Africa: New Life

New Life Ministries

Exists to transform lives and communities through preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and acts of compassion.

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 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.” —Luke 10:25-37

As a religious leader, the priest would have been expected to help the man, as the law commanded love for one’s neighbor.

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.—Leviticus 19:18

However, the priest may have been concerned about ritual uncleanness, as touching a dead body would have made him unclean.

Whoever touches a human corpse will be unclean for seven days.—Numbers 19:11

He may also have been worried about his own safety, not wanting to risk being attacked by the same robbers.

Similarly, a Levite, another religious leader, passed by the injured man and chose not to help.

Like the priest, the Levite would have been expected to show compassion and care for the man, but he too prioritized his own concerns over the needs of his neighbor.

In contrast, a Samaritan, a member of a group despised by the Jews, came upon the injured man and had compassion on him.

The Samaritans were considered by the Jews to be unclean and inferior, as they were descendants of intermarriages between Israelites and pagan peoples.

The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Kuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took over Samaria and lived in its towns. When they first lived there, they did not worship the Lord; so he sent lions among them and they killed some of the people. It was reported to the king of Assyria: “The people you deported and resettled in the towns of Samaria do not know what the god of that country requires. He has sent lions among them, which are killing them off, because the people do not know what he requires.” Then the king of Assyria gave this order: “Have one of the priests you took captive from Samaria go back to live there and teach the people what the god of the land requires.” So one of the priests who had been exiled from Samaria came to live in Bethel and taught them how to worship the Lord. Nevertheless, each national group made its own gods in the several towns where they settled, and set them up in the shrines the people of Samaria had made at the high places. The people from Babylon made Sukkoth Benoth, those from Kuthah made Nergal, and those from Hamath made Ashima; the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire as sacrifices to Adrammelek and Anammelek, the gods of Sepharvaim. They worshiped the Lord, but they also appointed all sorts of their own people to officiate for them as priests in the shrines at the high places. They worshiped the Lord, but they also served their own gods in accordance with the customs of the nations from which they had been brought. To this day they persist in their former practices. They neither worship the Lord nor adhere to the decrees and regulations, the laws and commands that the Lord gave the descendants of Jacob, whom he named Israel. When the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites, he commanded them: “Do not worship any other gods or bow down to them, serve them or sacrifice to them. But the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm, is the one you must worship. To him you shall bow down and to him offer sacrifices. You must always be careful to keep the decrees and regulations, the laws and commands he wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. Do not forget the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods. Rather, worship the Lord your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.” They would not listen, however, but persisted in their former practices. Even while these people were worshiping the Lord, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their ancestors did. —2 Kings 17:24-41

The animosity between the two groups was so strong that they often avoided contact with each other.

Despite these cultural and religious barriers, the Samaritan showed extraordinary compassion and care for the injured man. He tended to the man’s wounds, pouring oil and wine on them, which were commonly used for medicinal purposes in ancient times.

He then bandaged the wounds, put the man on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, where he took care of him.

The Samaritan’s care for the man extended beyond the initial rescue, as he gave the innkeeper two denarii (about two days’ wages) and asked him to take care of the man, promising to repay any additional expenses when he returned.

Keys from this Lesson

After sharing the parable, Jesus asks the lawyer, “So which of these three do you think was a neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” The lawyer responds, “He who showed mercy on him.” —Luke 10:37

By acknowledging the samaritan as the true neighbor, the lawyer admits that one’s identity as a neighbor is determined not by cultural or religious affiliation, but by the actions of love and compassion shown to others.

“Go and do likewise.” —Jesus, Luke 10:37

This simple yet powerful command calls us to put our love into action, following the example of the Good Samaritan. It challenges us to transcend boundaries and expectations, showing compassion and mercy to all who are in need.

1. Love knows no boundaries.
2. Compassion leads to action.
3. Go beyond expectations.
4. Love is a reflection of God’s character.

Application

• Expand your definition of neighborhood.
• Be attentive to the needs of others.
• Be prepared to help.