CHRISTLIKE IS SOMEONE LIKE THE GOOD SAMARITAN

So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:25-37

The parable of the Good Samaritan is a parable told by Jesus in Luke 10:25–37. It is about a traveler who is stripped of clothing, beaten, and left half dead alongside the road. First a priest and then a Levite comes by, but both avoid the man. Finally, a Samaritan happens upon the traveler. Samaritans and Jews generally despised each other, but the Samaritan helps the injured man. Jesus is described as telling the parable in response to the question from a lawyer, "And who is my neighbor?" whom Leviticus Lev 19:18 says should be loved. In response, Jesus tells the parable, the conclusion of which is that the neighbour figure in the parable is the man who shows mercy to the injured man—that is, the Samaritan.

Priest and Levite are mentioned here, partly because these were the persons who, from the nature of their office, were most obliged to perform works of mercy; and from whom a person in distress had a right to expect immediate succour and comfort; and their inhuman conduct here was a flat breach of the law.

Think of all the excuses that they could have used:


· “This road is too dangerous for me to stop and help the man.”

· “He might be a decoy for an ambush.”

· “I’ve got to get to the temple and perform my service for the Lord.”

· “I’ve got to get home and see my family.”

· “Someone really should help that man.”

· “If I’m going to serve at the temple I can’t get my clothes bloody.”

· “I don’t know first aid.”

· “It’s a hopeless case.”

· “I’m only one person; the job is too big.”

· “I can pray for him.”

· “He brought it on himself, he should have never been alone on such a dangerous road.”

· “He never asked for help”

But all of these are simply excuses.

 This doesn’t mean running after every need that might present itself. After all, the Samaritan didn’t establish a hospital for unfortunate travelers. But it does mean a concern for the ones plain before us, in both social and spiritual needs.

It is clear enough what it means to love God with all we are, though it is impossible to do completely. But there has been much confusion about what it means to love your neighbor as yourself. This doesn’t mean that we must love ourselves before we can love anyone else; it means that in the same way we take care of ourselves and are concerned about our own interests, we should take care and have concern for the interests of others.