“Good Samaritan” a charitable or helpful person (with reference to Luke 10:33).
Does “Good Samaritan” have application in our lives today? If so, how?
online dictionary: noun
1 (usu. good Samaritan) a charitable or helpful person (with reference to Luke 10:33).
2 a member of a people inhabiting Samaria in biblical times, or of the modern community in the region of Nablus claiming descent from them, adhering to a form of Judaism accepting only its own ancient version of the Pentateuch as Scripture.
3 the dialect of Aramaic formerly spoken in Samaria.
ORIGIN from late Latin Samaritanus, from Greek Samareitēs, from Samareia ‘Samaria.’ The New Testament parable of the Good Samaritan reflects a proverbial hostility between Jews and Samaritans.
As stated “the Good Samaritan reflects a proverbial hostility between Jews and Samaritans.” Does this affect us in today’s society in anyway when we reach out in a charitable way to be helpful?
The Good Samaritan as found in Luke 10:25-37 CEV
“An expert in the Law of Moses stood up and asked Jesus a question to see what he would say. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to have eternal life?” Jesus answered, “What is written in the Scriptures? How do you understand them?”
The man replied, “The Scriptures say, `Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.’ They also say, `Love your neighbors as much as you love yourself.’ ”
Jesus said, “You have given the right answer. If you do this, you will have eternal life.”
But the man wanted to show that he knew what he was talking about. So he asked Jesus, “Who are my neighbors?”
Jesus replied:
“As a man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, robbers attacked him and grabbed everything he had. They beat him up and ran off, leaving him half dead.
A priest happened to be going down the same road. But when he saw the man, he walked by on the other side. Later a temple helper came to the same place. But when he saw the man who had been beaten up, he also went by on the other side. A man from Samaria then came traveling along that road. When he saw the man, he felt sorry for him and went over to him. He treated his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put him on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next morning he gave the innkeeper two silver coins and said, “Please take care of the man. If you spend more than this on him, I will pay you when I return.” Then Jesus asked, “Which one of these three people was a real neighbor to the man who was beaten up by robbers?”
The teacher answered, “The one who showed pity.”
Jesus said, “Go and do the same!”
thedailylily.com 
“The Daily Lily’s Latest Loan to Kiva” and “Samaritans Purse Packing Photos” blogs by Sara from this April describe projects that TheDaily Lily.com is involved with. I think these explain/display application in our lives today of Good Samaritin acts. We may not be there to physically locate, bandage and care for poor, wounded, hurting people. But we can work, give and contribute our resources of time, materials, money and energy to support projects of organizations that can locate those (from differing people, races and cultures) throughout the world in need and come to their assistance.
With so many needs and pleas for contributions and donations and volunteering and participation, it is sometimes difficult to know which ones to “do likewise” to. I sometimes feel guilty throwing a petitioning letter for feeding the homeless or a donation envelope that begs for contributions for the poor, especially when I have contributed to them before and now they send regular letters of petition for funds. Are we to clothe and feed everyone who asks or requests or pleads or hounds us about it? How are we to know?
The “teacher” could answer, Ask the Holy Spirit which ones HE would have us to participate in. Of course we cannot help all the myriads of people and organizations who ask for help, but we CAN ask the Holy Spirit to direct us to the ones He has prepared for us to be involved with and He will be faithful and just to show us, if we will listen. Sometimes we are moved with compassion, like the good Samaritan. That’s good. We are to be compassionate and move on that. But kindness costs nothing but a little effort on our parts and when we have it to give, God Compels us to give, reach out, donate, participate, volunteer where & when He says it. then you will know you are in the will of GOD.
We not only can do by giving and acts of kindness with our hands, we can pray. There are so many physical, emotional, spiritual needs of the people that need attention and well doing. One that has particulary struck me lately is the need for prayer. In any Samaritan act there is a helping and coming alongside that person and seeing that they are on there feet again. In prayer we take that person to the Father consistantly and with fervor praying as the Holy Spirit places it upon our hearts – sometimes non-stop, other times through out the day. We keep praying until the Holy Spirit puts our hearts at rest and the situation in that person’s life is resolved, and they are walking in the victory with Jesus Christ.
Thinking more on this ‘proverbial hostility’, I read in James 2:1 where Jesus teaches us not to show favoritism…don’t treat the rich better than the poor. He says you can’t ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ and show favoritism (unfair treatment of a person or group on the basis of prejudice). The two don’t mix. Hostility and prejudice seem closely related to me…like prejudice being a breeding ground for hostility.
The Good Samaratin obviously put aside any prejudices…either towards a poor (the robbers took all he had)man or a man of another religion, and ministered the love of the Lord.
Jesus has more to say about being prejudice toward the ‘poor’.
James 2: 5″Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? “
The man replied, “The Scriptures say, `Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.’ They also say, `Love your neighbors as much as you love yourself.’ ”
What about loving your neighbor as yourself?
One way to measure this love and your actions toward your neighbor might be by these scriptures.
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matt 7:12
Debi, I read the scripture you shared in Luke chapter 6, and as I continued to read on down through verse 36, I sure got enlightened!!! I’d like to share those verses here…32-38, read with me… “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return. Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.”
Let me reiterate…”love your enemies” “for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked” “your Father is compassionate”.
What do you think about these verses? It sure seems to me, that those robbers that attacked the man going to Jericho, could be considered his enemies/ wicked? Maybe even the priest? and temple helper?
Sara,
You asked, “what about loving your neighbor as yourself?” After reading the above scriptures, I guess another way to love your neighbor…..be compassionate?? (like the man from Samaria)
Needles, I agree with you that all three could have been his enemies. If so, they didn’t live up to the scriptures you shared above.
And if the Good Samaritin and the beaten and robbed man were enemies, I wonder if the Good Samaritin was ever repaid by him or if ‘his reward in heaven was great’ like you read above because he never got repaid on earth?
One of the points that Jesus was making, I believe, is that the Samaritans and the Jews Were enemies. Thay had little, if anything, to do with one another. Ephraim is not mentioned in the tribes at the final book only Manasses & Joseph. In the book of John when Jesus was actually talking with the Samaitan woman at the well, the apostles and disciples were astonished that He spoke with her, not only because she was a woman but a Samaritan. She was even astonished. John 4:9 says , to the effect, that the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
When Jesus healed the ten lepers He marveled that only one came back to thank Him and this one was a Samaritan.
What Jesus is teaching in the the parable of the Good Samaritan is that that The SAMARITAN was considered the enemy of the Jericho man but that did not make a bit of difference to the Samaritan. Compassion overtook him. His ‘pocketbook’ did not influence him. His work schedule did not dictate concerning the time taken to stop, minister, and return to check out his “patient”…his neighbor.
His was a compassionate work which sees no color, race, tribal affiliation, religious bent, gender, age. It is a component of the Fruit of the Spirit.
I am thinking we are instructed to love everyone regardless of race, color or creed. If you notice in our blog definition “parable of the Good Samaritan reflects a proverbial hostility between Jews and Samaritans.” This may cause us to pause and think about wars and prisoners of wars. Most of us may not have any say about the overall wars and its many facets that happens daily. But, we can control ourselves and learn God’s way for how we treat others that may be citizens from other nations, our own nation as well as other religions. God created all peoples in His image and likeness. I think some believe God loves just them and their families. Haheha, Psalm 2:4 “The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.” Psalm 37:13…but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.”
Needles asked? “What do you think about these verses? It sure seems to me, that those robbers that attacked the man going to Jericho could be considered his enemies/ wicked? Maybe even the priest? and temple helper? ” They are enemies of God and wicked if they past by a helpless man because of race. They call themselves citizens of the ‘Eternal Kingdom’ but show they are not. Now the problem here is, “where does that leave me? What does these scriptures reveal about the ones that just read them and then looks in the mirror to comb their hair and off to work and then mistreats another? And, from the way I read this, mistreating means ignores…. Help me O Lord, I pray. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, I pray.
Could it be that if “believe God loves just them and their families” as Sara writes above that we are so blinded to ‘outsiders’ that we ignore them and aren’t even aware that we are ignoring them? And that when we do ignore them, we are ignoring Jesus but thinking we are loving and serving Jesus?
As I read Matthew 25:31-46 I thought Jesus may be painting a picture of mistreatment/ignoring vs the Good Samaritin’s paying attention to and caring for and showing us the results of both behaviors.
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Maybe some of God’s children think that they have to go way out into some foreign fields afar to do their good deeds. But Jesus said…..YOUR NEIGHBOR. That could be the guy next door or the classmate sitting next to you in class. Some of us have illusions of grandeur of the great work we will do for the Lord when our ship comes in: give to the needy; feed the hungry; clothe the naked; build an orphanage; build a church. And maybe God willing some of us will be able to do that. But in the meantime, Jesus said to love your neighbor. Don’t be resentful of their success but be gracious in all things. God’s lovingkindness is to be emulated and followed as the way, the truth and the life. Even a kind word to a brother or sister, or the clerk behind the counter can show the kindess of our God. Sometimes, when we are ‘full of our anointing” we tend to overlook the mundane and trivial minutiae of this world as unimportant. Jesus said, as you do to the LEAST of these, you do to ME.
The “Good Samaritan” is such a beautiful story of love and compassion upon “two” neighbors. Neighbors that the world calls enemies. Neighbors that God calls brothers. Compassion, kindness and acts of love beyond measure. Love your neighbor. Help your neighbor. Show compassion to your neighbor. MATTHEW 19:18 “….. And Jesus relied: “You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not testify falsely. 19 Honor your father and mother. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”
LEVITICUS 19:18 ” Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, BUT LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. I am the LORD.”
DEUTERONOMY 6:5 “AND YOU MUST LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, ALL YOUR SOUL, AND ALL YOUR STRENGTH.”
Jesus walked on this earth to teach and show us how to handle every situation we will face. If we are in the wilderness, exhaused, hungry and thirsty and we are being tempted by satan… What did Jesus do??? Matthew 4: 1-11. We may be dealing those who are persecuting us… What did Jesus teach???? Matthew 5:43-48. Jesus is the GREAT SAMARITAN!!!!! He could have walked on the other side of the road avoiding the cross. He could have left us in the road beaten and wounded by sin robbed by Satan. He showed us love and compassion. He carried that cross, shed His blood and healed our beaten bodies. He loves all His neighbors.. Thank you Jesus!!
Glad to see you back on task Chickenfarmer. When one see your smiling loving compassion face shining and your written words of grace mapping the way to Golgotha happiness ensues. Why? Because a team member and a part of the Body of Christ using the gift God has given them is active and making the body healthy and whole.
The Lilies reach out and touch you, chickenfarmer, in prayer for you, your husband, children, family and community as a part of the Body of Christ and and loving and caring friend.
Your comment above inspires all of us to keep our eyes on Jesus, the Great Good Samaritan.
Wendy, when we all work together as a team and in unity with one another it really really really does make our daily duties a little easier. Maybe a lot easier. Keep your eyes on Jesus and watch Him help you carry your busy load each day with easy. “”For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:30 And, don’t forget ‘your joy will be full.” John 17
It’s good to get up this am and see your lily blooming in the garden chickenfarmer. I too say amen to Sara’s prayer for you.
Your comment, “He could have left us in the road beaten and wounded by sin robbed by Satan” made me think of one of our favorite choruses to sing:
“He poured in the oil and the wine
The kind that restoreth my soul;
He found me bleeding and dying on the Jericho road
And He poured in the oil and the wine.”
And then a following chorus for Sara’s scripture ‘your joy will be full’…
“Break forth into joy oh my soul;
Break forth into joy Oh my soul!
In the presence of the Lord
There is joy forevermore;
Break forth, break forth into joy oh my soul!
In his latest newsletter Norvel Hayes writes, not serendipitously I am sure, about LOVE and the LOVE of GOD and GOD’S LOVE. He, too, reiterates the two great commandments from Jesus about loving the Lord God with all our hearts and all our minds and all our strength and then loving our neighbor as ourselves. Norvel says, “If Jesus told us to do it—we can do it!” But in order to love our neighbor as ourselves we first have to first love God. Then we can do the second.
Now the following is interestingly put….”If you love God you will worship Him. If you won’t worship God, you can love HIM with your own version of love, but it won’t bring Heaven’s dividends to you. You’re loving God “at a distance’. You love Him with YOUR OWN VERSION OF LOVE. Your version doesn’t count. He won’t approve of your own version of love. He only approves of what Jesus told us to do. And Jesus told us to love the Lord God with all our hearts and souls and minds and in Spirit and in Truth. If we do that, then the Love of God which is shed abroad in our hearts by Holy Spirit will reach out and love our neighbor. We can’t do it. We have to let the love of our God within our spirits, love others. It will be the first part of the Fruit mentioned in Galatians….then the fruit of the Spirit is…LOVE.
In Isaiah 44, God is lamenting through the prophet how His chosen have treated Him. How they do not LOVE Him, anymore. God is speaking of how, even though His people have eyes, they do not see; ears but do not hear and brains, but are acting stupidly. He gives this narration through Isaiah…’.man chops down a large tree in the forest and divides it. Part of it he makes into firewood and bakes his bread. Part of it he uses to make a fire of warmth for a cool evening. And what is leftover of the tree, he designs a no-god, carefully tracing and drawing the figure of a man or woman and cutting it out and then nailing it down firmly so it won’t topple over. Then he worships it and says, ‘you’re my god. Save me. ‘ God cries out, “this lover of emptiness, of nothing, is so out of touch with reality, so far gone, that he/she can’t even look at what or understand what they are really doing….worshiping this stick of wood and saying to one’s fellow….this is good, this is fun, this is god.”
They do not even see are so self-deceived that they have left the REAL GOD and have set other idols before themselves and are entertained and detained and retained and supposedly maintained by this or these no-god, nothing, tin and wooden and fleshly images.
Jesus says, I came that you might have life, and life abundantly. Aside from Me there is no god. That’s the truth. Away from, aside from, Jesus, everything else is NO-GOD! Some of us do not even recognize that we have LEFT God and have substituted a “stick of wood, a stick of flesh, a stick of tin for the One True God. They do not see the difference.
But Jesus has come to deliver us from deceitfulness, lies, oppression, depression and all the other things that make us go looking for stick figures to worship. “Let them all come to ME”, says the Lord.
WHOA! This comment from Norvel Hayes will awaken you fast…”but it won’t bring Heaven’s dividends to you.” Well, what dividends does it bring?
The dividends as I read them in the Scriptures concerning those who worhip only with lip service or for a show seem to be, or not taking time to give honor to God…Micah 6…you shall eat but not be satisfied; you shall sow but not reap; you shall press grapes for wine but not drink. Leviticus 26:19 …and I will break your pride; and I will make the Heavens as brass to you, not answering your prayers, no blessings, no rain, your earth sterile as brass.”
It looks like the stingy person who doesn’t give of himself/herself to worship of the Lord God Almighty inherits the wind. God is worthy of our worhsip but He also knows that when we worship Him it is for our benefit. God is complete within Himself but it is for us, for our spiritual integrity that He wishes us to worship Him, show Him our love and devotion and bring down strongholds over our lives by our worshiping of the Great God Jehovah.
Heaven’s dividends are healing, deliverance, eternal salvation, stability, integrity and fellowship with the God of the univers and His children.