GOOD SAMARITAN

Ideas:

The challenge: to rescue this story from too much familiarity

The lawyer seemed to find it easier to obey the first half of the Great Commandment rather than the second

The story begins with an expert in Scriptural law asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. To this otherworldly question Jesus responds with a distinctly this-worldly story indicating that the sine qua non of religious life is compassion.

Thieves: What is yours is mine. Priest and Levite: What is yours is yours, and what is mine is mine. Samaritan: What is mine is yours!

The priest probably worked in the Temple, and forgot the words of Hosea 6:6 – I desire mercy/goodness rather than sacrifices

Probably had their excuses for not helping (Robbers might return; his friends might think we’re robbers; too tired; none of my business; he’s beyond help; my job is to minister to people’s spiritual – not physical – needs)

The Good Samaritan had the money to pay the bill, so every (Baptist etc.)

here could be a Good Samaritan