Not to try and steer this thread onto a side road or into a ditch, but I don't think the story of the good Samaritan was a parable at all. If it were, the characters in the story would have all been unfairly stereotyped, and Jesus might have been open to a charge of whatever in those days would be racism or bigotry.

Of course I have no proof, but I suspect the story Jesus told that day was a recounting of a real event, and I further believe that one or more of the audience were the individuals involved- the ones who pretended to ignore the injured man.

Able to cut to the quick, this Jesus!

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Tom Cameron

"He used Samaritans who were socially oppressed people but not open sinners. "

Sree, Samaritans were despised by the Jewish people. You would'nt even walk through their land if at all possible, you would go round the long way. They had a conterfeit temple(mount gerazim) and worshipped Jehovah when it was politically expedient to do so but at the same time worshipping other gods thus mixing or diluting with idolatry their "religion." They are not a bad analogy for much of what passes for Christianity today actually.......bro Frank

Samaritans and Jews had a difference in the way of worship and practices. It was more of a social division, like the caste system that you see in many Asian countries. It is true that they hated each other because of their differences. But when they accepted Jesus and listen to him when he passed through Samaria (John6). The point I am trying to make is Jesus will never advertise or encourage a man living sinful life style like how many Churches and Christian organization are doing today.

Regarding Homosexuals and Church relationship, a Church can always invite such open sinners if the Church is willing to talk about Repentance. But today many Churches are weak them selves and if they start accepting people with such life style then it will only pollute them further.

For example if a person is weak and his resistance is low in body then how can he go and live in slums? He will be infected further, it is better for him to stay in safe place.

Jesus was spiritually strong and that is why he had food with Tax collectors, he knew that he can never be influenced by them. Also he would have talked about repentance to them while reclining with them and that is why Zacchaeus was able to repent when he saw Jesus.

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Sreeram

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Sreeram

Sooo does the homosexual leave his sin and then comes to Jesus? Or does Jesus come into him and he leaves life of sin?

Blaine

HI Sree, this is probably not the place to debate the Samaritans or what was going on to the North or Israel. Just to say that they worshipped in Dan and Bethel in a counterfiet system to the temple in Jerusalem and they also worshipped the calf-god, supposedly the same god that the Israelites worshipped when Moses went up into the mountains. A good thing to study is what happened to the Priests under Jeroboam.

Anyway I like brother Blaines question :) God bles you Sree........bro Frank

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Diane