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THE PARABLE OF The Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37 (NIV) On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 25
He answered, “‘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, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?” 27
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 30
So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 32
The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 35
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” 36
The parable of the Good Samaritan is a clear example of the Christian imperative to not only love people without discrimination, but to exhibit this love in a practical, tangible way. This would have been a shocking story for
Jesus’ listeners. To the Jew, the Samaritan was a hated foreigner. Their neighbouring countries had often been at war and they despised each other. For Jesus to choose a Samaritan to reach out with love and kindness to this wounded Jewish man, when his own people had passed him by and failed to stop and help, was a radical call by Jesus to reach out across our prejudices and racial and cultural divides, and act with justice and compassion to all. “Who is my neighbour?” Jesus asked his listeners. Even those most unlike you, was his answer. At times, the plight of the asylum seeker might seem hopeless, but with God, there is always hope, even in the most difficult and perilous situation. Strangers in Australia 25% of Australians were born overseas and 43% of Australians have a parent who was born overseas 1. Some of these people migrated to Australia as refugees and asylum seekers. We have a great opportunity in Australia to share our wealth and resources, and be the welcoming, hospitable people of God that we are called to be. Hebrews 13:1-3 (NIV) Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. 3 Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
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When there is a stranger in our midst or we encounter a person who is suffering, there is an opportunity to provide hospitality and compassion.
How can you extend a hand of welcome and compassion to the stranger in your midst?
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