Bible Question:
I would appreciate comments on this interpretation of the Parable of the Good Samaritan The Good Samaritan Main characters: · Levite – a high ranking representative of Judaism · Priest – a high ranking representative of Judaism · Samaritan – from a community, which was considered, at the time, to be the equivalent of satanic religion (John 8:48, demonstrates the general opinion of Samaritans). This could be compared to modern day attitudes towards Muslims. Comment, this parable: 1. Presents characters representing the extremes in their formal relationships with God 2. Can be focusing on Church attitude, as much as individual attitudes Location of the Parable 1. In Luke 10 – According to the introduction of Luke in the New American Bible, Luke was written for the Churches: with concern for the continuity between the historical ministry of Jesus and the ministry of the apostles is Luke's way of guaranteeing the fidelity of the Church's teaching to the teaching of Jesus. Basic Theme of the Parable 1. The two members of the community most expected to have helped the injured man, did not. 2. The least likely person (perceived to be the furthest in a formal relationship with God) actually helped the person 3. The person, who most exemplified Gods desire for mercy and compassion, was the person who was perceived as being the most distanced from God. This is the person who had no formal training in or introduction to Scripture – or in today’s world, not introduced to the Gospel. Comments 1. The person, who, by all formal measures, should not be eligible for heaven, is in fact, by his actions (although not by his profession of creed), the one closest to what God desires from man. 2. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church ("Outside the Church there is no salvation”) CCC: 847 This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church: Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation Summary 1. It is our sincere actions (as opposed to ‘good works’), which pleases and honors God, more than our knowledge of Gods Law Application of this Parable By the actions of the Samaritan, which today can be equated to a Muslim, and Jesus’ subsequent approval of the Samaritan, we can conclude that in today’s world, even a Muslim, can also be pleasing to God. Therefore, it is within God’s plan that a Muslim (non-Catholic, non-Christian) can receive salvation. With this, in Vatican II, the Catholic Church has accordingly embraced a relationship with non-Christians, as discussed in CCC 839-845. |
Bible Answer: The interpretation of the Parable you have presented is out of sync with Scripture. Jesus used this illustration to teach us that loving our neighbor emanates from a heart that loves God first! On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus.” Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" He answered: "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, Love your neighbor as yourself. You have answered correctly, Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Luke 10:25-29 How do we love God? By obeying His commands I John 5:3 What are His commands? And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. I John 3:23-4 What pleases God? Our faith - “Without faith it is impossible to please God” Hebrews 11:6 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12 Jesus declared, “I am the Way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”.” John 14:6 No one can “achieve salvation!” “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.” (Titus 3:4-6) “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:8-10 The only thing that distinguishes a believer from a non-believer is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit of Christ. God alone can see this! The work of the Holy Spirit is to conform us to the image of Christ, so that our attitudes and actions will reflect Him. Many believers hinder His work by not yielding their will to Him! The point is this, our first response to God is one of faith – do we believe what God says? All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The penalty for sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. See Romans 3:23, 6:23 God will judge sin; do we recognize our need to be saved from His wrath? We have a choice to exercise faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross, He paid the penalty for our sins (death) or choose to believe in our selves to meet God's Holy demand for righteousness? God’s righteousness is either out of reach, therefore we need a Savior, or it is attainable, and we can achieve eternal salvation on our own. God’s Word is very clear; you can choose to believe it or ignore it. “Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. I John 5:10-13 There are no denominational or religious monikers over the gates of Heaven. Salvation is a free gift and available to everyone – Muslims, Buddhists, Catholics, Baptists, Wiccans – but there is only ONE WAY, Jesus! |