Written by Tony Chan (Senior Communications Officer)
Scriptures reading:
The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him’, he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him’, he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, a man fell victim to robbers who not only stole from him but also stripped him of his clothing and beat him severely, leaving him half-dead. Two persons who served in the synagogue passed by. Although they saw the injured man, they chose to remain indifferent and walked away. However, a Samaritan later passed by, saw the injured man, was moved with compassion, and extended a helping hand.
Jesus crafted this parable to respond to an expert in the law’s question. During a debate with Jesus, the law expert asked, ‘Who is my neighbour?’ The Bible noted that he asked this question to ‘justify himself’, as he believed he had already fulfilled the law’s requirement to love his neighbour. However, Jesus instructed him to love his neighbour as if he had never truly done so before.
Jesus’ story is masterfully crafted. The two persons who ignored the injured man were both workers serving in the synagogue. The injured man, in addition to being robbed, was stripped of his clothing. At that time, people often identified others’ ethnic backgrounds based on their attire, so the passersby could not determine the man’s identity. However, the incident took place on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho, an area predominantly inhabited by Jews, making it more likely that the injured man was Jewish.
When the two temple ministers saw a person lying on the road whose identity was unrecognisable, they did not consider him a neighbour, even though it was highly likely he was a fellow Jew. Consequently, they chose not to offer assistance. The Samaritan, however, acted differently. He saw someone whose identity was unclear and who was very likely a Jew—a member of a group that commonly harboured hostility toward his own people. Yet, he still chose to help him.
Through this parable, Jesus conveyed that ‘neighbour’ is not restricted by ethnic or racial boundaries. In the parable, the only definitive information about the injured man is his need for assistance. Thus, a neighbour is not defined by proximity or familiarity but by the presence of anyone in need.
The Samaritan not only acted on his initial compassion by providing immediate assistance, but the next day, he went further, entrusting the innkeeper to continue caring for the injured man and even committing to cover future medical expenses. His moment of compassion resulted not in a single act but in continuous assistance.
Today, we reflect on two key points: First, a neighbour is not merely someone close to us but anyone in need. Second, loving one’s neighbour requires more than a single act of kindness. It involves providing ongoing support according to the neighbour’s needs. May the Lord guide us in living out His teachings. Amen.
