Exegetical Analysis of the Good Samaritan
Exegetical Essay on Luke 10:31-34 : The Parable of the Good Samratin In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 10 verses 31 through 34 states, “31A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. 32Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. 33But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the site. 34He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them.” (NAB) Through my research I have found four different interpretations on who the Good Samaritan was and the possible morals of this parable.
View 1: The Good Samaritan As An Outcast This view presents the Samaritan as being, “an outcast, a half-bred, someone impure, someone less than human.” (Stenberg, 324) This view is very similar to what the popular teaching is: that the Samaritan was simply an outcast who does the right thing. The parable is set-up in such a way that the reader becomes weary with the possible fate of the victim, but alas, the ending is an uplifting one. The reader understands just how, “concrete, real, and intimate” the compassion, which the Samaritan traveler shows the victim, is. (Stenberg, 324) The moral of the story is true compassion is not reserved for those who are praised upon by society, and that true compassion has no boundaries. (Stenberg, 324)
View 2: The Good Samaritan As An Allegory This view holds that the parable can be interpreted in such a way that the victim represents Adam, the priest and the Levite are the priesthood and the Old Testament, and the Good Samaritan is Jesus. (Cevallos, 56) In this sense, the victim has been overcome by the temptation to sin, and the Good Samaritan, parallel to the Jesus, whom people label as an outcast and blasphemer, is the one who shows mercy and ultimately saves the victim. (Graves, 269) Adhering to this view, the meaning behind this parable is that Jesus is
View 1: The Good Samaritan As An Outcast This view presents the Samaritan as being, “an outcast, a half-bred, someone impure, someone less than human.” (Stenberg, 324) This view is very similar to what the popular teaching is: that the Samaritan was simply an outcast who does the right thing. The parable is set-up in such a way that the reader becomes weary with the possible fate of the victim, but alas, the ending is an uplifting one. The reader understands just how, “concrete, real, and intimate” the compassion, which the Samaritan traveler shows the victim, is. (Stenberg, 324) The moral of the story is true compassion is not reserved for those who are praised upon by society, and that true compassion has no boundaries. (Stenberg, 324)
View 2: The Good Samaritan As An Allegory This view holds that the parable can be interpreted in such a way that the victim represents Adam, the priest and the Levite are the priesthood and the Old Testament, and the Good Samaritan is Jesus. (Cevallos, 56) In this sense, the victim has been overcome by the temptation to sin, and the Good Samaritan, parallel to the Jesus, whom people label as an outcast and blasphemer, is the one who shows mercy and ultimately saves the victim. (Graves, 269) Adhering to this view, the meaning behind this parable is that Jesus is
Bibliography: Cevallos, Juan Carlos. 1997. "The Good Samaritan : A Second Reading of the Law (Luke 10:25-37)." Theological Educator no. 56: 49-58. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed October 1, 2013). Graves, Mike. 1997. "Luke 10:25-37 : The Moral of the "Good Samaritan" Story?." Review & Expositor 94, no. 2: 269-275. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed October 1, 2013). Levine, Amy-Jill. 2012. "The many faces of the Good Samaritan: most wrong." Biblical Archaeology Review 38, no. 1: 24. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed October 1, 2013). Moessner, Jeanne Stevenson. 1995. "Preaching the Good Samaritan : A Feminist Perspective." Journal For Preachers 19, no. 1: 21-25. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed October 2, 2013). Richard, Sue. 1987. "To whom am I a neighbor : Luke 10:25-37; 1 John 3:11-18." Brethren Life And Thought 32, no. 3: 180-184. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed October 1, 2013). Stenberg, Mark E. 2010. "Everything you know is wrong: shame, e-dentity, identity, and the Samaritan savior of Luke 10:25-37." Word & World 30, no. 3: 319-327. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed October 1, 2013).