COME-PASS- SHUN

Soldier having compassion on a child
courtesy photobucket.com

To have compassion and demand justice is a hard mix almost like oil and water. To fully understand the following parable one must realize what was going on in the background. The religious leaders were trying to trip up Jesus and they tried to use trickery to rid themselves of him for he constantly embarrassed them.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan
 
Luke 10:25-37 New International Version (NIV) 

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii's and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

 

Jesus laid out a large cast of players in this parable; there were robbers, a victim, a Priest, the Levite and the Samaritan. The Priest represented religion and it was found wanting. The Levite represented law and order. The Samaritan as presented though looked down upon, he exuded grace and mercy.

I must admit I have a difficult time reaching the Samaritan level in dealing with the downtrodden who inflict damage and distress unto themselves. Part of this is legitimate because their condition is the result of rejection of Christ but still mercy is the benchmark of the Christian faith.   

 "Go thou and do likewise" may be a bitter pill but in the end it is good medicine for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVwGoSn4YW0

This Post is linked with Laura at:  Play Dates With God at the Wellspring