Week 3 – The Good Samaritan Year 10 Sunday School Week 3 – The Good Samaritan

Recap of the story Parable of the Good Samaritan - YouTube [freecorder.com].mp4 and Luke 10:25-37

Background This parable was told in response to a Jewish Lawyer wishing to test Jesus. 25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” 27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’[a] and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”[b] 28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” 29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:25 -30)

Background Relations between Jews and Samaritans - As can be seen in John 4:9, Jews and Samaritans were not allies during New Testament times.  Both claimed to be true descendants of the nation of Israel.  Samaritans descended from the northern kingdom of Israel while the Jews descended from the southern kingdom of Judah.  The Jews believed Jerusalem was the only true place of worship while the Samaritans located the true place of worship at Mt. Gerizim.  In 128 BC, the Jews destroyed the Samaritan temple at Mt. Gerizim.  While the actual reasons for the hatred between the two groups is not known, it is known that the Jews believed the Samaritans were not pure from a religious viewpoint.

Characters What do these characters Represent? The man who is travelling and the thieves The Priest and the Levite The Good Samaritan What do these characters Represent?

The man who is travelling and the Thieves The man who was traveling represents any person whose faith was weak and was starting to go astray from the path of the Lord. The thieves represent Satan and his powers. The clothes that the man had on represent the robe of grace and righteousness, which was granted to us by the Lord Jesus and with which nothing would harm us. The wounds represent the iniquities and sins inflicted by Satan, only after the man was stripped from the robe of righteousness.

The Priest and the Levite The priest and the Levite represent the law and the prophets, who felt sorry for mankind but could not save it. This story portrays a reversal of stereotypes. The Priest and the Levite traditionally would have been the ones who stopped for the man but instead it is the Samaritan- a person who Jews believed compromised in religious matters. However, the Samaritan knew how to treat his neighbour. The neighbour here was not someone the Samaritan knew or even someone of the same race, just someone in need.

The Good Samaritan The Good Samaritan is the Lord Jesus, the awaited Savior who saved mankind. The Good Samaritan who felt sorry for mankind and loved the sinners, bent on his knees and carried the wounded man, putting oil in his wounds to sooth his pains and suffering, adding wine to purify him from sins inflicted by Satan. He carried him to an inn which is His Church, spent the whole day and night caring for him until he restored to him the ring of sonship and righteousness. He later handed him to the owner of the hotel, the church servant, who continued to care for him, until He comes again in His second coming to take him to the place which He prepared for him and those who love His name.

What does it mean to us? How many people in our lives do we pass by and ignore their needs just like the Levite and the Priest? How many people are being tormented by the wounds of sin while we watch them from a distance and dare not help them?

The Lord teaches us to go the second mile with those who force us to walk the first mile “If any one wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away… for if you love those who love you what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same” (Matthew 5: 40-48).

How can we be a ‘Good Samaritan’? Discussion

How can we be a ‘Good Samaritan’? Love and forgive – love those who hate us. Care – when we see wrong and crooked ways, stand up for what is right. Have courage – rise beyond the limitations of society and the boundaries of social hostility for the sake of saving a soul. Sacrifice – sacrifice yourself for others and for the sake of righteousness

Luke 4:3 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.

Luke 10:25-37 30 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed,[c] he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” 37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”