The Real Neighbor Redefined & Radical Outreach
(The Parable of the Good Samaritan- Luke 10:25-37)
by: Sis. Andrea Ortega
Most of us love a good story, especially those that we can relate to or has details that are familiar to us. Back in the days of Jesus Christ, he frequently shared stories or illustrations that his listeners can easily relate to, usually from mere human circumstances or natural occurrences and drawing analogy or comparison from it in order to teach a spiritual lesson which is known as a parable. Jesus’ parables contain some of the most profound lessons that he taught, at the same time, they comprise some of his most easily understood lessons.
Let’s have an in-depth look at one of the parables and the lesson that Jesus taught in Luke 10: 25-37. Jesus was prompted to tell the parable of the good Samaritan when a certain lawyer (who, by the way is not how we understand lawyers today as someone who defends you in court, rather, “lawyers” back then are those experts of the Mosaic law; a religious man), came to Jesus and tested him (to see whether Jesus can explain the law correctly or say anything contrary to it, and see if he could gain any advantage against Him & expose Him & get credit for himself) by asking his follow-up question “Who is my neighbor?”.
For us who are living in the 21st century to understand a parable that was told about 2,000 years ago in a context and setting that are foreign to most of us, we need to have a closer look at some of tits elements. Let’s start with the location- the road to Jerusalem to Jericho. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho (about 18 miles) lay through desert and rocky places. It’s been nicknamed “The Bloody Way” since so many robberies and murders were committed there. The city of Jericho was situated in the valley: hence the phrase of going down to it. About 12,000 priests and Levites lived there, who all attended the service of the temple, thus these religious people frequently travel using this road.
Now, let’s get to know the characters of the parable, beginning with the man/ victim. Many scholars believe that most likely, he was also a Jew. This mans was travelling the Jerusalem- Jericho road where he was robbed, stripped off of his clothing, wounded, left on the road half-dead. He was a totally helpless man. In order to survive, he needs someone to help him. Next is the priest, also known in Greek as “hereus” meaning figuratively or literally a High Priest. No doubt this man was a very, very religious man and was the most likely candidate to show mercy to the half-dead man. But as the parable tells us, he did exactly the opposite, he went even as far as passing by on the other road. Then came the Levite, a descendant from the tribe of Levi who was charged with ministering to the priests and keeping watch over the tabernacle/ temple. Again another religious man! But how did he respond? He too, like the priest, passed by the other side and did absolutely nothing to help the man. Finally, the last character is the Samaritan.
At this point, it’s very vital for us to note that the Samaritans are enemies of the Jews and totally hated by them. They simply don’t associate and deal with each other. In fact, for the Jews, the word “Samaritan” is synonymous with “heretic” & the “devil”. That’s how deep the hatred of the Jews toward their half-brothers. With this in mind, we can easily say that out of the 3 travellers who saw the injured man, the Samaritan was the least likely to show mercy & compassion & extend help to the injured man. He could have said, “He’s my enemy, why should I bother to help him?”, but no, he saw beyond their difference, instead what his eyes clearly saw was a man in need and what filled his heart was mercy and compassion for the man. And that mercy and compassion moved him to do something with the man’s condition - he bandaged his wounds, poured wine (to cleanse) and oil (to soothe) his wounds, bandaged him, set him off on his own animal and took him to an inn, gave the innkeeper 2 denarii, told him to take care of him and that when he comes back, he’ll pay the extra expenses! Wow! That is radical outreach! It was radical enough that of all the people who saw the man, it was the enemy who had compassion and reached out to this man and went the extra mile just to see him well. That is the true neighbor.
The word “neighbor” came from the Greek “Plesion’, which means “someone who is near” or in the Hebrew language, it means “someone that you have an association with. That is how they defined neighbor in those days and this is the lawyer’ understanding and definition of neighbor before Jesus told him the parable and redefined the meaning of neighbor. Other than the popular question, “Who is my neighbor?”, Jesus, I feel, also addressed the following; “Who is not the real neighbor?”, “Who is the real neighbor?”, and “What does it mean to be a real neighbor?”
1. “Who is my neighbor?” - Anyone we encounter who is in need is our neighbor (Luke 10:30)
The only criterion that Jesus set on the parable is a person’s need, regardless who they are or what there background is, anybody we encounter who’s got a need that we saw and recognized is our neighbor.
2. “Who is not the real neighbor?” - Anybody who saw the need & did nothing about it even when you have the capacity to do something about it (Luke 10:31-32)
In order to define and clearly show who is a real neighbor to someone in need, Jesus had to first show first what a counterfeit neighbor looks like and these are those who saw the need & did absolutely nothing about it (Priest and Levite). It’s sad to note that these were those who claimed to love God and are expected to show kindness, yet they had excuses and simply closed to the need of the helpless neighbor. There is then a danger of having the form of religion yet denying the very things that count in the eyes of the Lord.
3. “Who Is the real neighbor?” – Anybody who saw the need and showed compassion by responding to the need appropriately (Luke 10:33-35)
When compassion fills one’s heart and that compassion moves that person to meet that need, that person is the real neighbor and such is commendable before the Lord.
4. “What does it mean to be a real neighbor?” – To be a real neighbor and to love our neighbor means reaching out radically Luke 10:34-35)
a. Radical outreach means going beyond our own prejudices & stereotypes (race, religion, etc.)
b. Radical outreach involve risks
c. Radical outreach entails sacrifices in terms of resources (finances, time, effort etc.)
d. Radical outreach is unconditional and unselfish
The Good Samaritan exemplified all these. He stepped outside his comfort zone and went the extra mile and in effect, revolutionized what it truly means to be a real neighbor – a neighbor that is pleasing in the eyes of God.
As we reflect on our own lives, how many times have we missed the opportunity to be a Good Samaritan to someone whose need God had brought to our attention when we did nothing about it and brushed it off altogether? Extending help to our neighbor who is in need is not easy. We need the love of God in our hearts and the power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to look beyond racial, cultural and personal preferences and prejudices. And that even includes difficult people or those that we consider as an enemy. Loving our neighbor may mean sacrifices on our part, yet because our hearts are filled with compassion and mercy we do something to meet that need. Perhaps it may mean sharing your lunch with an annoying co-worker, preparing a warm cup of tea for a stressed family member, providing a place of rest for the weary traveller, or a warm hug, a shoulder to cry on and a listening ear to a broken-hearted friend. Opportunities to help our neighbor abound round us. Let’s ask the Lord to open our eyes and fill our hearts with compassion and may our hands extend and express the love of Christ to the needy. And who knows, God might use that opportunity to bring a precious soul into His Kingdom. Let’s remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ in Matt. 25: 35-40:
35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give Youdrink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40And the King will answer and say to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”
The challenge for us now is to follow the example of the good Samaritan, or as Jesus puts it, “Go and do likewise!”
No comments:
Post a Comment