The Despised Samaritan

How’s your week going?

We’ve been studying the parable of the Good Samaritan this week. But here’s something you might have missed—Jesus never actually calls him the “Good” Samaritan. Quite the opposite, He calls him the "Despised" Samaritan (Luke 10:33).

Do you have people you despise?

I hate to admit it, but as much as I try to love everyone, I still wrestle with prejudice and frustration. One group I struggle with the most? People who use religion and Scripture to spread hate, especially online. It’s hard for me to love them, and I don’t say that lightly.

There was a reason Jesus chose to describe the hero of the story as despised. It’s not because He despised him, but because he knew that’s how his audience (mainly the Pharisees, but also the disciples) saw the Samaritan.

Samaritans were considered traitors to their faith and were hated by the Jews.

The Samaritans were a mixed race, only partly Israelite. They were seen as having compromised the faith. They worshipped other gods and departed from the law (2 Kings 17:24-41).

Of all the passersby in the story, the Samaritan was probably the least likely, in the eyes of the Jewish listeners, to do right.

By portraying the Samaritan as the hero, Jesus challenged deep-rooted prejudices and exposed self-righteousness.

In the same way, the parable can expose our own prejudices.

Who is the Samaritan in your life? The person you dismiss? The group you think couldn’t possibly do good?

If you can identify the person(s) you have a hard time accepting, you’ve found your Despised Samaritan and begun to understand Jesus’ parable.

For me, maybe I should try harder to muster up genuine love when scrolling through comments.

What about you?

Hey! You are a Chamatkar.

Jenny Mendes