Introduction

Beneficence, the act of doing good and showing kindness, is a central theme in Christian ethics and is vividly illustrated in the parable of the Good Samaritan. This parable, found in the Gospel of Luke, serves as a profound teaching on love, mercy, and the call to extend compassion beyond cultural and social boundaries.

Biblical Context

The parable of the Good Samaritan is recorded in Luke 10:25-37. It is presented in response to a question posed by a lawyer who sought to test Jesus, asking, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luke 10:25). Jesus, in turn, asks the lawyer to interpret the Law, to which he responds, "‘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’" (Luke 10:27). Seeking to justify himself, the lawyer further inquires, "And who is my neighbor?" (Luke 10:29).

The Parable

In response, Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan. A man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho is attacked by robbers, stripped, beaten, and left half-dead. A priest and a Levite, both respected figures in Jewish society, pass by without offering assistance. However, a Samaritan, a member of a group despised by the Jews, stops to help. He tends to the man's wounds, takes him to an inn, and ensures his care, promising to cover any additional expenses (Luke 10:30-35).

Theological Significance

The parable challenges prevailing social norms and prejudices, emphasizing that true neighborly love transcends ethnic and religious boundaries. The Samaritan's actions exemplify the essence of beneficence—selfless, sacrificial love that seeks the well-being of others, regardless of their identity or status. Jesus concludes the parable by asking, "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The lawyer answers, "The one who showed him mercy" (Luke 10:36-37). Jesus then instructs, "Go and do likewise" (Luke 10:37).

Moral and Ethical Implications

The parable of the Good Samaritan serves as a moral imperative for Christians to practice beneficence. It calls believers to act with compassion and mercy, reflecting God's love in tangible ways. The Samaritan's willingness to cross cultural divides and provide aid to a stranger exemplifies the call to love one's neighbor as oneself, a fundamental tenet of Christian ethics.

Practical Application

In contemporary society, the parable encourages Christians to engage in acts of kindness and service, particularly towards those who are marginalized or in need. It challenges believers to examine their own prejudices and to extend love and assistance without discrimination. The Good Samaritan's example inspires a life of active compassion, urging Christians to be agents of God's love in a broken world.Luke 10:33-35
But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
Nave's Topical Index

The Good Samaritan.
... vile and worthless, the true is beyond expression beautiful and good. ... us to follow
the stream of beneficence in its ... feature of the parable; he was a Samaritan. ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/xvii the good samaritan.htm

The Morality of the Gospel.
... good man will prefer that mode, as well as those objects of his beneficence, by
which ... woven into them; and in some, as that of the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal ...
/.../paley/evidences of christianity/chapter ii the morality of.htm

The
... God is lavish in beneficence, yet He waits for each ... how to contend against heretic,
against Jew and Samaritan. ... forth thy right hand with good resolution, that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/the.htm

A Discourse of Mercifulness
... wounded and left half dead, the good Samaritan who poured ... Let all good Christians
comment upon it in their ... so grace compels to works of mercy and beneficence. ...
/.../15 a discourse of mercifulness.htm

The Sixth Word from the Cross
... after His interview with the Samaritan woman, when ... to accept this destiny with a
good grace and ... activity instead of far-travelling beneficence, of premature ...
/.../stalker/the trial and death of jesus christ/chapter xix the sixth word.htm

The Tongue.
... an act of charity to be done by a Samaritan; ministers of ... not deny that they were
miracles of beneficence, but rather ... that they were done by a good man through ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/robertson/sermons preached at brighton/i the tongue.htm

On Costly Vessels.
... that which is thine, which is good, what alone ... God, confession towards Him who suffered,
beneficence towards men ... He asked to drink of the Samaritan woman, who ...
/.../clement/the instructor paedagogus/chapter iii on costly vessels.htm

On the Theophany, or Birthday of Christ.
... Itself to multiply the objects of Its beneficence, for this ... statement of each pair
refers to the good pleasure of ... Or dost thou call Him a Samaritan, and...I ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xxxviii on the theophany.htm

Chatter xviii. The Great Immigration.
... Jew, but to the heretical Samaritan, showing that ... money and of priceless service
of good men and ... organization of schemes of national beneficence in co??eration ...
/.../a history of american christianity/chatter xviii the great immigration.htm

Matt. xvii. 10
... Wherefore the Samaritan woman also said, "Messiah cometh; when ... and leading the other
to a good hope, and ... observe His providence and His beneficence, but also ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lvii matt xvii 10.htm

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Beneficence: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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