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. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. Luke 10:30-33
“The original impact of the parable of the good Samaritan is generally lost today. After centuries of good biblical public relations, our understanding of a Samaritan as a positive figure is almost a cultural given. But in the original setting, to a Jewish scribe a Samaritan would have been the exact opposite, a notorious “bad guy” and traitor. That’s an important emotive element to remember as we proceed through this parable.”
Darrell L Bock in Luke (IVPNTC; Downer’s Grove: IVP, 1994) 197.
As we look more closely at this parable, Bock helps us realize that the Samaritan would have been the last person to have pity and show care in the first century Jewish context.
He was a “bad guy” in that setting. But for Jesus, even a bad guy can find a good place in God’s story. That means there is hope for all of us.
Why must we remember this as we read this text (and as I prepare for my sermon)? Jesus cares not what status we hold in society, like priest or Levite.
He cares not what we say we believe or what accolades that people have given us.He wants us to act when there is a need regardless of what others are doing.
The Samaritan has been labeled by us “good” for about 2,000 years because he acted. How will you be labeled based on your actions?