The parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) is one of the New Testament’s best-known and most powerful stories.
It’s an old story in need of updating for a modern audience. In 21st century Australia, the tale might go like this:
A man was on his way from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was attacked by robbers. The robbers stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went on their away, leaving him half dead.
A priest happened to be going down the same road and, upon seeing the man, crossed the road to pass him by. So too a Levite when he came to the place, and saw the helpless man, passed him by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came to where the man lay; and when he saw him, the Samaritan took pity on him.
The Samaritan realised the man was not of his kind. Nonetheless, he put the man on his own donkey and took him to a prison in his village.
As it happened, the priest and the Levite stopped at the village on the road to Jericho, where they saw the man locked up. The priest asked the Samaritan what crime the man had committed.
“None,” replied the Samaritan, “I need to lock him up until I can ascertain his identity. There are many bad characters on the road between Jerusalem and Jericho. I must detain him for his safety and for ours.”
“May I see the man so that I may bandage his wounds and pour oil and wine for him?” asked the Levite.
“You may not,” said the Samaritan. “That’s an operational matter.”
The priest and the Levite left the prison and concerned themselves no more.
The next day the Samaritan asked the injured man for two denarii and gave them to the prison keeper.
“Look after him,” the Samaritan said, “and when I return, I will make sure he reimburses you for any extra expense you may have.”
The Samaritan was pleased; he had kept the borders safe and the budget was under control.
It was he who decided who came to his village and the circumstances in which they came.
- See more at:
http://nofibs.com.au/2014/04/15/the-australian-easter-parable-of-the-good-samari...