Good Samaritans

[Randy Wise]

http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nbc-news/48711880/#48711880


The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 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?”
27 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’[c]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d]”
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 neighbor?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of 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. 32 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 traveled, 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, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins[e] 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.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor 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.”

[Ian Gentles]

Whats the question?

[Randy Wise]

Whats the question?

Who is my neighbor?

I thought is was a nice story so I wasn't asking a question.

Randy

[Ian Gentles]

Who is my neighbor?

I thought is was a nice story so I wasn't asking a question.

Randy

My neighbour is anyone.
Yes it was a good story, how humanity should be in helping others.

[Hans Deventer]

My neighbour is anyone.

I thought Jesus implied that my neighbour is the one I am a neighbour to?

[David Graham]

I thought Jesus implied that my neighbour is the one I am a neighbour to?

Or the one who "needs" you!

[Hans Deventer]

Or the one who "needs" you!

Do you think so? I thought the parable went differently. Jesus turns the question around:

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor 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.”

[David Graham]

Do you think so? I thought the parable went differently. Jesus turns the question around:

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor 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.”

That's what I was alluding to Hans..... the one who helped the man was a "real" neighbour to him.
So I was just taking it one step further and placing the initiative with each of us individually...... Hence: "Who needs us to help them?" We can be "real neighbours to them" if we respond the right way.
Cheers.....

[Hans Deventer]

That's what I was alluding to Hans..... the one who helped the man was a "real" neighbour to him.
So I was just taking it one step further and placing the initiative with each of us individually...... Hence: "Who needs us to help them?" We can be "real neighbours to them" if we respond the right way.
Cheers.....

Do you think that is the question that comes out of the parable? As I read it, it is totally obvious who the one is who needs our help. The issue, as I read it, seems to be who will be the one who becomes a neighbour to him.

The teacher of the law had the same question as you: who should I help? He probably thought that a neighbour should at least be a Jew, and certainly not a foreigner.

Jesus tries to reshape the question. The parable leaves no doubt about who it is that needs help, so I don't think that this question was in Jesus' mind. The parable revolves around the different responses that the priest, the levite and the Samaritan give.

If Jesus had kept the initial question as key, he would have had 3 different victims. But now there's only one but there are 3 people who could help. So in stead of wondering whom we should help, the question becomes, are we the people who help at all?

At least, that is how I've come to read the parable. Your mileage might vary :-)

[David Graham]

[

QUOTE=Hans Deventer;156441]Do you think that is the question that comes out of the parable? As I read it, it is totally obvious who the one is who needs our help. The issue, as I read it, seems to be who will be the one who becomes a neighbour to him.

You're right Hans in that in the parable it was quite apparent who needed help...... but life is not always that simple. Hurting people often manage to "hide" their hurt and just tough it out themselves. Likewise, there is so much need in our societies that it is easy to become conditioned to accepting it. At the same time it is easier to help those whith whom we have a "knship" or at least similar interests, but the parable takes this "commonality" away by putting in the frame those who deeply mistrusted or dispised each other.... the Jew and the Samaritan. In that situation Jesus at the very least was saying: "Oh come on have a heart.... the poor bloke is injured for heavens sake..... help him!!!"

The teacher of the law had the same question as you: who should I help? He probably thought that a neighbour should at least be a Jew, and certainly not a foreigner.

No that wasn't my question really Hans..... When I wrote "Who needs us to help them" I was referring to those who are in need around us...... I wasn't referring only to those who share "commonality" with us, but perhaps more in line with: "Who has the greatest need". The needs are many..... we should make ourselves available to help some; those rtight next door might be a good place to start..... but then they may not be the most "needy"..... but we need to start somewhere.

The parable revolves around the different responses that the priest, the levite and the Samaritan give.

Absolutely...... and only one was a neighbour of the man.

If Jesus had kept the initial question as key, he would have had 3 different victims.

Sorry Hans, I'm not sure what you mean here?

But now there's only one but there are 3 people who could help. So in stead of wondering whom we should help, the question becomes, are we the people who help at all?

Yes definately.

[Larry Parsons]

I thought Jesus implied that my neighbour is the one I am a neighbour to?

Are you saying it is only the people that we help our the one who become our neighbor? If you are then I think you are right. There may have time when Jesus was a poor Samaritans see ACTS 3:1-3 I wonder how many time Jesus pass up this begger without helping him. And how many other did he pass up without helping I say quit a few.
Thanks
Larry

[Hans Deventer]

Sorry Hans, I'm not sure what you mean here?

Well, if the issue would have been, who is my neighbour, there would have been several victims the teacher of the law could have helped, and the discussion would have revolved around the idea who exactly would be a neighbour, and who not. I think that is kind of what the teacher expected.
I hope this helps?