PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN [LUKE 1O: 25-37]

   HOW THE STORY OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN FITS TOGETHER. THE STORY WITH ITS INTRODUCTION INVOLVES TWO "ROUNDS."  IN ROUND ONE, THE LAWYER ASKS JESUS ABOUT THE WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE (10:25), AND JESUS'  ANSWER ASKS LAWYER A QUESTION ABOUT THE LAW (1O:26). THE LAWYER REPLIES (10:27), AND JESUS AFFIRMS THE RESPONSE AND COMMANDS THE LAWYER TO DO WHAT THE LAW SAYS ( 1O:28).
IN ROUND TWO THE SELF-RIGHTEOUS LAWYER GOES TOO FAR WITH ANOTHER QUESTION (10:29), AND ONCE AGAIN JESUS ANSWER LEADS TO ANOTHER QUESTION (1O : 30-35). THE LAWYER CORRECTLY THE SECOND TIME, AND JESUS COMMANDS HIM TO FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF THE SAMARITAN (1O:37).
 HOW TO UNDERSTAND THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN
THREE BASIC APPROACHES TO THIS STORY EXIST. AS PRESENTED BELOW. AS WE SHOW WITH NUMBERS 1 AND 2  REPRESENTS EXTREMES WHICH SHOULD BE AVOIDED AND NUMBER 3 IS A SUGGESTED MIDDLE GROUND.
  1.)  THE CHURCH FATHERS: SPECULATIVE ALLEGORIZING ABOUT JESUS HERE THE DETAIL ARE CLOSELY EXAMINED. THE MAN GOING DOWN TO JERICHO IS ADAM. THE THIEVES ARE SATAN AND DEMONS. THE RELIGION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT (PRIEST AND LEVITE) CANNOT SAVE HIM, BUT JESUS (THE GOOD SAMARITAN) SAVES HIM BY BRINGING HIM INTO THE CHURCH (THE INN) AND PUTTING HIM UNDER THE CARE OF  THE APOSTLE PAUL ( THE INN KEEPER).
 2.) LIBERAL PROTESTANTISM: THE SOCIAL GOSPEL HERE THE DETAILS OF THE STORY IS NOT THE ISSUE, THE "MORAL OF THE STORY "IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT. WE ARE NOT TO ASK WHO OUR NEIGHBOR IS. RATHER WE ARE TO REACH OUT IN LOVE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE MARGINALIZED AND OPPRESSED
3. A SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVE: THE BANKRUPTCY OF SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS. HERE THE POINT IS THE CONTRASTING WAY IN WHICH THE MAN IN THE DITCH IS TREATED
  BY THE JEWISH LEADERS. (PRIEST AND) LEVITE) AND THE SAMARITAN IN LUKE JESUS' CONCERN FOR "DOWN AND OUTERS TEND TO RECOGNIZE THEIR NEED  OF REPENTANCE, WHILE THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS REFUSE TO REPENT ( LUKE 4:18; 7:29-30, 36,50; 10:21; 11:37-54; 15: 1-31; 17:16, 18:9-14;  19: 1-10). AUTHENTIC RELIGION FIRST HUMBLY RECOGNIZES PERSONAL NEED AND THEN TURNS IN MERCY TO OTHERS WHO ARE IN NEED.