Stroll through Scripture for March 9, 2025

Based on Luke 10:25-42

The parable of the Good Samaritan may be one of the most well-known parables in Scripture.  But just because it is well known, doesn’t me that we grasp it, like it, or make the lessons within it a part of our being.  

It’s important to have some context going into a well-known passage of Scripture because context has the potential to open our understanding beyond what we think we know about something so very familiar.

The very beginning of this passage starts this way: “Just then…”. If we don’t consider the context of what just happened that sets up the parable, then we may miss some valuable lessons.  

The beginning of Luke 10 starts with Jesus sending 70 out to “every town and place where he himself intended to go.”  (Vs. 1).  Jesus tells them that he is sending them “like lambs into the midst of wolves.” (Vs. 3).  He tells them to take nothing with them.  He focuses on offering peace wherever they stay.  There are tasked with being in relationship with people, eating with people, curing the sick, and proclamation of the Kingdom of God come near.  In other words, they are called to show love, not just talk about it.  To be vulnerable with people.  To leave not just their possessions that offer them a false sense of security behind, but also whatever status they think they have.  Jesus is far more concerned with their being in right relationship with God and others. 

The 70 return and Jesus rejoices.  His focus is on humility, again rejecting status.  

And then a lawyer tests Jesus – a person with some status in the community.  The lawyer wants to know what he must do to “inherit” eternal life.  Inheritance implies the transfer of wealth, status.  The lawyer and Jesus have some back and forth with the lawyer doing what lawyers do – trying to find out the boundaries of the law.  He asks, “And who is my neighbor?”  

Jesus then proceeds to tell the parable, highlighting that those with status seem more concerned with maintaining their position and following the letter of the law, rather than the intent of the law, which is to put love into action.  Putting love into action can one be done through humility.  Jesus makes this clear by using a Samaritan, the one who the hearers of the parable would least expect to show love to a stranger – especially a Jewish stranger from Jerusalem.  

Questions for further reflection:

• We live in a world that is driven by status and position.  How does this parable speak to us today in our context?  What do we hear Jesus saying?
• Jesus is saying that love is something lived, not just talked about.  How would living love make an impact in our world and our community, today?