Ben Wilson

So, for example, probably his two most famous parables are the prodigal son and the Good Samaritan.

the good samaritan is given in response to a line of inquiries a lawyer presumably a pharisee asks jesus what he shall do to have eternal life and jesus answers him saying thou shalt love the lord thy god with all thy heart with all thy soul with all thy strength and with all thy mind and thy neighbor as thyself and so the lawyer asks him well who's my neighbor if you know that's the requirement i have to love my neighbor as myself and in response instead of giving him a direct answer jesus tells him a story which we now know as the parable of the good samaritan

the good samaritan is given in response to a line of inquiries a lawyer presumably a pharisee asks jesus what he shall do to have eternal life and jesus answers him saying thou shalt love the lord thy god with all thy heart with all thy soul with all thy strength and with all thy mind and thy neighbor as thyself and so the lawyer asks him well who's my neighbor if you know that's the requirement i have to love my neighbor as myself and in response instead of giving him a direct answer jesus tells him a story which we now know as the parable of the good samaritan

So, a certain man is traveling on a road when he is attacked by thieves who strip him of his goods, his clothes, and then they wound him and leave him for dead. Presumably they stab him. And a priest passes by him on the road, and then another priest, and both of them pass by on the other side of the road. But then a Samaritan passes by, and Samaritans were old ethnic enemies of the Jews.

So, a certain man is traveling on a road when he is attacked by thieves who strip him of his goods, his clothes, and then they wound him and leave him for dead. Presumably they stab him. And a priest passes by him on the road, and then another priest, and both of them pass by on the other side of the road. But then a Samaritan passes by, and Samaritans were old ethnic enemies of the Jews.

Or, I mean, I guess at least ethnic rivals. They were looked down on by well-bred Jews. They were considered kind of half-breeds. There was a lot of bad blood between the Jews and the Samaritans. But this Samaritan takes compassion on the man, even though he's presumably Jewish. And here's what he does, reading now from Luke 10. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was.

Or, I mean, I guess at least ethnic rivals. They were looked down on by well-bred Jews. They were considered kind of half-breeds. There was a lot of bad blood between the Jews and the Samaritans. But this Samaritan takes compassion on the man, even though he's presumably Jewish. And here's what he does, reading now from Luke 10. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was.

And when he saw him, he had compassion on him. And he went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him, and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again I will repay thee.

And when he saw him, he had compassion on him. And he went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him, and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again I will repay thee.

And then Jesus asks, Which now of these three thinkest thou was neighbor unto him that fell among thieves? And he said, He that showed mercy unto him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. It's a great parable because it's so much more powerful than just telling him your neighbor is everyone. Right.

And then Jesus asks, Which now of these three thinkest thou was neighbor unto him that fell among thieves? And he said, He that showed mercy unto him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. It's a great parable because it's so much more powerful than just telling him your neighbor is everyone. Right.

Like that would just sink into your heart the same way as hearing the story of this man who's wounded and then an old ethnic enemy comes upon him and helps him anyways. I think that's much more effective at driving home the point. All right, and then one of the other favorite parables is the prodigal son. So the Pharisees ask why he associates with the people he does.

Like that would just sink into your heart the same way as hearing the story of this man who's wounded and then an old ethnic enemy comes upon him and helps him anyways. I think that's much more effective at driving home the point. All right, and then one of the other favorite parables is the prodigal son. So the Pharisees ask why he associates with the people he does.

Specifically, he often dines with known sinners and with publicans. Publicans were Roman tax collectors. Rome actually didn't have a public tax collection apparatus for their provinces. So they would essentially bid out the service to a wealthy citizen. And at first, this is a very profitable affair, but quickly the price to administer one of these provinces skyrockets.

Specifically, he often dines with known sinners and with publicans. Publicans were Roman tax collectors. Rome actually didn't have a public tax collection apparatus for their provinces. So they would essentially bid out the service to a wealthy citizen. And at first, this is a very profitable affair, but quickly the price to administer one of these provinces skyrockets.

And what that means is that many of these people who've taken on these contracts, if they're not going to take a loss, have to squeeze this province for everything that it has. And so these private tax collectors were called publicani, publicans.

And what that means is that many of these people who've taken on these contracts, if they're not going to take a loss, have to squeeze this province for everything that it has. And so these private tax collectors were called publicani, publicans.

And they were hated because they really had this pressure to bleed you dry in places like Judea in order to make back the money that they had spent to get this contract to collect taxes. Okay. And Jesus has no qualms about associating with publicani. It should be noted that most of the rank and file publicans, these are just employees. These aren't the people making the rules.

And they were hated because they really had this pressure to bleed you dry in places like Judea in order to make back the money that they had spent to get this contract to collect taxes. Okay. And Jesus has no qualms about associating with publicani. It should be noted that most of the rank and file publicans, these are just employees. These aren't the people making the rules.

They didn't buy this contract at exorbitant prices. They're just contractors who are trying to make a living. But they're totally hated in the provinces. And so the Pharisees can't believe that Jesus has dinner with these people. It also strikes me that he is dining with people who are hated in sort of opposite directions. The sinners, because they are low, right?