Parable of the Good Samaritan

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer notes that the parable of the good Samaritan is one of the most familiar in the New Testament. It tells the story of a man who is harmed by robbers. The writer explains that two men pass him by, but the third stops and goes out of his way to help this stranger. The writer maintains that the parable of the good Samaritan teaches us that we are all the same. It teaches that differences are only skin deep and that we all must depend on our brethren for survival. The writer also explains that, in this parable, Jesus makes an obvious insult to the Pharisees and Levites, who felt more highly of their piousness than of their fellow man. The writer concludes that this parable is an excellent example of the type of actions that could end all conflict. The body of the paper includes a version of the text discussed.

Outline:
Historical Context
Literary Context
Structure
Grammatical Data
Biblical Content
Theological Importance
Application

From the Paper:

"The most important note on historical context is that Jesus was speaking to the Jews in the passage. The Samaritans and Jews were enemies who despised each other. The tale, as told in the context of the audience had a hidden significance in the ideal of non-discrimination. In this story, a racist was helped by another racist. Through this act, they were brought together for the common good of all. This element is often lost in the retelling of the story because the significance of racial tensions between the groups is not known to modern audiences.
"The key element that is important to a clear understanding of the text is the social setting in which the parable is told. There are racial tensions between the groups sitting in the audience. The essential essence of the parable lies within the conflict between the different groups in the audience."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bock, D. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Luke Volume II. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1996.
• Esler, P. Conflict: The Parable Of The Good Samaritan Jesus And The Reduction Of Intergroup In The Light Of Social Identity Theory. Biblical Interpretation. October, 2000. Vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 325-357.
• Fitzmeyer, J. The Anchor Bible: The Gospel According to Luke (X-XXIV). Garden City, NY: Doubleday. 1985.
• Gourges, M. The Priest, The Levite, and the Samaritan Revisited: A Critical Note on Luke 10:31-35. Journal of Biblical Literature. Vol. 117. no. 4. pp. 709-713.
• NIV Study Bible, Introductions to the Books of the Bible, Luke Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Bible Publishers, 2002 reprint.

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