Post by foxjj on Apr 20, 2023 15:46:56 GMT
Learning From The Samaritan
Much has been written concerning peace in our world. However, when we look at the suffering of innocent people brought on through war and greed all around the globe, there is little evidence of peace among neighbours, be they living next door to each other, or neighbouring nations. As an example from the Bible we have the relationship of the Jewish people with their Samaritan neighbours.
The northern kingdom of Israel containing the ten tribes, allowed the practice of false religions including idolatry. In time The Lord brought judgment when they were invaded by Assyria in 722 BC, who carried away most of the people into captivity. In second Kings we read that Assyria resettled the region by sending people from other nations who brought with them their religious practices and inter-married with the remanent:
“And at the beginning of their dwelling there, they did not fear the LORD. Therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them. 26 So the king of Assyria was told, “The nations that you have carried away and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the law of the god of the land. Therefore he has sent lions among them, and behold, they are killing them, because they do not know the law of the god of the land.” 27 Then the king of Assyria commanded, “Send there one of the priests whom you carried away from there, and let him go and dwell there and teach them the law of the god of the land.” 28 So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel and taught them how they should fear the LORD.” - 2 Kings 17:25-28 (ESV)
This shows how The Lord was concerned for the remanent of his faithful people. Sadly not all of the resettled people accepted the Law of The Lord, however The Law had continued to be taught and practiced by some as confirmed in John 4 where the Samaritan woman states: “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.”
In their cronicals the Samaritan’s who are very few today, claim to be the descendants of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph. They follow the Pentateuch which contain Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy which are the Books of Moses, thereby claiming they are the keepers of The Torah. Needless to say this claim caused some controversy with the southern kingdom of Judah.
Because of the mixed breed and practices of the Samaritan’s, they were despised by the Jews from the southern kingdom. It was so bad that travelling Jews would take the long way around the territory rather than travel through Samaria. Although both Jew and Samaritan believed in Yahweh, they would not worship together. The Jews worshiped in their temple on Mount Zion and the Samaritans worshiped in their temple on Mount Gerizim. This background makes the parable of the Good Samaritan all the more interesting, where Jesus tells of a despised Samaritan showing more grace than Jewish citizen’s including a priest, thereby been a more genuine neighbour:
“And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.””- Luke 10:25-37. ESV.
Today, let us be aware of our neighbours needs.
John Joseph Fox.
Much has been written concerning peace in our world. However, when we look at the suffering of innocent people brought on through war and greed all around the globe, there is little evidence of peace among neighbours, be they living next door to each other, or neighbouring nations. As an example from the Bible we have the relationship of the Jewish people with their Samaritan neighbours.
The northern kingdom of Israel containing the ten tribes, allowed the practice of false religions including idolatry. In time The Lord brought judgment when they were invaded by Assyria in 722 BC, who carried away most of the people into captivity. In second Kings we read that Assyria resettled the region by sending people from other nations who brought with them their religious practices and inter-married with the remanent:
“And at the beginning of their dwelling there, they did not fear the LORD. Therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them. 26 So the king of Assyria was told, “The nations that you have carried away and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the law of the god of the land. Therefore he has sent lions among them, and behold, they are killing them, because they do not know the law of the god of the land.” 27 Then the king of Assyria commanded, “Send there one of the priests whom you carried away from there, and let him go and dwell there and teach them the law of the god of the land.” 28 So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel and taught them how they should fear the LORD.” - 2 Kings 17:25-28 (ESV)
This shows how The Lord was concerned for the remanent of his faithful people. Sadly not all of the resettled people accepted the Law of The Lord, however The Law had continued to be taught and practiced by some as confirmed in John 4 where the Samaritan woman states: “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.”
In their cronicals the Samaritan’s who are very few today, claim to be the descendants of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph. They follow the Pentateuch which contain Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy which are the Books of Moses, thereby claiming they are the keepers of The Torah. Needless to say this claim caused some controversy with the southern kingdom of Judah.
Because of the mixed breed and practices of the Samaritan’s, they were despised by the Jews from the southern kingdom. It was so bad that travelling Jews would take the long way around the territory rather than travel through Samaria. Although both Jew and Samaritan believed in Yahweh, they would not worship together. The Jews worshiped in their temple on Mount Zion and the Samaritans worshiped in their temple on Mount Gerizim. This background makes the parable of the Good Samaritan all the more interesting, where Jesus tells of a despised Samaritan showing more grace than Jewish citizen’s including a priest, thereby been a more genuine neighbour:
“And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.””- Luke 10:25-37. ESV.
Today, let us be aware of our neighbours needs.
John Joseph Fox.
