547th Post Jesus Said Concerning Parables Con't. - Parable of the Good Samaritan Con't. - Luke 10: 30 - 37 Con't. 8th Post.

Parable of the Good Samaritan Continued - 8th Post.
The story continues with the Samaritan showing up and having compassion on the victim tends to his wounds and takes him to an inn, for further care.  Jesus used a Samaritan to further make His point.  Jews believed the Samaritans to be the least of men even though they were part Jewish.  There in lies the problem.  Jews prized the fact that they could trace their Jewish roots down both sides of their family tree.  Jews believed that they were the "Chosen People of God", and because of this enjoyed a higher place with God than other people.  The Jews were indeed chosen by God, but they were not to look on themselves as better, just different.  This is why God requires them to dress a certain way, eat and to act and treat others a certain way.  God taught that their neighbor was all people, they were to treat all people as they would like to be treated.  The Samaritan in Jesus' story, not only treated the man's wounds, but took him with him to a place of protection, and continued to take care of this man. Its like Jesus anticipated our next question, how much assistance are we required to give to our neighbor.  This like most of Jesus' other teachings are very hard to do, to God's level of commitment. Continued next post. 

546th Post Jesus Said Concerning Parables Con't. - Parable of the Good Samaritan Con't. - 7th Post Luke 10: 30 - 37.

Then the lawyer continues his test of Jesus by asking "Who is my neighbor?"  Then Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan.  The lawyer, by answering Jesus' question concerning the Scriptures, tells us that the lawyer already knew who his neighbor was, and how he was to act towards him.  Now this shows Jesus' ability to observe a situation and get to the heart of the problem.  There was a disconnect between the educated people and the common people.  This disconnect can happen in our churches even today, if we are not careful.  In Jesus time, the educated people looked down on the common people as being sinful and not on the same level as they are.  Jesus showed this by the way the priest and the Levite treated the poor man they met on the road.  Jesus did not tell us how rich the poor traveler was before he met the robbers.  He could have been a man of means like the educated people that could not recognize him and then treated him as a commoner.  The fact that these two were the educated Religious Leaders, made this disconnect all the more obvious.  Jews were called on in their Scriptures to show compassion towards all people, as illustrated in the She'ma Law, that the lawyer recited perfectly.  Jews knew the law, but chose to obey it according to their own understanding.  This is not just a problem for these Jews, but for us as well.  We are required to do everything, not just that, that we are comfortable with.  Continued next post.     

545th Post Jesus Said Concerning Parables Con't. - Parable of the Good Samaritan 6th Post - Luke 10:30 - 37 Con't.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan Continued 6th Post. Luke 10: 30 - 37.
We have introduced the people in the story and told you something about them to help you to understand this parable.  Now we are going to look at who asked the question that caused Jesus to tell this story.  The story starts at Luke 10: 25.  When you turn in your Bible to this verse it says that a lawyer stood up and put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"  This account makes sure you understand that the person asking the question is a lawyer.  This is a man who makes his living working in the world, and not a Religious leader.  This man knows the Scriptures, as explained by his answer to Jesus' question to him in verse 26. "What is written in the Law?  How do you read it?" And 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."  This is the She'ma law passed down from Moses that all Jews were to teach their children.  This was commanded to be written on their gate posts, door posts, on their heads and at their fingertips.  This lawyer by answering Jesus in this way, showed that he was a believer in the law.  I have run out of space again and will continue next post.