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The Good Samaritan currently refers to doing good deeds towards strangers exclusively out of kindness and compassion. This idiom is rooted in a biblical parable told by Jesus. The story is usually interpreted as Jesus call to love both neighbors and enemies. However, the meaning of the parable could be misinterpreted, which can also be found in the Bible. Thus, the Good Samaritan may not refer to people who help strangers but to those who do a good deed, although this is not expected of them at all.
Initially, the parable told about a Jew and a Samaritan who were not having friendly relationships. Jesus said that one day, on the way from Jerusalem to Jericho, a man was attacked by robbers and severely beaten. The victim was left to die on the road, and there was practically no hope of salvation. A priest walked past the injured man, but he paid no attention and did not try to help the man. Soon, a Levite passed by the man, who also did not take action to help the man. Finally, Samaritan, coming from Samaria, who was hated by the Jews, passed along the road. He was the only one who decided to help the injured man, wash his wounds, and take him to the innkeeper, who took care of the man for payment. Thus, Jesus encourages all people to treat with kindness and compassion not only to their neighbors but also to their enemies by saying, Go and do likewise (New International Version, 2011., Luke 10:37). Later, this parable, as many other passages from the Bible, began to be used as an idiom.
In the modern world, this expression is used in relation to people who do good deeds without hope of reward. Specifically, Good Samaritan is used to refer to a person who helps strangers in need. This idiom is often used in the name of hospitals that provide services for disadvantaged people. There are also Good Samaritan laws that provide support and protection for people helping those who are sick or injured. Thus, the idiom indicates the desire of people to help strangers in a difficult situation without expecting any gratitude or benefit. However, it is possible that the meaning of the parable was misinterpreted and significantly differs from the generally accepted.
An argument for this assumption can also be found in the Bible. The expert in the law, in the end, asked Jesus: Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers (New International Version, 2011, Luke 10:36). In answer to this question, Jesus says that the neighbor is the one who helped the injured. Thus, loving ones neighbor as oneself probably does not imply unconditional love for ones enemies or strangers. This parable emphasizes the need to love and be grateful to someone who shows mercy and compassion. The misinterpretation thus became the basis for the modern meaning of the idiom, implying the encouragement to help all people in need. However, Good Samaritan should probably mean showing gratitude towards the one who helped.
I think that this interpretation of the parable is more correct and reasonable. Jesus notes that there are two paths a person can choose between. However, if someone chooses the path of help and kindness, then he or she should be rewarded with gratitude. The main thing is also that Jesus encourages to treat with equal respect all who help others, regardless of their origin. The application of the lesson of the parable can be that you cannot judge people by their appearance but by their deeds. In the story, neither the priest nor the Levite paid attention to the injured, although compassion is expected of them. The Jew could not hope for the help of the Samaritan, but he showed concern and mercy towards his enemy. Thus, the parable calls not to judge people according to certain criteria and to be grateful for their kindness.
Reference
New International Version (NIV). (2011). BibleGateaway. Web.
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