THE SOCIAL COST OF LOVING YOUR NEIGHBOUR
Lessons to be learned from the Jewish-Samaritan divide.
Today, we’re taking a third look at the parable of The Good Samaritan. Specifically, related to the Samaritan’s sacrifice to rescue a man who was left for dead. What can we learn from him about the cost of loving our neighbour?
If you’re unfamiliar with this parable, I’d suggest reading the previous posts:
Where did the divide begin?
In order to fully grasp the social or societal cost that this Samaritan entered into, we need to understand the differences between the Jewish man laying half-dead, and the Samaritan man that saved his life. We need to understand the social relationship between these two people groups in the same way Jesus audience would have understood them, when He first outlined this parable.
When did this divide in social structure, between Jews and Samaritans begin? How did it all happen? Why did it happen? (If you’ve never been to Bible College, you’re about to get a taste!)
Where Did the Samaritans Come From? (5 Key Events)
#1. Civil War – 931 BC (1 Kings 11-14)
It all starts with a civil war that divides the tribes of Israel into 2 Kingdoms; Judah to the South (under King Rehoboam) and Israel to the North (under King Jeroboam).
1 Kings 14:30 (ESV) And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.
#2 Levites Rejected – 931-910 BC (2 Chronicles 11)
Over the next decade, Levites were rejected as priests and sacrifices to Yahweh are replaced with pagan worship. The tribe of Levi relocates into Judah and Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 11:13-15 (ESV) 13 And the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel presented themselves to him from all places where they lived. 14 For the Levites left their common lands and their holdings and came to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons cast them out from serving as priests of the LORD, 15 and he appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat idols and for the calves that he had made.
#3 Spiritual Reforms – 811-870 BC (2 Chronicles 15)
Spiritual reforms are experienced in the Southern Kingdom under healthy leadership. This brings “great numbers” from the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon, who relocate into Judah. Five of the 12 tribes of Israel are now living in the Southern Kingdom.
2 Chronicles 15:9 (ESV) And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who were residing with them, for great numbers had deserted to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.
#4 Assyria Arrives – 740 BC (2 Kings 15)
The Northern Kingdom is attacked by the Assyrian army, and tribes begin to be conquered.
2 Kings 15:29 (ESV) In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and he carried the people captive to Assyria.
#5 Samaria Taken – 722 BC (2 Kings 17)
The Northern Kingdom is conquered by the Assyrians, including the capital city of Samaria.
2 Kings 17:5-6 (ESV) 5 Then the king of Assyria invaded all the land and came to Samaria, and for three years he besieged it. 6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria, and he carried the Israelites away to Assyria and placed them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
Why did this happen?
Perhaps at this point, you’re wondering, “Why would God allow Assyria to decimate Israel?” To find the answer, simply keep scrolling down in 2 Kings 17.
2 Kings 17:15-17 (ESV) 15 They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the LORD had commanded them that they should not do like them. 16 And they abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made for themselves metal images of two calves; and they made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal. 17 And they burned their sons and their daughters as offerings and used divination and omens and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger.
God’s judgement fell on the Northern Kingdom because of the rampant idolatry and pagan worship that had gripped Israel. Soon after, the Assyrians began taking Israelites back as slaves, and Assyrians started to settle in and around the city of Samaria.
2 Kings 17:24 (ESV) And the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the people of Israel. And they took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities.
“Israel Conquered By Assyria”
“Further, the Assyrians began to populate Israel with people from other nations they had defeated…The descendants of these foreigners and the remnant of Israel were later simply called “Samaritans.” During the time of Christ, the Samaritans were despised as an “unclean” people because of their mixed ancestry…” (Got Questions: Your Questions. Biblical Answers.)
“Centuries of intermarriage had rendered Samaria overwhelmingly Gentile and thus ethnically contaminated in Jewish eyes…deeply antagonistic toward Samaritans. To Jews, Samaritans were not simply outcasts, they were enemies.” (Pillar New Testament Commentary)
Perhaps you’ve already figured it out; that this is the starting point of the Samaritan people. They become a mix of race, religion, society, and culture, that stemmed from abandoning the One True God, and embracing a sinful existence.
Back to the Good Samaritan (and the Social Cost)
Try to imagine being a Samaritan in the First Century. Perhaps they carried the shame of their ancestry wherever they went? Perhaps their own skin and blood were a constant reminder to them and to others of a very dark period in Israel’s history?
Now let’s get back to our parable in Luke 10, verse 33.
Luke 10:33 (ESV) But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.
Consider a Samaritan getting involved in this situation. There’s serious risk! People might assume he beat the man. And having a Jewish man half dead on a his pack animal might send the wrong message to anyone who might witness the situation.
Let’s face it; a Samaritan likely had enough struggles in society without getting mixed up in this kind of situation. This was a crazy decision! And Jesus original audience would have perceived all the nuances that we don’t always pick up on.
Wait! What about the Priest & Levite?
Maybe you’re wondering why Jesus chose the Priest and Levite to walk by? Well, let’s remember our history lesson from above. The second stage of Israel’s downfall was rejecting the Priests and Levites in exchange for idolatry and pagan worship.
Therefore, Jesus’ choice of these two characters is brilliant when we keep historical events in mind. Moreover, it would have been mildly offensive that the two that were rejected (in the past), would now reject this man in need.
In contrast, Jesus shows his audience that the Samaritan abandons his ancestry and shame, potential speculation, and blame, to save someone who would never be caught saving him.
If it had of been a Samaritan laying on the road half-dead, the social (societal) view of the Jews would have been a good Samaritan is a dead Samaritan. No one would ever help a Samaritan!
This is about eternal life.
As we have done in previous posts, we need to remember the original question asked by the Lawyer, to Jesus in Luke 10:25.
Luke 10:25 (ESV) And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
Now consider the social / societal implications; it is an amazing picture of the Gospel! The kind of people who will inherit the Kingdom will be from every component of society. They will have baggage and history, they might come from the wrong side of the tracks, with shameful family backgrounds.
Even Samaritans will sit as sons and daughters of God! The Good Samaritan is a picture of redemption. Who society would throw away, Jesus redeems and restores!
Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts
- Consider Western social structures. Who is outcast and shamed in our society?
- How will you and your household bless that person or people group this week?
