Even many non-Christians know about the Good Samaritan
Author: A.S Mathew
Category: Popular Read
Publish Date: Nov 23, 2011
Views: 25513
Both the disciples and the religious scholars threw questions at Jesus in a critical manner, so Jesus had to retort in the same tone. We read about the Samaritans in 2 King 17.
The Jews despised the Samaritans since they were a mixed race. When the Assyrians took control of Samaria, many were driven out and many other people were migrated to Samaria So, the Samaritans were forced to mix with many different eithnic population and became a mixed race.
Both the Jews and the Samaritans had the same God to worship, but they were worshipping in two different mountains. The Samaritan-Jews worship issue was identical to the black-white segregation which I felt more than four decades back. Jesus had a special love for the Samaritans. One day, He took a different route to talk with the Samaritan woman at the well. Among the 10 lepers healed, only the Samaritan followed Jesus.
Among the gospels, only Dr. Luke's gospel has this story (Luke 10.20). Certain lawyer tested Jesus asking Him "what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" The answer was very simple " you shall love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself". Plainly speaking, Jesus said it very openly that the lawyer must have a vertical relationship with God and an horizontal with his neighbour to attain eternal life.
The next question from the lawyer was to get a clear definition of a neighbour, so Jesus opened an entirely new chapter.In this Samaritan drama, we can observe the human nature in its extreme nature. The robbers. Whatever I have is mine but I will take anything you have by force.
The Priest and Levite: Both of them were ordained religious folks with colorful dress, and they were in a hurry to conduct the service at the Temple. It didn't bother them to extend any help to the half-dead person. We can witness this attitude in the religious world today. Their attitude was, whatever you have is yours and whatever I have is mine. I will not be bothered,whether you are dying or living.
The Samaritan: He felt compassion-bandaged his wounds-poured oil and wine-set him on his riding animal-brought him to an inn and took care of him. He spent that night with him, paid the inn charges, and promised the inn keeper to pay any balance owe. The outcome of a compassionate heart will produce those results The Samaritan took physical pains in cleaning his wounds, sacrificed his pleasure by walking with his animal, sacrificed his time-pleasure and money for a total stranger.
A. How many times we extend a hand of help to total strangers stranded in a strange place? God expects us to put our love in real action, but many are very happy only to pray for the suffering person, which costs nothing in reality. We must pray for others, but when we have an opportunity to sacrifice for them in any manner possible, we are commanded to do by our Lord Jesus. Then only we are certified by heaven as "good neighbour".
The Jews despised the Samaritans since they were a mixed race. When the Assyrians took control of Samaria, many were driven out and many other people were migrated to Samaria So, the Samaritans were forced to mix with many different eithnic population and became a mixed race.
Both the Jews and the Samaritans had the same God to worship, but they were worshipping in two different mountains. The Samaritan-Jews worship issue was identical to the black-white segregation which I felt more than four decades back. Jesus had a special love for the Samaritans. One day, He took a different route to talk with the Samaritan woman at the well. Among the 10 lepers healed, only the Samaritan followed Jesus.
Among the gospels, only Dr. Luke's gospel has this story (Luke 10.20). Certain lawyer tested Jesus asking Him "what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" The answer was very simple " you shall love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself". Plainly speaking, Jesus said it very openly that the lawyer must have a vertical relationship with God and an horizontal with his neighbour to attain eternal life.
The next question from the lawyer was to get a clear definition of a neighbour, so Jesus opened an entirely new chapter.In this Samaritan drama, we can observe the human nature in its extreme nature. The robbers. Whatever I have is mine but I will take anything you have by force.
The Priest and Levite: Both of them were ordained religious folks with colorful dress, and they were in a hurry to conduct the service at the Temple. It didn't bother them to extend any help to the half-dead person. We can witness this attitude in the religious world today. Their attitude was, whatever you have is yours and whatever I have is mine. I will not be bothered,whether you are dying or living.
The Samaritan: He felt compassion-bandaged his wounds-poured oil and wine-set him on his riding animal-brought him to an inn and took care of him. He spent that night with him, paid the inn charges, and promised the inn keeper to pay any balance owe. The outcome of a compassionate heart will produce those results The Samaritan took physical pains in cleaning his wounds, sacrificed his pleasure by walking with his animal, sacrificed his time-pleasure and money for a total stranger.
A. How many times we extend a hand of help to total strangers stranded in a strange place? God expects us to put our love in real action, but many are very happy only to pray for the suffering person, which costs nothing in reality. We must pray for others, but when we have an opportunity to sacrifice for them in any manner possible, we are commanded to do by our Lord Jesus. Then only we are certified by heaven as "good neighbour".
Displaying 18 Comments
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soby cherian tx (December 9, 2011)
@ ASMathew- Mujhe sabb maalum hai, bapuji, koon lighneea hai aur padneea hai!
@ ASMathew- Mujhe sabb maalum hai, bapuji, koon lighneea hai aur padneea hai!
+3
jose thekkeaparambil, ktm (December 9, 2011)
@ Priya Benny- aaha valeeyaa sahithyakkaariyanu alleea ?
@ Priya Benny- aaha valeeyaa sahithyakkaariyanu alleea ?
+2
priya benny (December 8, 2011)
hrudyam,manoharam.thanx
hrudyam,manoharam.thanx
+1
jose, thekkeaparampil, ktm (December 8, 2011)
@ priya benny- Ninghal eeazhuthi vecchathu vaayicchu- oonnum manassilakunnilla- enthaanu eaazhuthiyathue ennue manassilaakunna baashayil eaazhuthamoo ? Malayalam englishil ezhuthiyathu aaanegghil, nannaayi eaazhuthaan ariyanom! Sughoom aanoo ? Thalakkokkea ? choodu pidicchathallalloo ?
@ priya benny- Ninghal eeazhuthi vecchathu vaayicchu- oonnum manassilakunnilla- enthaanu eaazhuthiyathue ennue manassilaakunna baashayil eaazhuthamoo ? Malayalam englishil ezhuthiyathu aaanegghil, nannaayi eaazhuthaan ariyanom! Sughoom aanoo ? Thalakkokkea ? choodu pidicchathallalloo ?
+2
ciara, usa (December 8, 2011)
This is an excellent article. In everyday life, we come across many examples of Priests and Levites, but very few examples of The Samaritan. We should sincerely strive to be Samaritians, aspiring to do what Jesus Christ has done.
This is an excellent article. In everyday life, we come across many examples of Priests and Levites, but very few examples of The Samaritan. We should sincerely strive to be Samaritians, aspiring to do what Jesus Christ has done.
+3
priya benny (December 7, 2011)
aliyavum kakkayum,koodaram okkeyanu ella lekhanangalilum, ithu thikayam.thanks
aliyavum kakkayum,koodaram okkeyanu ella lekhanangalilum, ithu thikayam.thanks
+2
mathews joy nj (December 7, 2011)
a different view&thought like our master.our masters thought was not like the community or like pharisees.
a different view&thought like our master.our masters thought was not like the community or like pharisees.
+2
aby,banglore (December 7, 2011)
nice one
nice one
+3
a. s. mathew (December 6, 2011)
When I read your comments, I was deeply
inspired and humbled to write more
in the coming days. Please keep me in
your prayers. Thank you all so greatly
for your comments.
When I read your comments, I was deeply
inspired and humbled to write more
in the coming days. Please keep me in
your prayers. Thank you all so greatly
for your comments.
+3
mathews joy,thadiyoor (December 3, 2011)
simple but it is blessed one.good language.
simple but it is blessed one.good language.
+3
sherly,ny (December 3, 2011)
uncle mathew,thanx
uncle mathew,thanx
+2
thomson dubai (December 2, 2011)
good one article have good sharpness&stuff.you can speek to our communitty.congrats
good one article have good sharpness&stuff.you can speek to our communitty.congrats
+2
k o john ny (December 2, 2011)
brother a s mathew we expect more from you.your version of this subject is very nice one.thank you.
brother a s mathew we expect more from you.your version of this subject is very nice one.thank you.
+1
johnson,udaipur (December 2, 2011)
dear uncle mathew
greetings.thanx,
dear uncle mathew
greetings.thanx,
+2
blessen,kuwait (December 2, 2011)
really we blessed.
really we blessed.
+2
martin,tvla (December 2, 2011)
very good article.thanks a lot 4 this type of different one.god bless you.
very good article.thanks a lot 4 this type of different one.god bless you.
+2
joy chembakasseril, usa. (November 24, 2011)
very interesting subject , i was pinned down to the edge of my seat until i finished reading. jesus said, 'love one-another', 'love thy neighbor like your own-self'. well the first one is possible and could be accomplished, but i am yet to come across anyone with the second one! the world has become so complex with different ethnicities, different cultures, diverse languages, etc. living next to each other- - i don't blame anyone. there is more room for speculation and scepticism in a complex atmosphere. about helping strangers, i leave it to everyone's imagination- i have heard stories about it and i am pretty sure its not for ladies. ladies may concentrate on a different area helping people, let men handle strangers. i think god has a certain way of making judgements about these things . this is what i learned, " behavior is highly contagious ". when you are nice to others, others will be nice to you. smile when you can and smile when you cannot. love one another.
very interesting subject , i was pinned down to the edge of my seat until i finished reading. jesus said, 'love one-another', 'love thy neighbor like your own-self'. well the first one is possible and could be accomplished, but i am yet to come across anyone with the second one! the world has become so complex with different ethnicities, different cultures, diverse languages, etc. living next to each other- - i don't blame anyone. there is more room for speculation and scepticism in a complex atmosphere. about helping strangers, i leave it to everyone's imagination- i have heard stories about it and i am pretty sure its not for ladies. ladies may concentrate on a different area helping people, let men handle strangers. i think god has a certain way of making judgements about these things . this is what i learned, " behavior is highly contagious ". when you are nice to others, others will be nice to you. smile when you can and smile when you cannot. love one another.
+11
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Very interesting article. The example of the Good Samaritan is a principle that we should all live by...unfortunately the world often teaches the exact opposite.