Beech Tree News Network

There are many appropriate ways one can interpret and apply the classic biblical story of "The Good Samaritan."  Many story lines can be found and a good dose of empathy can allow the story to be studied and understood from multiple perspectives.  First, let's look at the text itself within the proper context.   

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The Gospel of St. Luke (10:25-37)

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”  He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”

But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho.  They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.   A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.  But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight.  He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them.  Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him.  The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, "Take care of him.  If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’

Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?”  He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

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It seems the scholar in the parable above was seeking a good self-esteem jolt from Jesus … affirmation for what he thought, spoke of, and believed as a ticket for everlasting life.  The scholar should have stopped while he thought he was ahead because as he pressed Jesus seeking his further assurances of eternal life, things got a little more serious.  Enter the parable of the Good Samaritan.  You know the story.  A man is beaten by robbers and essentially left for dead.  Supposedly good folks, those who were expected to help by their reputation, passed by the man, offering no assistance and actually attempting to avoid him.  But, the heathen, enemy-of-the-Jews Samaritan stopped to help and showed care to someone in need, compassion to someone hurting.  The Samaritan, says Jesus, was the one who showed mercy and the one whose actions should be imitated.

Were the priest and the Levite evil?  We should be careful how we answer this question because we are probably talking about ourselves.  Were they evil?  Perhaps not but their actions lacked the mercy they themselves would want to receive from a forgiving God.  They may have talked a "good game" but when it came to action, they failed.  The Samaritan, not known as compassionate by reputation or words, acted where others failed. 

There is something beautifully simple in the Samaritan's actions toward a person that he was in no way obligated to help, someone who may not have been deserving of kindness.  In other words, someone like us.

The parable of the Good Samaritan reminds me of the importance of action, actually doing something to make a difference rather than just talking about it.  I suspect this quality is precisely why so many people think so highly of Mother Teresa and her actions in the slums of Calcutta caring for the poorest of the poor.  

This parable also convicts me terribly because I fall miserably short when it comes to taking action toward those in need, showing mercy to the hurting.  I'm afraid I talk a "good game" but don't deliver.  I can and should do so much more.    

Jesus told the scholar to "Go and do likewise."  In other words, always show compassion to those in need and mercy to those who don't deserve it, especially to those who don't deserve it.  As I ponder this parable, I realize that I have a lot of work to do if I want to be a man of action.  

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John Embry is the co-founder and vice-president of Beech Tree News & WLBQ 1570 AM.  He teaches 8th grade American History at Butler County Middle School and is the head softball coach at BCHS and BCMS.  John is married to Beth and they have one daughter, five-year-old Isabella Faye; and one son, Will Lincoln (eight months).  They live in Aberdeen - site of the original "beech tree." He can be reached at [email protected].