Where does the name Good Samaritan come from?

Answer 1

'The Good Samaritan' is a parable or story told by Jesus. It is recorded in The Bible in Matthew 22:34-40; Mark 12:29-81 and Luke 10:25-37. Jesus had recounted the two greatest commandments "Love God" and "Love your neighbour" and was then asked "who is my neighbour". He told this parable of a man set upon by robbers and left for dead. A number of 'good' people came by and avoided him for religious or other reasons. The Samaritans were despised as an impure people and so it was startling that it was a Samaritan who helped the man - the 'good' Samaritan. Jesus was teaching that it is not just living alongside a person that makes us neighbours but our actions and we are to care for those around us no matter what their background is.

Answer2: CAN we recognize tendencies toward prejudice in ourselves? For example, do we draw conclusions as to the character of a person based on his skin color, nationality, ethnic group, or tribe-even though we do not know that person? Or can we value each person for his or her unique qualities?

In Jesus' day people who lived in Judea and Galilee generally had "no dealings with Samaritans." (John 4:9) A saying recorded in the Talmud no doubt expressed the feeling of many Jews: "May I never set eyes on a Samaritan."

Even Jesus' apostles may have harbored a degree of prejudice against Samaritans. On one occasion they were not received kindly by a Samaritan village. James and John asked if they should call down fire upon the unresponsive people. By his rebuke, Jesus showed them that their attitude was improper.-Luke 9:52-56.

Jesus related a parable of a man who had been set upon by robbers during his journey from Jerusalem to Jericho. Two religious Jewish passersby were not inclined to help the man. A Samaritan, however, stopped and bandaged the man's wounds. Then he arranged for the man's care so that he could recover from his injuries. That Samaritan proved himself a real neighbor. (Luke 10:29-37) Jesus' parable may have helped his listeners to realize that their prejudice blinded them to the good qualities in others. A few years later, John returned to Samaria and preached in many of its villages-perhaps including the village that he once wanted to have destroyed.-Acts 8:14-17, 25. ( fr 9/8/04 Awake "End of Prejudice" on Jehovah's Witnesses official website)