Study Guide - Changing the World God's Way - Week 10
Introduction
The parable (a story, real or made-up, told to illustrate a point) of the Good Samaritan is one of the most well-known and loved parables Jesus told. It is possibly a real account that Jesus used to make a point, or a story Jesus created to make the point. In studying or reading the Bible and what Jesus said, it is important to understand the context of what is going on. It is interesting to note that Jesus responds to the lawyer's (expert in the Jewish religious law) first question with another question and responds to the second question with telling a story. This is a masterful technique that leads a person to discover the answer for themselves. Finally, Jesus asks the expert in the law a question that effectively forces the lawyer to give the correct answer and convict himself.
Do not miss the fact that Jesus re-frames the question. The expert in the law asked, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus re-frames it to, "Who was the neighbor to the man 'in need'?" This puts the burden on us to be the neighbor to the person in need.
Background Information
Luke is the only gospel writer who includes this powerful parable in the account of all that Jesus taught and did. The expert in the law or lawyer was an expert in Jewish religious law. His question, “How one can inherit eternal life?” is perhaps the most important question of life. This question was asked of Jesus on many occasions (Matthew 19:16-22; Mark 12:28-34; Luke 18:18-23). The lawyer correctly answers Jesus reciting Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse 5 and Leviticus chapter 19 verse 18. He thus knows what the scripture says, but the key issue from Jesus’ point of view is applying the scripture. The lawyer then seeks to excuse himself for not loving all people perfectly by questioning who is his neighbor. His goal undoubtedly is to show that not all people are his neighbor, especially people he does not like (Geldenhuys). Jesus then tells the parable of the Good Samaritan.
The road from Jericho to Jerusalem was a dangerous road where many robbers would attack travelers. Samaritans were a mixed race. They were half Jewish and half Babylonian. The Jews of that time looked down on the Samaritans as half-breeds and had nothing to do with them. Here in this story a Jewish man is attacked by robbers and beaten and left to die. Ironically, the one who helps him is a Samaritan. Thus the Samaritan becomes a neighbor to the Jewish man in need. The priest and the Levite, who are both Jewish, do not stop to help the dying Jewish man. Instead they pass by on the other side of the road. The priest and the Levite were both religious workers in the Jewish temple. If they touched a dead body they would become ceremonially unclean and unable to perform their religious duties in the temple. They thus put religious duties higher than helping those in need. Jesus finishes the parable with a challenge and a command to us all: Go and do likewise!
Key Points
God's expectation is that we will live a life of love to God and others.
Behave as a neighbor to those who need love and help no matter what their nationality or condition.
True religion is love in action towards those in need.
Digging Deeper Questions
1. Have several people in the group tell the story in their own words.
2. Why do people sometimes not take the time to show love in practical ways to others? Give some examples from your own life.
3. What is the context in which Jesus told this story? Read verses 25-29. What question does the lawyer ask Jesus? How would people answer that question today? What answer does the lawyer give? How does Jesus respond?
4. Why do you think the priest and the Levite did not help the man who had been robbed and beaten? Why did the Samaritan help?
5. What does it mean to be a neighbor to other people? Who are you neighbor to?
6. What is the teaching of this parable?
7. Discuss your application from these verses.
This Week’s Challenge
Be a neighbor to people in need you come across this week.