Saving My Enemy - Echoes of the Good Samaritan (High Quality)

2021-07-17

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Saving My Enemy - Echoes of the Good Samaritan (High Quality) This Bible teaching from Founded in Truth Fellowship, presented by Matthew Vander Els, delves into the profound meaning of the parable of the Good Samaritan found in Luke chapter 10. It goes beyond a simple lesson in being kind and explores the deeply rooted historical and cultural context that made this parable so revolutionary and challenging for its original audience. The core message revolves around the concept of who our neighbor truly...

This Bible teaching from Founded in Truth Fellowship, presented by Matthew Vander Els, delves into the profound meaning of the parable of the Good Samaritan found in Luke chapter 10. It goes beyond a simple lesson in being kind and explores the deeply rooted historical and cultural context that made this parable so revolutionary and challenging for its original audience. The core message revolves around the concept of who our neighbor truly is and extends to the radical idea of showing love and mercy even to our enemies, breaking down the barriers of hatred and division.

The Setting: Jerusalem to Jericho and the Divide

The teaching begins by setting the scene. Yeshua is on his way to Jerusalem, a pivotal moment in Luke's narrative. He faces rejection from a Samaritan village, highlighting the deep-seated animosity between Judeans and Samaritans. This sets the stage for the subsequent teaching, including the parable of the Good Samaritan. To truly understand the parable, it is crucial to grasp the historical relationship between these two groups.

According to the speaker, Samaria, earlier known as Shechem, has a history marked by significant events, including the story of Dina and the rule of Abimelech. However, the key to understanding the conflict lies in the split of the united kingdom of Israel after the reign of King David's son into the northern kingdom of Israel (capital Samaria) and the southern kingdom of Judah (capital Jerusalem). The northern kingdom experienced leadership like Ahab and Jezebel, known for introducing the worship of Baal. Later, King Jehu desecrated the shrine of Baal.

A major turning point was the conquest of the northern kingdom by the Assyrian Empire around 722 BCE. The Assyrians had a brutal practice of deporting populations and resettling conquered territories with people from other nations. This led to a mixing of the Israelite population with people from Babylon, Kuthah, Ava, Hamath, and Sepharvarim, who were settled in the towns of Samaria. The resulting population became known as Samaritans.

Meanwhile, the southern kingdom of Judah was later conquered by Babylon, and many Judeans were taken into exile. The Persians eventually conquered Babylon and allowed the Judeans to return and rebuild their temple in Jerusalem. This is where the tension with the Samaritans intensified. The Samaritans, who had remained in the land, did not accept Jerusalem as the sole religious center and challenged the returning Judeans' authority. Nehemiah records the opposition to the rebuilding of Jerusalem's wall by figures like Sanballat, associated with Samaria. Around 388 BCE, the Samaritans built their own temple on Mount Gerizim, further solidifying the schism and fueling animosity for generations.

The Lawyer's Test and the Core Commandments

The teaching then shifts to Luke 10, verse 25, where a lawyer, an expert in the Torah, approaches Yeshua to test him. The speaker notes that Luke often portrays lawyers in a negative light, as those who try to trap Yeshua. The lawyer asks, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" The speaker points out that the lawyer seems to view eternal life as something that can be attained through a single action, like checking off a list.

Yeshua cleverly responds by asking the lawyer what is written in the Law and how he reads it. The lawyer replies by quoting two key passages from the Torah: Deuteronomy 6:5, "You shall 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 Leviticus 19:18, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." The speaker emphasizes that love for God must be manifested through action and that Yeshua himself stated that all the commandments hinge on these two.

Defining "Neighbor" and the Parable's Shock Value

The lawyer's question, "Who is my neighbor?", is explored in the context of the prevailing interpretation that "neighbor" referred only to one's own people. While Leviticus 19:18 speaks of loving your neighbor as yourself within "your own people," verse 33 of the same chapter extends this to the foreigner residing among you. However, the Torah does not explicitly command loving one's enemy. Yeshua, in the Sermon on the Mount, expands on this ethic, urging love for both friend and enemy.

Yeshua then responds to the lawyer's question with the parable of the Good Samaritan. A man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho is attacked by robbers, stripped, beaten, and left half dead. Both a priest and a Levite pass by without helping. The speaker notes the irony of religious leaders failing to show compassion. Various reasons for their inaction are considered, including fear or concern about ritual purity, though the latter is less likely as they were likely traveling away from the temple.

Compassion and Mercy: Embodying God's Nature

After recounting the parable, Yeshua asks the lawyer, "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The lawyer hesitantly replies, "The one who had mercy on him." The speaker notes that the lawyer avoids even saying the word "Samaritan." Interestingly, the parable itself uses the word "compassion" (Greek: splanchnizomai) to describe the Samaritan's initial feeling, while the lawyer uses "mercy." The speaker explains that in Luke's Gospel, the Greek word for mercy (eleos) is consistently attributed to God. By showing compassion and acting mercifully, the Samaritan embodies an attribute of God. Yeshua concludes with the command, "Go and do likewise." This call to action urges the lawyer, and all listeners, to extend neighborly love and mercy, even to those considered enemies.

Application for Everyday Life:

Challenge Prejudices: Actively question and challenge your own preconceived notions and biases against individuals or groups you may consider different or even hostile.
Extend Kindness to the Unexpected: Look for opportunities to show kindness and compassion to people you might ordinarily overlook or avoid, especially those from different backgrounds or with opposing views.
Practice Empathy: Try to understand the perspectives and experiences of others, even those you disagree with. This can foster compassion and break down barriers.
Actively Help Those in Need: Be aware of the suffering around you and take concrete steps to help those in need, regardless of their background or identity.
Be a Peacemaker: In situations of conflict, strive to be a force for reconciliation and understanding, rather than fueling division and hatred.

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