20160425 Monday, April 25 2016
Luke 10: Who Was The Good Samaritan?

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him"

The LORD God, Who the Holy Scriptures plainly state was later born as Jesus of Nazareth (see The Identity Of The LORD God and The LORD God Our Saviour), instructed Moses (see also What Did Jesus Christ Write In The Ark Of Moses?) to appoint seventy of the elders to assist him in his responsibilities (see The Seventy Elders).

The elders of Israel had been the defacto priesthood prior to the setting apart of the Levites for that purpose i.e. there was no Levite priesthood at the time of the first Passover - the elders did it (see What Did The Elders Of Israel Do? and When Were The Levites Set Apart?; also The First Passover).

"11:16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. 11:17 And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone." (Numbers 11:16-17 KJV)

With that precedent that He made for Moses, the Messiah's own "seventy" were appointed for the same purpose. They are not spoken of frequently in the Holy Bible, however from what we do know, they were humble preachers of the true Gospel of the coming Kingdom of God (see What Gospel Did Jesus Preach?), with the power to heal and cast out demons. Their instructions were similar to those given to the Twelve apostles ("I send you forth as lambs among wolves") - including how to reject those who reject the Truth: "Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you" (see The Shake The Dust From Your Feet Lessons).

"10:1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. 10:2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. 10:3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. 10:4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.

10:5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. 10:6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. 10:7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.

10:8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: 10:9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. 10:10 But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, 10:11 Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. 10:12 But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.

10:13 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 10:14 But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. 10:15 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.

10:16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

10:21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

10:22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.

10:23 And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: 10:24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them." (Luke 10:1-24 KJV)

When the LORD had the northern Kingdom of Israel taken away, thereby making them the "lost ten tribes" of Israel (see Israel In History and Prophecy: The Lost Ten Tribes), the Assyrians brought in people from Babylon, where "Israel" began (see Israel's Neighborhood Roots) to settle in Samaria (see The Origin Of The Samaritans) - the capital region of the exiled kingdom (see The Capital Of The Lost Ten Tribes Of Israel).

Those Babylonians later became known as "Samaritans" because they lived in Samaria (just like, for example, when Europeans first came to North America, they called the native people "the Americans" - until the Europeans began using the term for themselves). The people of Judah, to the south, when they returned from their Babylonian exile (see Why Was It Desolate For Seventy Years?), regarded the "Samaritans" with fear and hatred. "Samaritan" was even used as an insulting epithet against anyone.

By the time of the coming of the Messiah, many of the Samaritans did realize and accept Him as the Messiah of all people, while, ironically, the religious authorities of His people rejected and killed Him. It was for that reason, to illustrate how righteousness is based solely upon righteous behavior - not mere claims of superiority and self-righteousness - that the parable of the "good Samaritan" was given. The "good Samaritan" could have been anyone who understood what "mercy" really means (see the Fact Finder question below).

"10:25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

10:26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

10:28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

10:29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

10:30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

10:31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

10:32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

10:33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 10:34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

10:35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

10:36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

10:37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him.

Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise." (Luke 10:25-37 KJV)

The Messiah associated with "common people," rather than the delusional "high and mighty," because the "low" people were actually much closer to God in heaven than those who were merely high on themselves (see Truly Uplifting). Among those truly righteous people were Martha and Mary (see The House of Martha and Mary) and their brother Lazarus (see Who Else Did They Want To Kill At Passover?) of Bethany (see The Ascent From Bethany).

"10:38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 10:39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 10:40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

10:41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 10:42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:38-42 KJV)

Fact Finder: What does "mercy" actually mean in the Word of God?
See What Does Mercy Really Mean?