2. THE GOOD SAMARITAN Luke 10:25-37
Background: The Jews at the time of Jesus despised the Samaritans for being of mixed blood and half pagans. The Samaritans had their own temple on Mt.Gerizim, 50 km north of Jerusalem. The wounded man in this parable was most probably a Jew. The priest and the Levite were going to the temple to perform their religious duties there. If they touched blood, they would be unclean for the rest of the day, and not allowed to enter to temple.
1. Imagine what kind of thoughts crossed the mind of the wounded man while he was lying helpless on the roadside hour after hour.
Imagine the feelings of the wife and children when the father failed to come home after his journey.
2. Why didn't these two religious people, the priest and the Levite, try to help the dying man? Think of as many reasons as possible.
How did the expert of the law probably evaluate the behav¬iour of the priest and the Levite in the parable (25-27)?
3. How did the priest and the Levite interpret the commandment of love, which they very well knew from their Bibles? (Look at vs. 27.)
Is it possible, in your opinion, to love God with all one's heart, soul and strength, and at the same time treat a suffer¬ing human being in the way these two religious people did? Give your reasons.
4. The Samaritan had many reasons NOT to help the wounded. Think of as many of them as you can.
What would be the minimal amount of help a decent person should give in that situation?
What "extra help" did the Samaritan give to the wounded?
5. Two silver coins corresponded to two days' wages, which would keep a man up to two months in an inn. How much would that sum be in our currency?
Why did the Samaritan want to pay such a sum of money to help a stranger, who wasn't even his own countryman?
For whom would you be willing to do everything this Samari¬tan did for a stranger?
6. What are the similarities between Jesus and the Good Sama¬ritan?
What more did Jesus do for his enemies than the Samaritan?
7. Do you think the Samaritan also kept the first part of the commandment of love (27)? Give your reasons.
8. Why are many people, even Christians, slow to act as good Samaritans for those who are suffering of HIV/AIDS?
9. Who is your neighbour whom you may have been ignoring in the same way as the priest and the Levite ignored the wounded man (37)?
What concrete steps should you take to help this neighbour?
GLAD TIDINGS: Jesus Christ himself acts towards you as a good Samaritan. He sees the wounds of your heart and body, stops by you and reaches his hand.
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