Found only in Luke 10:25-37 we have the parable of the Good
Samaritan. Jesus tells a questioner that
we are to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Jesus is then asked, “Who is our neighbor?” Jesus answers with the story about the Good
Samaritan. We all know the story of how
a man is robbed and after other people have passed him by finally the Samaritan
stops and helps him. But what is the significance
of the Samaritan helping the Jew.
Shortly after the reign of Solomon, around 900BCE, Solomon’s
son Rehoboam, through politics and poor judgement brings about the division the
realm and the country is split in the northern kingdom of Israel and the
southern kingdom of Judah.
About 180 years later Assyria invaded Israel in 722BCE. Following their victory the Assyrians gathered
the Jewish leaders, the educated, the skilled craftsmen, the priest and scribes
and relocated them across their vast empire stretching to the edges of China
and India. Their reasoning, if they
could not meet to develop a retaliation plan to take back Israel, then a retaliation
would never happen. The Assyrians were
correct and the ten tribes of the Jews disappeared. The Jews who were removed, were replaced with
Assyrians who ran the country. There
were probably ¾ of the original population remaining in Israel to provide labor
and work the land. These Jews continued
to practice their old religion, the best they could, even constructing a temple
on Mount Gerizim for worship and sacrifice.
About 125 years later Babylon defeated the Assyrians, and invaded
Judah in 598/7 BCE. The third
deportation of Jewish leadership to place in 587BCE.
At this point nearly 1/3 of the population, Jewish leaders, educated,
skilled craftsmen, priest and scribes were removed from Judea and settled along
the Chebar River in towns and villages near the city of Babylon. They were allowed to farm and provide other
forms of labor. Many became
wealthy. Because they were settled
together the priests and the scribes were able to use their knowledge, study
their scriptures, and to reinterpret their theology. It was during this exile that most of the Old
Testament was evaluated, edited and in some cases rewritten.
About 50 years later Cyrus the Great with is Persian army defeated
the Babylonians in 539BCE. He encouraged the Jews to return to their homeland to
rebuild their temple and religion.
What the returnees discovered was the Samaritans, in the
former Israel, who had been without
Jewish leadership and guidance for nearly 200 years. Thee Samaritans had developed a religion they
called Judaism, which did not resemble what had been developed by the Judeans during
the Babylonian exile.
This brought about a hatred between the two people which only
grew during the 500 years until Jesus’ time.
And so, when asked who is our neighbor, Jesus replies with a story of a
Samaritan who helps a Jew. We are all
neighbors, and need to treat each other with kindness, concern and respect.
Join us for our July 13th Worship Service.
photo: July 13th, Praise Team
