The Good Samaritan has the message of genuine love toward our fellow humans. It teaches us about hospitality. Read to find out why we must learn from this parable.
The Good Samaritan Lesson For Christians
This story is one of the most popular parables in the Bible. It actually explains the basics of what Christianity entails(love). Many of us got to know about the Good Samaritan lesson when we were young. Its meaning is very interesting and heart-touching.
Jesus Christ got himself tempted by a certain lawyer who stood up to ask “What should I do to inherit eternal life“?.
After Jesus answered him to go and live according to the Bible he went further to ask “who is my neighbor?.
The Story
Well, before I tell you about the good Samaritan lesson you can read the story in the book of Luke 10:30 – 37. Jesus began by saying a certain man traveled from Jerusalem to Jericho and on his way he fell into the hands of thieves, the thieves beat and wounded him leaving him half dead.
The road was dangerous at that time because robbers used to hide there to harm people. And Jericho was about eighteen miles east-north-east of Jerusalem and seven miles from the Jordan.
Whiles, he lies down;
♦. A priest came to pass. Upon finding this half-dead man he passed away.
♦. Another man who was a Levite saw him on the way but he passed away.
♦. The third person who saved the man was a Samaritan, widely known as “The Good Samaritan“. Upon seeing the wounded man he had compassion on him.
He cleaned up all the blood with oil and wine then he put him on his donkey and took him to an inn.
Before his departure in the following day, he took two pence and gave it to the host to take care of the wounded man and said he will come back again to settle any further cost.
Levites were people who were very close to God and so they had a special relationship with God in terms of worshiping, giving offerings and taking care of the needy.
They were reputable in the sight of God but here the Levite abandoned the nearly dead man.
Who Is Your Neighbor?
After Jesus finished this parable, he asks the lawyer “which one of these three was a neighbor unto the one that fell among thieves? He answered “The one that had compassion on him”, and Jesus replied “good, go and do likewise”.
Most Valuable Lesson From The Good Samaritan
Now let us look at the good Samaritan lesson. I said earlier the basics is about “love” and so showing love to a neighbor is highly priced in Christianity. The first passerby was a priest.
Someone who knows the word of God very well and people considers righteous left the wounded to his faith. This doesn’t mean love. The bible says if you hate your neighbor and loves Jesus then you are a liar.
The second passerby, who was a Levite wickedly left the wounded man behind meanwhile he was highly admired by people because he belongs to the chosen tribe of God. And lastly, the Samaritan who doesn’t have anything common to share with the man had compassion on him.
Next Important Lesson For You
In furtherance, another important good Samaritan lesson for all of us to know is that no matter the differences between you and your neighbor you should love him just like yourself.
If we all love each other genuinely there wouldn’t be conflicts, hatred, wars and all forms of unhealthy divisions we see in our world today.
The good Samaritan lesson authenticates on this verse,
” greater love hath no man than this, that a man lays down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
Laying down your life for your friend is the greatest kind of love anyone could show. But why would a Christian allow his brother to die whiles he can save him?. You can read this godly kind of love concerning blood donation from “Got Questions“.
I have always been against any form of doctrines and practices that allows people to die whiles there is a medium of making that neighbor survive so I keep on asking Christians like Jehovah’s Witnesses why they allow people to die whiles they have the medium(blood transfusion) to save them.
Jesus said there is no greater love than dying for your neighbor. And again he said go and do the same thing that the good Samaritan did. Are Jehovah’s witnesses after the instruction given by our Savior Jesus Christ?
Life is precious and indeed the blood has life in it and it is the same life Jesus is saying that laying it down is the greatest kind of love for any living being to show.
How Should Christians Apply This Story Lessons In Their Lives?
The Parable of “The Good Samaritan” has a lot more to teach us than simply being compassionate. It takes true love to sacrifice for a friend and it is more rewarding than anything.
Well, if you are a Christian and you will not take any lesson from the good Samaritan but would look into the eyes of your fellow human who needs your able help to die I bet you, you would have a big question from God to answer.
Hospitality to strangers is one of Christians DIVINE responsibilities. Jesus Christ being the chief corner-stone Christianity showed us this very kind of greatest love by dying on the cross for our sins.
And even in the case of saving a neighbor through blood transfusion, it doesn’t take you to sacrifice your life but instead donating part of your life to save a neighbor.
A word to a wise is enough. I always welcome your comments and contributions. Love one another and just before I end it all I want you to understand that your neighbor is not only those close to you or you share boundaries with, your enemies too are your neighbors and this is one of the hardest parts of being a Christian. It tests your commitment and how genuine you are, so I say Christianity is not for sissies.
“But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them who curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you”( Matthew 5:44).
Nobody should take the parable of the good Samaritan lesson lightly because it has the greatest aspects of Christianity which is “love” and since we all know God is love then we must let that show in us for everyone around us to know, but not being heartless and hypocrites like the priest and the Levite in the parable of the good Samaritan.
If you love your neighbor show it without hesitation and your reward shall be given unto you from the highest God. You can show love by helping the needy or donating to orphanage centers, buying clothes and other items for prisoners and a lot more.
But please when you show this kind of love don’t ever expect anything in return as the bible says do not let your hand see what the other one is doing. You must also know the one who truly deserves your help and the one who is trying to take advantage of you. Stay blessed.
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