It is one of the most glossed over and trivialized parable of Jesus.
It is one of his most powerful as well, disclosing an essential teaching of the Kingdom of God by allowing the inquisitor to draw his own conclusion from the story.
It all starts with a question, but there is a question behind the question. Then, there is a question behind the question which is behind the question.
Not the least of the lessons here is the introduction of a religious concept that may not have been foremost on the mind and heart of the man who approached Jesus in his quest for eternal significance. That concept is mercy and deeper than mercy, compassion.
And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
– Luke 10:25-37
It was a lawyer who came and asked. He seemed to be an honest inquirer, but he was, like many people of law, interested in self-justification and vindication. He was fixated on the details and loopholes. He was reluctant to upset his well-ordered theology and manner of living.
The questions are telling, those spoken and those implied.
Who is my neighbor?
To whom must I show compassion?
How do I get in on this eternal life you are talking about?
Is there anyway I can justify myself to get by with less?
He leads with eternal life. Does he know that eternal life is more about the nature of it than the duration of it? Does he understand that it is all wrapped up in the rule of God and the community of radical disciples?
Does he understand the true nature of love for God and people?
Who is my neighbor?
Jesus answers with a story followed by a question.
The road from Jericho to Jerusalem was treacherous and familiar. It was known as an avenue of blood. Robbers were opportunistically common threats and one man, presumably a Jew, fell under their malicious treatment as was left for dead.
Did the priest and Levite assume he was dead?
If so, to touch him would defile them and prevent them from performing their "religious" duties?
Just what are our religious duties?
It has already been established between Jesus and the lawyer that they are to love God and to love neighbor.
The priest and Levite were concerned with what would become of them. Not so the Samaritan.
Jews has destroyed his people's temple in Gerazim. They hated Jews. Samaritans had desecrated the Jewish temple with bones. Jews hated Samaritans. Their history of hatred, explicit and implicit bias, conflict, and separation went back centuries.
Jesus' ministry launched in the context of Judaism. Everything needs a context.
Yet, it was the Samaritan who acted like a neighbor.
The lawyer must not have wanted to hear that. He wanted to limit his responsibility for love. He wanted a tight circle of neighbors, exceptional people, his people, privileged people that he could focus his compassion on.
Jesus asked, "Which one acted like a neighbor?"
Any good lawyer knows when he is cornered and cannot lie, but neither does he want to say the word, "Samaritan."
He says, "The one who showed mercy."
Truth. Go do the same.
What did he do?
We don't know. Luke did not tell the story so we would know. He repeated it so that we would know what we are to do and to call for our decision.
To whom must I show compassion? That is the question behind the question.
We have covered this.
Always look for the question behind the question in your own heart. Are you like the lawyer looking for wiggle room when confronted with the radical claims and call of Jesus to discipleship?
Are you trying to keep an "us vs. them" distance between yourself and your people on one side and the marginalized or even the oppressors on the other?
There are no exceptions to the call to love with mercy and compassion.
But there is a question behind the question that is behind the question: How do I get in on eternal life?
He could hear and hear about Jesus' teachings on a Kingdom that was ruled by God. He was hearing rumors of the new day dawning, the age or repentance, forgiveness, and justice. The confusing teachings of abundant living, the laughter of Jesus' company, the miracles and deliverance that seemed to happen everywhere, the other-worldly hope that was a recurring theme. – these all pricked his heart and stimulated his longing?
How do I get in? I want to participate?
Jesus had to break the hold of his implicit bias to justify himself.
Jesus' motive was to re-anchor this man's thinking in a Kingdom mindset and to introduce him to a brand new idea – compassion for those who are unlike us and outside of our circles.
It is an argument that carries much weight today.
As Dr. King said in Memphis when he traveled there to stand with the sanitation workers:
“On the parable of the Good Samaritan: "I imagine that the first question the priest and Levite asked was: 'If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?' But by the very nature of his concern, the good Samaritan reversed the question: 'If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?”
Who is your neighbor? Open your eyes and it is the first person you see. Look around and it is the next. Look deeper and behind closed doors. That is also your neighbor. Love your neighbor as yourself.
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