A True Neighbor

A True Neighbor

5. It goes on to say that the man wanted to justify his actions. Perhaps he understood that he wasn’t completely obeying these commandments. Maybe he wanted to believe that “neighbor” only referred to his family and friends. But I believe he knew inwardly that the word meant so much more. So, perhaps cringing a little, he further asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” With this introduction, Jesus begins his story of the Good Samaritan. A Jewish man was traveling, when he was attacked, beaten, and left for dead. Who were the first two men to come across him? What is the significance of their vocations? What was their response to their fellow Jew—their neighbor?

6. Jesus continues his story by introducing a “despised Samaritan.” In Jesus’ time, the Samaritans were despised by the Jews (see John 4:9). There were centuries of conflict and rivalry between these two nations. Samaritans were actually descendants of Assyrians who moved to Samaria when they took Israel captive and then intermarried with the Israelites there. The Samaritans upheld only the Pentateuch, but rejected the rest of the Old Testament. Because of this, the Jews would publically curse Samaritans in their synagogues and would not give them equal rights. Please read 2 Kings 17:24-41 to learn some of the history of the Samaritans. Who do the Samaritans worship?

7. In the story Jesus told, what did the Samaritan do for the man? Why did Jesus choose a Samaritan to play the neighbor in this story? How do you think the expert in religious law responded to this twist?