Download Parable of the Good Samaritan World in Front of the Text

Parable of the Good Samaritan
World in Front of the Text
After studying the World Behind the parable and the text of the parable, respond to the
following questions.
1. Who is issuing the challenge to
the groups in Judaism?
Jesus, as a Jewish Rabbi or prophet, is issuing
this challenge to his fellow Jews.
2. What was the challenge/change
required for these groups?
The challenge was to look beyond group
differences and conflict between groups and to
return to the core beliefs of Judaism- which was
to love one’s neighbour and to care for them in
times of need, just as they would expect to be
cared for.
3. What laws/values/beliefs in
Judaism were part of the
challenge, or change required, by
this parable?
The Torah or Law of Judaism, required Jewish
people to love their neighbour- in particular
their fellow Jews and to take responsibility for
their care if something should happen to them.
Samaritans were not considered true followers
of the God of Judaism by Jews from Judea and
Galilee. They were despised as having betrayed
Judaism when the rest of the Jews were taken
into Exile and were not considered to be of the
Jewish race.
Purity laws required priests and Levites not to
defile themselves by making contact with blood,
bodily fluids, dirt etc while on duty in terms of
their Temple responsibilities.
Jewish society was rigidly hierarchical and the
ruling class kept itself apart from other classes.
4. What change/s were required by
the message of this parable?
The change required was Jesus’ challenge that
the needs of people- one’s neighbours- were
more important than laws and rules- political,
religious or social.
The change required was to live to the only law
that was important, according to Jesus: to love
one’s neighbour as oneself.
5. Who, in the end, is the only
person who changed or
responded to the challenge in this
parable?
6. What might each of the three
main characters in this story be
thinking? Create a thought bubble
for each.
7. Could this parable be applied to a
community to which you belong
today?
The irony in the parable was that the only
person to obey the greatest commandment was
the despised outcast of Judaism, the Samaritan.
Those considered “good” by tradition did not
obey God’s wishes.