Written by Lesallan – September 2, 2023
The parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the most well-known and beloved stories in the Bible. It tells the story of a man who was robbed, beaten, and left for dead on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho, and how he was helped by a Samaritan, a despised outsider, while a priest and a Levite, respected insiders, passed by without showing any compassion. Jesus tells the story in response to a lawyer who asked him, “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29, ESV).
The story has many layers of meaning and relevance for today’s world. In this blog post, I will explore some of the insights that can be gained from interpreting the parable in its literary, canonical, and historical context, and applying it to contemporary issues.
Literary Context
The parable of the Good Samaritan is part of a larger narrative that begins in Luke 9:51 (ESV), where Jesus sets his face to go to Jerusalem. Along the way, he encounters various people who either follow him or reject him, and he teaches his disciples about the cost and the reward of discipleship. The parable is also part of a smaller unit that includes the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42), where Jesus commends Mary for choosing “the good portion” (Luke 10:42, ESV), that is, listening to his word.
The literary context helps us to see that the parable is not just a moral lesson about being kind to strangers, but also a theological lesson about what it means to love God and to love one’s neighbor. The lawyer who asked Jesus the question was not sincere, but was trying to test him and justify himself (Luke 10:25, 29, ESV). He knew the answer to his own question, which was to quote the two greatest commandments from the Law: to love God with all one’s being and to love one’s neighbor as oneself (Luke 10:27; cf. Deut. 6:5; Lev. 19:18, ESV). But he did not understand the implications of these commandments, nor did he practice them in his life.
Jesus answered him with a question of his own: “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” (Luke 10:26, ESV). This question challenged the lawyer to examine his own interpretation and application of the Law, which was not in line with God’s will and purpose. Jesus then told him the parable, which illustrated what it means to love God and to love one’s neighbor in a radical way. The parable showed that one’s neighbor is not limited by ethnic, religious, or social boundaries, but includes anyone who is in need of mercy and compassion. The parable also showed that loving one’s neighbor is not just a matter of feeling or saying, but of doing and acting. The Samaritan did not just pity the wounded man, but he cared for him practically and generously. He used his own resources and time to bandage his wounds, pour oil and wine on them, put him on his own animal, bring him to an inn, and pay for his expenses. He also promised to come back and check on him (Luke 10:33-35, ESV).
The parable ended with another question from Jesus: “Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” (Luke 10:36, ESV). The lawyer could not deny the obvious answer, but he could not bring himself to say the word “Samaritan”. He said instead, “The one who showed him mercy” (Luke 10:37, ESV). Jesus then told him, “You go, and do likewise” (Luke 10:37, ESV). This was not just a command, but an invitation. Jesus invited the lawyer to follow his example of loving God and loving one’s neighbor, which he demonstrated in his own life and ministry. Jesus was the ultimate Good Samaritan, who came to seek and save the lost, who healed the sick and forgave the sinners, who died for his enemies and rose again for his friends. Jesus showed us what it means to love God with all our being and to love our neighbor as ourselves.
~Lesallan – September 2, 2023
