Mary of Bethany

The bible records a famous story commonly known as the parable of the ‘Good Samaritan’. Who or what is a Samaritan and What makes them ‘good’? Is this simply a little do-good story? Or is there something much more powerful and profound meaning behind these words? Something that speaks directly to our increasingly polarised and fractured society? The key to understanding this story is only revealed when we understand the deep hatred that existed between many Jews and Samaritans. For the majority of Jews at that time there was no such thing as a ‘good’ Samaritan. They were seen by most Jews as ‘half-breeds’ and ‘dogs’. Therefore a ‘good’ Samaritan was a ridiculous statement. So why then does Jesus portrays a ‘bad’, ‘hated’, Samaritan as a ‘good’ person? Why does he portray him as much better in fact than the Jews who did not stop to help one of their own who was lying injured on the road? Sometimes we boil this story down to a simple do-good message and we fail to focus on who it is that does the ‘good’ which was actually the main point of Jesus story. This story is about love. Underneath the prejudice, hate, disagreements, arguments, ideologies, political persuasions, economic beliefs and everything else that divides us, we are called to love.

Scripture References: Luke 10:25-37

From Series: The One Who | More Messages from Bruce Domrow | Download Audio

From Series: "The One Who"

Single Series The Good Samaritan