The parable of the Good Samaritan is one that many of us are familiar with, regardless of whether or not we grew up in the church. The English dictionary has even adopted the word “Samaritan” as a word that describes a charitable person. The parable explores Christian values such as kindness, mercy, and compassion, all of which can be summarized as love. The topic of love is not new for believers, but it is a vital one because many often forget. (Luke 10:25-37)
Jews and Samaritans (people of Samaria) were not friends. It was a sort of abomination for a Jew to even associate with a Samaritan (Jn. 4). They couldn’t agree on even the simplest thing: where the place of worship should be. This led the Jews to see the Samaritans as pagans. They despised them so much that if they had to journey to a place that was only divided by Samaria, they would rather take a longer route just to get to that destination.
This was the kind of relationship the Jews had with the Samaritans. However, from the illustration Jesus gave, it can’t be put past the Jews that they were like that to one another too. A Priest and Levite passed by the same road the injured man was, yet they did nothing to help him. These are people who are supposed to know very much about what God would have them do in such a situation. They had head knowledge but failed in the place of practice. (vv. 31-32)
The most vital thing in Christianity is love. The scripture helps us to understand that whoever does not have love does not know God. All our religion becomes mere activity when it lacks love –all that we do should be done in love (1 Cor. 16:14). We were saved because of God’s love and compassion for us. It is only customary that we show the same to people around us.
These days all Christians want to hear and talk about is power, riches, and every other pleasing thing. These things are not bad. As a matter of fact, God bestows them as blessings (Acts 1:8; Prov. 10:22). However, they should not be our focus. In the story of the Good Samaritan, it is possible that the Priest and Levite who passed by that road were consumed with other things and so could not stop to show compassion to a brother. It is the same today. Many of us have our focus on other things and have forgotten that it is love that fulfills the commandments. We forget easily that it is love that really matters to God.
Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8 ESV
Again, it is easy to love those who love you. But Jesus calls us to a higher standard. He, through this parable, tells us that we ought to love even those who hate us (v. 33). Perhaps if the Jew was able and well, he would never have allowed the Samaritan speak to him, let alone touch him. The Samaritan was probably well aware of this. Nonetheless, he didn’t let that be a barrier to his show of kindness. He put aside their differences and moved with compassion towards him.
What sets us apart from people of the world is how we love even those who hate us. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. (Luke 6:32-33)
Love is an active word. It is not dormant or redundant. It is doing. You do not tell someone you love them alone. If you truly do, you show it. John 3:16 tells us that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son… His love led Him to give. It led Him to do something.
As Christians, we cannot claim to know God if we do not have love (1 Jn. 4:8). We cannot say we have love if we do not show it. We cannot call it love if it is only reserved for a certain people, or a certain time, or a certain place. A compassionate Samaritan is better than two unloving Jews.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to go back to the basics of my faith. Help me to love like you would have me to. Amen.
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