An Enemy in the Kingdom
and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. Luke 10:34 NASB
Took care – The parable of the Good Samaritan is about an enemy who fulfills the goal of the Kingdom. The parable strikes a moral blow to ethnic prejudice. It teaches us that citizens of the Kingdom are those who act with unreserved compassion for others, regardless of the cost or consequences. This parable demonstrates that theological purity means nothing in the face of human tragedy unless it results in a great movement of active compassion. It’s not right to be right unless it rights wrong. I don’t mean that making things right is the same as correcting false doctrine. “God’s redemptive agenda is shown to be ‘mending the world,’ i.e., bandaging the wounds of the hurting and pouring oil and wine into them like the Good Samaritan. God expresses his mercy in tangible ways: healing the sick, food for the hungry, clothes for the naked, friendship for the rejected, rest for the weary, protection for the exploited, love for the abandoned, and so forth.”[1] The Samaritan did not hesitate to treat the wounded man. He did not ask about his ethnic background, his religious beliefs or his church affiliation. He didn’t care about any of those “important” things. He saw the need for compassion and he did all that he could. He practiced epimeleomai.
The root of this Greek word is melo. It simply means, “to be of concern, to care,” but in this case, the verb is strengthened by the added prefix, epi. The Samaritan didn’t fulfill social expectations. He didn’t write a check to his favorite charity in hopes that someone else would handle the problem. He didn’t choose a proxy. He put himself into the situation. He set aside his agenda. He acted at his own cost. He demonstrated the deep character of a Kingdom citizen. He made right what was wrong.
Perhaps this famous parable teaches more than a lesson about compassion over accepted protocol. Perhaps it challenges us, as it challenged the original audience, to reconsider who we are, we who have so many qualifiers attached to our concern for others. This story cuts across all religious distinctions, all ethnic rejection, all political divisions. It speaks directly to direct action, to immediate attention to need. It does not countenance delay, calculation of cost, assignment of responsibility or self-examination of willingness. It says, “Do this!” Citizens of the Kingdom are actors in the great restoration, demonstrators in the announcement of concern. God will provide the opportunities if we are willing.
Are we?
Topical Index: care, epimeleomai, Good Samaritan, Luke 10:34
[1]Forward by Fr. Richard Thomas in Joseph Frankovic, The Kingdom of Heaven (HaKesher, Inc., 1998), p. xv.
Skip,
Brian and I were just having this conversation two nights ago. I am not trying create a political uproar with this but how we walk this out in the light of the issues we face in this country with the DACA and other illigals in this country? How do we deal with the issues in a biblical manner? Thoughts?
Thanks
P.S. those children in Manila… one of my favorite pics you have shared!
It’s just SO complicated, isn’t it? No escape from that.
Since yesterday’s comments were wiped out due to technical difficulties and many are not likely to review yesterday’s TW, I will repost my comments below in today’s TW. Moreover, the parable of the Good Samaritan brings into sharp focus what Kingdom service is all about. I wonder whether my comments below are even relevant considering authentic Kingdom service. Yet, they must be, as I would never have seen the relevance and true meaning of the Kingdom of God without the transformation of my paradigm through the bumpy and oftentimes disagreeable discussion here on TW. “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”
This [TW: “Theological Suicide”] raises some interesting questions. Please allow me to share some thoughts after one year on the Torah train. Most of us were raised in a Gnostic/Platonic religious culture that trained us to think certain ways about certain things (dogmatism). Now we have come to realize it was all hogwash. But some of us, and I would guess a large majority of us, receive soundbites about what it means to be “Torah observant”, whatever that means, through TW and maybe some Youtube “Way” sensation (or shall I say, “way out there”!]. Then we hear from Rabbi Yitsak Shapira and other Messianic Rabbis who discourage Gentiles from following Torah because it is strictly a Jewish convention or can only be rightly interpreted through connection with Messianic Jewish Rabbis/synagogues. Shapira has repeatedly stated that those of us Gentiles who say we are “Torah observant” are ignorant and foolish. Now, maybe his point is that we shouldn’t just follow Torah for the sake of following Torah, as if Torah becomes a god in itself. Or maybe he is thinking of those who could aptly be described as “Torah Terrorists.” Or maybe he is really saying that we are clueless. But he frequently disparages those who would self-identify as “Hebrew Roots,” etc. I take all this to mean that whatever I may be getting on my own isn’t good enough and may be detrimental to my ultimate spiritual health. [Shapira is an interesting character as he seems to be steeped in medieval Judaism while at the same time endorsing the Trinity. I’m not quite sure what to make of him. He is surely passionate and has some great insights into Torah!]
I do attend a local home fellowship of people from various backgrounds who have come out of the church. We read through and discuss the Torah portion for that week, but we have limited access to a Jewish way of looking at the text. We mostly discuss meaning and application. While I appreciate our love for the Torah and recognition that it is still relevant for our lives today, is this enough? It seems so mediocre, so disjointed, and somewhat directionless. How are we training a new generation of the “faithful” to carry out the Great Commission? Where are those blazing a trail of vision for the next generation? There seems to be too many Torah sensationalists who are content to accumulate Facebook followers and cash, or spin their religious wheels arguing for a flat earth. Where are the schools that are training up real Torah apologists? Where are the earnest scholars who have a passion and vision for the Messiah to return AND are willing to lay down their lives to help others hasten his coming? [I truly appreciate Skip Moen’s passion and groundbreaking work in this area. But his work has its limitations.] I am seriously asking for your input here. Educate me, please.
If this is really a movement of God’s Spirit, where is the organization? Where is the passion? Where is the vision? Where is the sacrifice? Where are the resources? [I can’t find the recommended reading list on Skip’s website.] Where is the unity? Who is training? Who is coordinating? [I appreciate and commend Lee Miller’s initiative on the Hebrew Roots Unity Initiative. It is a small start.] How are WE impacting the culture and hastening the return of the Messiah?
What can we do? What can I do? What can you do? Should we? [After reading today’s TW, maybe this puzzle is solved in large part.]
Paul B,
You mentioned: “How are we training a new generation of the “faithful” to
carry out the Great Commission”?
I would ask: “How is God doing it?”
The “faithful” are, to my understanding, those who have surrendered their
“day jobs” to Him. Their self-consumed pre-occupations. Their surrendering
allows Him to “work in them to will and to act according to His good purpose.”
So yes, we should be compassionate stewards of His love and mercy, but only as we
allow Him the power to change and influence our lives.
That said, God’s work is not always easily or readily recognized.
But as the song writer said: “His Truth Is Marching On!”
Paul B, may I suggest a few resources that have been helpful for the all Gentile Torah pursuant community I’m a part of? I can’t post the links here but if you Google these you will find instruction we have found to be solid. And by the way, don’t give up searching for Skip’s reading list. The website has had some temporary issues that will soon be resolved.
TorahResorce.com
Bereansonline.org
Bella Torah Fellowship
Men of Torah iTunes
Paul B, I thought of another;
messianicpublications.com
I agree those are all good suggestions. Thank you, Tanya.
Sorry you’re having trouble with the Recommended Reading list. It’s there. Mark is working on the web site glitch and probably has it fixed already.
Second, yes, there is an institution that is attempting to teach the Hebraic orientation. It’s the Louisiana Bible College, under the direction of my friend, Matt Woodward, who has demonstrated in real ways what it means to be a light in the community in St. Bernard’s parish. I will be back there to teach again in April.
Third, I will soon be writing a lot more about the gnostic/Roman/Greek influence and how it has been absorbed without recognizing it. Hold on, it’s coming.
Finally, I’ve also been thinking a lot about the “Torah apologists” stuff. You will read about that soon too. I understand where Shapira is coming from, although I do think he’s a bit over the top and certainly not like the calm, orthodox rabbis I know who are open to talk anytime. And he’s theological views are, hmm, ????
Thank you for all the good comments and suggestions. They have been duly noted. In regards to Rabbi Shapira, I recently listened to one of his messages which helps clarify his position. Link has been removed
Paul, please don’t post off-site links. You can give a title of a video, book, etc. and people can look it up if they’d like.
Thank you,
Mark
The title of Shapira’s Youtube video is: Chokey Gerut: One People one Law?
One thing we are specifically called to do is take the message “to the Jew first,” and help to hasten the day when they will say “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!”
Several years ago, Wayne Hilsden, founder of the largest Messianic congregation in Jerusalem, started an organization call FIRM (Fellowship of Israel Related Ministries.) They’ve put out a 1% challenge to individuals and churches to give 1% of their tithe to organizations that minister to Israel. (firm.org.il/onepercent/) I know Skip sometimes suggests that writing a check is often a means of “easing our conscience,” but traveling to Israel, Indonesia, Africa, Asia etc. is not in not necessarily God’s plan for everyone. Sometimes, “just writing a check” is important, necessary, and appreciated. I would add, that “prayer” is probably the most valuable tool God has given us.
Yes, we should still get involved with our hands and feet in our own congregations, communities, or wherever God leads us, but, tithes and offerings are definitely part of His Plan. FYI…Rabbi Jacob Rosenberg from (AdatHatikvah.org) gives excellent sermons each week that you can hear by going to the website and clicking on “Sermons.” He speaks on both the Hebrew Scriptures and also the New Covenant. His sermons on the High Holy Days are always informative and inspiring for those wanting to glean a better understanding of them.
Agreed! Thanks Judi.
This is interesting as the instruction after the parable was to go and do the same. Demonstrate the attributes of being guided by righteousness and compassion. Nothing about preach the gospel unto all nations… That came later. So the preaching of the gospel seems to require that we must first experience or live it. Not a cognitive tasking but sharing a life experience.