Today’s Gospel reading contains the parable of our Lord Jesus Christ about the good Samaritan.

The parable itself was uttered by the Savior in response to a question from a certain legalist, or scribe.

This was a special group in Israel, focused on the study of the Old Testament, on its rewriting and interpretation. As it was often the case, the legalists, Pharisees and scribes questioned Christ insincerely. And in this case, the evangelist Luke clarifies that the legalist approached the Lord «tempting Him» (Luke 10:25).

The legalist, maybe, thought that Christ would tell him something that would contradict the Law. Then the legalist, of course, would say: You said that, but the law says it differently, and this will be embarrassing and provoking.

However, the Lord, of course, knew the intention of this person. And when the legalist asks, «What should I do to inherit eternal life?» (Luke 10:25), Christ points out to him that the answer is there, in the Law.

And the legalist is forced to quote the text that Jesus Christ indirectly points out to him. If he had said that he did not understand what text he was talking about, or did not know where it was, he would have shown that he did not know the Law and the Holy Scriptures well.

And the legalist says, «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 your neighbor as yourself» (Luke 10:27).

The legalist, it turns out, found himself in an awkward situation. He, the expert and interpreter of the Law, asks Christ about what he should already know; and he decides to come forward with a question to somehow justify himself. So, he asks the Savior this parable-bearing question, «And who is my neighbor?» (Luke 10:29).

In the Holy Scripture in the epistle of Apostle James, there are such words: For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desires… Thus, the scribe has put himself into a temptation by his own question!

In response to this question, the Lord tells him the parable of the good Samaritan.

This parable differs from the other Gospel parables, first of all, in its realism. And it rather resembles a real life story. In ancient times, this road (from Jericho to Jerusalem) itself was indeed considered extremely dangerous, and the listeners of the parable were well aware of the obstacles and dangers encountered by those who walked this dangerous way.

Beaten, robbed, wounded, abandoned on the road, a jewish person finds himself on the verge of death. And so the priest walked along the same road where the crime took place, and then the Levite.

And these two servants of God, seeing their fellow tribesman in danger, pass by.

There is no clarification as to why they did not help their brother. Perhaps they were afraid that the robbers were somewhere nearby. Perhaps they were afraid to touch the dead, as it would be considered desecration. There are different «perhaps», but it is not for nothing that the Gospel does not mention the motives for such an act, because it does not matter what the motive was for the priest and the Levite. What matters is what they did. Or rather, they did not — they did not show mercy.

And so, the Samaritan goes the same way, and, seeing a man abandoned and dying on the road, helps him. In the parable, it is this feature that is of great importance — who shows mercy. Samaritans separated from the Jewish people due to certain historical events. They created their own strange religion, built their own temple and had their own cult. Pious Jews regarded Samaritans as renegades, as unworthy people. For a Jew, any communication with the Samaritans is desecration and humiliation. But it is the Samaritan who does what the Law of God prescribes. And this was pleasing to God.

What is the meaning of this parable? this parable is said in response to the legalist ‘s question: «Who is my neighbor?» (Luke 10:29)

St. Maximus the Confessor says: «God’s mercy to us is hidden in our compassion for our neighbors.»

Thus, our attitude to people contains our hope for salvation by the mercy of God.

When asking the question «who is my neighbor?», the legalist expected to hear a typical Jewish answer: someone who is of the same people with you; or someone who is of the same faith with you; or someone who is of the same family with you — your family and your friends. But in response, he hears a parable that ends with a question addressed to him «Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?» (Luke 10:36).

At the very beginning of their dialogue, the legalist asks Christ: who is my neighbor, and in the end, Christ, asking a question, reminds: do not think who your neighbor is, but think how you can become someone’s neighbor. You don’t have to focus on thinking about who is your neighbor or who is your friend, but build your life in such a way that you ask yourself: What have I done for someone to be their neighbor and friend?

Human nature is such that we are always more used to taking than giving. Someone always owes us, someone often had to do or to be something for us… But the teaching of Christ is radically different: live in such a way that you can be a neighbor, a brother, and a friend to others.

What else is there about this legalist? To the Lord’s question, it would be more logical to answer briefly — Samaritan. But to say that a Samaritan is a neighbor was unacceptable for the scribe. This is unbearable for him, and he says, «He who showed him mercy» (Luke 10:37). Which, in fact, is true. But hypocrisy does not allow us to say that it is the Samaritan who has shown mercy.

We live in different times, in a different culture, but we also have our own legalism [ˈliːgəlɪzəm]. And our own Samaritans around us.

And often ask the question: who is my neighbor?

Therefore, the parable of the good Samaritan is a parable for us. A reminder to us Christians that it is not worth dividing people into neighbors or not neighbors, but we need to take care of how to make people perceive us as their neighbors.

 «Your neighbor, first of all, is the one who is in need; and do not wait for him to call and beg you, as he may not be able to do so, for various reasons!»

A Christian should not ask: Who is my neighbor? A Christian should live in such a way that he is perceived as everyone’s neighbor.

Amen!

Based on: https://kdais.kiev.ua/event/propoved-rus-28112021/