements key to understanding the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, that the Law and the Prophets (which the Pharisees thought they were the authority on) were until John, and from John on, the Kingdom of God is the good news for salvation, and it is open for everyone. (the law was a contract God had with the Israelites, not with all people) Then he says something that seems out of place, about adultery, if you divorce your wife and marry another or if you marry a woman divorced, you commit adultery. Remember he was talking about the Pharisees and explaining their true standing before God, and consider that our personal relationship with God has been aptly compared with marriage, so any who go to any other God commits spiritual adultery. The parable then becomes clear. Each of the men represented a class of people, and the rich man is the class of persons like the Pharisees who are in the spotlight, at center stage of the religious activities pretending to be the ones who know, and the Lazarus class represents the ones who are poor spiritually because they do not have the true shepherd, but rely on the scraps from the rich man's table to supply them with crumbs of the truth that they are searching for. The dying is not a literal death of individuals here, and that gets obvious from the fact that when a person dies, he neither knows nor sees anything. This was well known by the Jews then. And even if the Dante version were true about hades, it is inconceivable that it would be an arrangement by a loving God to make hell visible from heaven. So, this death means a change in condition that occurred between the Pharisees, head of the Jewish religion, and the followers of Jesus. It soon became obvious that God approved Jesus' followers, and condemned the Pharisees. In the parable, Abraham represents the relationship with God, as Abraham means "father of a multitude" and was called the father of our faith and it was to him the promises were given for all that those of the true religion seek, and Lazarus was in the bosom position with him. So, Abraham represents favor with God. The rest is self explanatory, but notice that the rich man asked Abraham to send someone to his five brothers. That's like the amount of main categories of false religions.
2016-05-23 03:46:06 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The most important thing that we learn from Jesus' parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) is the definition of the word "neighbour" (plesion, in the Greek).
In this parable, a man (presumably a Jew) from Jerusalem is beaten, robbed, and left for dead. He is not only overlooked by a priest, but also by a Levite. Both of which were more concerned about the Law, which states that any man who touches a corpse is "unclean" for 7 days (Numbers 19). This would mean that had the man died in their presence, they would have been unable to fulfill their religious duties at the temple until they had undergone a 1 week purification process!
The irony is that the Jews didn't associate with Samaritans at all. In fact, they held them in great contempt; so it was an extreme act of kindness for the Samaritan man to give his time, oil, wine, and 2 days wages to care for this dying man, whom he didn't even know.
Jesus bucked tradition by saying that we should love everyone, INCLUDING our enemies.
Matthew 5: "43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;...
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?"
He says essentially: If you only love people who love you, how much better are you than a despised tax collector? What good do you get out of that? Even THEY take care of their own friends.
So most importantly, this parable urges us to expand our definition of "neighbour" beyond just friends and people of our own race, nationality, or religion, but to look at all of mankind as our "family" in Christ.
GOD Bless!
2007-01-07 07:47:05 · answer #3 · answered by suavissimo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We learn to help others even if we dont like them and to love everyone
God Bless
2007-01-07 06:30:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
it doesn't matter who you are, good works get you to heaven.
the jewish people disliked the samaritans at that time.
2007-01-07 06:31:17 · answer #5 · answered by Ambiguity 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The most important one of all-unconditional tolerance and compassion for others.
2007-01-07 06:28:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Obviously all the fundies have learnt nothing at all from it. They still believe in hate and intolerance.
2007-01-07 06:29:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
We must treat everyone with respect. We must not judge a person by their looks, or by how much money they may or may not have.
2007-01-07 06:32:33 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Always do what is right because God is watching.
Love thy enemies too.
Peace.
2007-01-07 06:45:54 · answer #9 · answered by elibw 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do what is right, not what is wrong.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
2007-01-07 06:28:16 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋