The Good Samaritan is a parable that is almost too well known to be heard. It is often the case that we are so familiar with something that we no longer respond to it as we might if it were new to us. This is certainly true of oft-walked streets. We no longer see what’s around us as it all too familiar. I think the term “Good Samaritan” can be like that. People know what it means even if they’ve never heard the parable. And while it might be enlightening for them to actually read the story, they already know the basic message and, as a consequence, the greater import of the teaching can be missed.
It’s clear that the parable challenges us to transcend the racial and historic barriers that exist and, out of compassion for fellow human beings, be merciful. It’s effectiveness in communicating that ethic is evidenced by the many who have heeded the call to be a Good Samaritan, aware of the parable of not. But the initial inquiry was not for whom is one responsible, but how one obtains eternal life. The secondary issue arose as a self-justifying redirect of the conversation. Jesus’ illustrative parable calls the man (and us) to serve whoever is in need, regardless of our biases. But it also points to the answer of his initial question.
What must be done to inherit eternal life? Fulfill the law -- fulfill the law by loving God with all of your being and your neighbor as yourself, and eternal life will be yours! There’s no amount of tweaking neighborly obligations that will save someone from the peril of not meeting that demand.
What must be done to inherit eternal life? Fulfill the law -- fulfill the law by loving God with all of your being and your neighbor as yourself, and eternal life will be yours! There’s no amount of tweaking neighborly obligations that will save someone from the peril of not meeting that demand.
But what is the gospel? Isn’t it what God has done out of love and compassion for us? Out of love, the Father sends his Son; the Son, also out of love, lays down his life. And what does this plan accomplish? It fulfills the very law that we are unable to fulfill. That’s the answer to the lawyer’s question. How do you inherit eternal life? You acknowledge with repentance and faith that only Jesus knows how to perfectly love God and neighbor. And miracle of miracles, his perfection becomes your perfection and, here and now, eternal life is yours.
We want to heed the call to be a Good Samaritan. It should be the aim of every Christian to reflect the ethics of the Kingdom. But we cannot substitute our good works for those of Jesus. It is his compassion that saves us, and it is only his compassion that will save the one we are helping. May God give us grace to offer aid as well as the message of eternal life.
