BIBLICAL CRITIQUE: THE GOOD SAMARITAN 1
Biblical Critique: The Good Samaritan
EMY
School of Education, Liberty University
Author Note
EMY
I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to
EMY. Email: [email protected]
BIBLICAL CRITIQUE: THE GOOD SAMARITAN 2
In Luke 10:25-37 we are gently reminded that the path to everlasting life is to honor
God’s word and love our neighbor as we love ourselves. In the passage Jesus is challenged by a
man that is familiar with the law. The man questions Jesus in a taunting manner about what is
required to gain everlasting life. The textbook discusses how empowerment is an effective
element to conflict resolution. Jesus avoids conflict and responds using the Socratic method,
transformative mediation and insight. Transformative mediation and insight empower the
individual to find the answer with their own knowledge and understanding. Barsky, A. (2017).
Jesus redirects the man and asks him to recite the law. The man answered correctly reciting
Mark 12:30-31 “and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your
soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, You shall love your
neighbor as yourself.” “There is no other commandment greater than these.” (New American
Standard Bible. (1995) Mark 12:30-31). The man then asks for clarification on who is his
neighbor. Jesus then tells the story of the Good Samaritan. The parable tells the story of a man
that is beaten by robbers and left for dead along his journey from Jerusalem to Jericho. A priest
saw the man lying on the road and passed him by. Next a Levite saw the man lying on the road
and passed him by just like the priest. The third person to see the injured man lying on the road
was a Samaritan. The Samaritan showed compassion thus clarified how to love your neighbor as
you love yourself and the difference between knowing the law and applying the law in your
actions. This critique explores how Jesus avoids conflict and answers the question of what it
takes to gain everlasting life by honoring God’s word and following the Samaritan’s
example.
BIBLICAL CRITIQUE: THE GOOD SAMARITAN 3
Read
Fact Verses
1. A man that was knowledge in the law tested
Jesus and asked what needs to be done to
obtain eternal life? Jesus replies with a
question and asks the man to explain the
written law and his interpretation.
25-26
2. The man responds by reciting the law as
written in Mark 12:30-31 “and you shall love
the Lord your God with all your heart, and
with all your soul, and with all your mind, and
with all your strength.’ The second is this,
‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
There is no other commandment greater than
these.” (New American Standard
Bible. (1995) Mark 12:30-31).
27
3. Jesus confirms the man has answered
correctly and then states, if you live by these
laws, you will have eternal life. The man then
seeks clarification as to who is his neighbor.
28-29
BIBLICAL CRITIQUE: THE GOOD SAMARITAN 4
4. Jesus replies with the parable of the Good
Samaritan. The parable speaks about a man on
a journey from Jerusalem to Jericho that
30-31
was beaten by robbers. The injuries he
sustains left the man close to death. A priest
saw the injured man road and passed him by.
5. A Levite also saw the injured man on his
journey and passed him as well.
32
6. Next, a Samaritan who was on his journey
saw the man. The Samaritan felt compassion
for the injured man.
33
7. The Samaritan took the time to bandage the
man’s wounds and brought him to an inn and
cared for him.
34
8. The following day the Samaritan paid the
innkeeper and asked him to take care of the
man and if more money was needed the
Samaritan would repay the innkeeper.
35
9. Jesus asked the man which of the three
men proved to be a good neighbor to the
injured man.
36
BIBLICAL CRITIQUE: THE GOOD SAMARITAN 5
10. The man answered stating the one who
showed mercy. Jesus then told the man to do
the same.
37
Reflect
What do you see in the passage that relates
to God’s character, man’s character, or
Jesus?
Verses
God’s character
Man’s character The lawyer is an example of mankind.
Mankind do not always have a good
understanding of how to apply God’s
word in their actions.
28-29
Jesus Jesus has everlasting love, and like God the
Father, Jesus loves us regardless of race,
creed, culture or economic status. Jesus is
merciful, and his love is infinite.
33-35
Respond
Unfortunately, far too often God’s law to love your neighbor like you love yourself is not
practiced. There are people in our world today that lack compassion or the ability to show mercy
BIBLICAL CRITIQUE: THE GOOD SAMARITAN 6
for their neighbor. The rationale behind the lack of offering a helping hand can include many
reasons. For example, fear people in our current world can be afraid to get involved or speak up
if they witnessed a robbery or even a homicide because of the fear of retaliation so they look the
other way. Another reason for looking the other way could be discrimination or they may feel
that they do not have the skills or expertise to help especially if someone is near death.
Samaritans were from a lower class yet the Samaritan honors God, he is empathetic and shows
compassion for his neighbor.
BIBLICAL CRITIQUE: THE GOOD SAMARITAN 7
Conclusion
In Luke 10:25-37 Jesus was challenged by a man who wanted to know the path to
everlasting life. Jesus does not answer any of the man’s questions directly. Jesus empowered the
man by allowing him to use his knowledge of the law to answer the question and the parable of
the Good Samaritan as an example of how to love your neighbor as you love yourself. Because
human nature is not perfect there are those that tend to be selfish. 1 Corinthians 2:14 states, “But
a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and
he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.” (New American Standard
Bible. (1995) 1 Corinthians 2:14). As Christians, we are expected to follow God’s law in our
actions daily and love one another regardless of one’s race or religion or creed, including our
enemies. The Good Samaritan parable delivers testament to our Redeemer’s unconditional
infinite love and the key to everlasting life.
References
Barsky, A. (2017). Conflict resolution for the helping professions: Negotiation, mediation,
advocacy, facilitation, and restorative justice. Oxford University Press, Incorporated.
New American Standard Bible. (1995). New American Standard Bible Online.
https://www.bible.com/versions/100 - nasb - new - american - standard - bible/ (Original work
published 1960)
BIBLICAL CRITIQUE: THE GOOD SAMARITAN 8
