The Four Gospels

A Reflection on the Parable of the Good Samaritan

The power, relevance and intense meaningfulness of the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10, 25-37) has particular resonance at the present time as we reflect on some of the theological controversies tearing Christians apart and distracting from the fundamental message and impact of Christ’s legacy. In particular, a virtual schism in the Anglican Communion, as events are acted out in the United Kingdom, the USA and Africa, is threatening to tear that Church apart. Many of us in the Universal Life Church with its principles of tolerance and acceptance, will surely find it well-nigh impossible to comprehend the legalistic nature of this debate which concentrates upon minute points of interpretative exegesis at the expense of those virtues of understanding, outreach and brotherhood which would seem to be the way forward if contemporary religious bodies are to provide the guidance and spiritual counsel for which this age of uncertainty and shifting moral values cries out.

As a corrective, the parable of the Samaritan could be said to encapsulate, on a number of levels, the essential meaning and timeless appeal of the Christian message and outreach which should never be forgotten however intense the theological debate may become. Initially, it may seem to be just a lesson in social responsibility that is universally applicable (and, indeed, it can be seen as such) but it is crafted in such a way as to suggest a new beginning for followers of Christ and to underline the inadequacy of the pre-existing Law. The questioner (almost an interrogator) is a religious lawyer who seems to epitomise the genre; his in-depth knowledge of all 613 points of the Torah appears to afford him authority and certainty, but it can also be seen as a barrier to a true relationship with God. Instead of allowing easy access for those who wished to approach God, the system was obsessed with regulations and caveats which made communion with God more of an obstacle course than a spiritual journey designed to weed out and reject rather than welcome the sinner.

Jesus clearly has learned how to deal with this mindset; he answers the lawyer’s initial question (verse 25) with another question (verse 26) – a typical lawyer’s ploy, some would say - and when the lawyer responds by quoting from the Law (verse 27), Jesus applauds him and agrees that that is the proper way. The lawyer, however, is not satisfied with this and asks a supplementary question, perhaps hoping to disconcert or trick Jesus and this provides the trigger for the parable.

On a superficial level, the parable is a well-chosen example designed to appeal to his audience and drawn from the contemporary context. One long section of the Jerusalem-Jericho road, was so perilous and notorious for robberies and assaults on travelers, many of whom would be priests or temple-officers traveling back and forth, that it had been named The Way of Blood. Doubtless, as in contemporary British society, plagued by knife-crime, the received wisdom was not to ‘have a go’ but to pass discreetly ‘on the other side’ so as to avoid a similar fate. The priest and the Levite do just this, but the Samaritan, regarded by the Jews as an outcast and unbeliever, not only stops to administer first aid but gives generously of his time and money to help the victim to recover fully. Asked the ‘killer’ question by Jesus, the lawyer has no choice but to say, probably reluctantly, that the Samaritan was the good neighbour. This seems to convey the underlying meaning that the standards preached by Jesus apply to all communities and ethnic groups not merely to those whom God has allegedly chosen. The parable, in its entirety, also suggests that the Samaritan really represents Jesus, whose intervention is required if such rigorous standards are ever to be met; the implication is clear: that the priests, despite all their minute regulation, their continual sacrifices and almost obsessive compulsive attitude to religion, fall woefully short in this regard. It is Jesus who will safeguard the traveler on ‘the journey’ and sustain them in times of trial or flagging spirits.

Let us pray that this simple but powerful message may remain uppermost in the minds of those who are inclined towards controversy and schism at the expense of the spiritual needs of those to whom they minister.

From: Rev. Graham Louden (UK)

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics, as well as courses in Mystical Christianity, Buddhism and Comparative Religion. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.