The Teachings of Jesus: The Good Samaritan, Introduction

Luke 10:25-37 (NRSV)

Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

This is one of those teachings/parables of Jesus that has become so deeply ingrained that the very title of "Good Samaritan" is easily understood in the wider culture. We read sometimes in the news about Good Samaritan stories - often when one went either particularly well, or when one went particularly wrong.

We have "Good Samaritan" laws.

So it seems as if we have nothing left to learn from this story.

And yet, thankfully, it is one we return to time and again in the church.

We return to it because sometimes we need to be reminded.

Sometimes we need to remember.

And often we don't understand just who a Samaritan - be they good or bad - is.

And we need to ask ourselves over and over again, who the Samaritans in our lives are.

So, I'll spend the next several devotions unpacking it just a bit.

Lord, help me to see the outsiders in my life that I need to let in. Amen