What do you think when you hear “The Parable of the Good Samaritan?” Do you think about social justice? Racial discrimination? Illegal immigration? Or do you think about being a good person? There are varying viewpoints, but what do YOU know it to mean?
Recently, I heard a very intriguing perspective on this parable. Self-righteous acts will not gain you salvation. That’s it! Nothing about being a good person or loving your neighbor. I reviewed it multiple times because I’ve never heard it this way before.
While that statement is true, that’s not what I readily gleaned from it. Maybe I’m used to hearing it the common way. Nonetheless, I thought it was interesting. For this post, I figured I’d share this differing viewpoint. I think it will be informative for those who are familiar with the parable and for those who aren’t.
For context, let’s start with why Jesus told the parable and refer to Luke 10:25. A lawyer (one who studied the law) decided to test Jesus. He asked, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”1 Recognizing the intent of the lawyer, Jesus turned it back on him. Jesus asked, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?“2
The lawyer replied with the two great commandments. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27). To which Jesus replied, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live” (Luke 10:28).
Here is where it gets technical. Meaning, this is where the perspective turns from “be a good neighbor.” The lawyer’s “what shall I do?” is in the aorist tense. What does that mean? Aorist is defined as an event that is completed. A one-time action as opposed to a habitual or ongoing action. For instance, do you feed a baby once? No. Do you want to starve a baby? No, so you continue to feed the baby.
What the lawyer is saying without saying – I’ve already done these things. What else is there? In essence, the lawyer was asking for a checklist to earn salvation. This wreaks of self-righteous indignation.
When Jesus replied, “do this…” it is present tense and continual. Love God and be a good neighbor not just once, but continually. It’s a lifestyle not just something to do. Surely the lawyer was offended because he began to justify himself. He asked Jesus, “[a]nd who is my neighbor?”3
Jesus then replies with this parable:
“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite4, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii5 and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’
After the end of the parable, Jesus asked the lawyer – which of the 3 individuals was a neighbor to the man robbed by the thieves. The lawyer replied by saying the one who showed mercy on the man. Again, Jesus reiterates “…You go, and do likewise” (Luke 10:37).
While not detailed in this parable, it is implied that the man who was robbed is Jewish. Why is that important to note? Well, this is what gives the common perspective of the parable. For those who are unaware, there was no expression of “brotherly love” between the Jews and Samaritans.
Jews did not see Samaritans as their neighbors. Recall, that the lawyer asked Jesus, “who is my neighbor?” So, it would come as a surprise that a Samaritan would have compassion for a Jew and vice versa.
Back to the main point. The lawyer did not follow what the great commands demanded. Hence why 2x Jesus told him to go do what was commanded. His self-righteous acts made him fall short. His attempts to justify himself and deny wrong-doings did him no favors either.
You are incapable of obtaining salvation with self-righteous performances. Salvation is a gift, not something you earn. In all, Jesus confronted a self-righteous lawyer. That’s it!
It’s not about racial discrimination or being a social justice warrior. Nothing on DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion), acts of compassion, loving your neighbor, or being a good neighbor. Only about salvation.
I see the point, but meh! I find it hard-pressed to believe that Jesus would tell this story with just one deep meaning. Yet, I could be totally wrong.
So, what do you think? Is it a salvation-only story? Or do you think there is much more?
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theOlivetbee 