The parable of the good Samaritan


The purpose of the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) is to show that Jesus expects us to love everyone, including our enemies. It is difficult to love those who may harm or hurt us, but that's what Jesus calls us to do in that parable. It is important to understand that to the Jews of Jesus' time, a Samaritan was more revolting than a Gentile (pagan); Samaritans were half-breeds who defiled the true religion. Jesus chose an object of hatred for his story of human compassion.
In the recent shooting in Indianapolis, a man who was randomly shooting people was himself killed by an armed civilian who happened to be nearby. The police and others have referred to the man who stopped the killer as a good Samaritan. We may be relieved that more deaths were prevented by killing the perp, but it is a perversion of the parable--and frankly obscene--to compare a person who kills someone to the good Samaritan, an object of contempt who rescued someone from suffering.

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