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A Different Look at The Parable of the Good Samaritan
But this priest’s lesson was a little different. He said, “Not only was Jesus teaching an example of behavior, he was attacking an entire social system.” The priest began by saying, “I think only people in the East fully understand this parable. East, I mean, not New York. I’m from India. For the people of India and other Eastern countries, this is a parable that must still be taught today in our time.
"How many have heard of the caste system? Probably in history class, yes? But in India, and other surrounding countries, the caste system is live still today. In this parable Jesus deliberately lines up the characters of castes: in the scripture just before this one we see who Jesus is addressing when it’s a Scholar of law who tests Him with questions. Then in this passage we have the Priest who crosses the street rather than come near the bloody victim. Next comes the Lawyer, the Levite, who also goes out of his way to avoid him. Finally comes the Samaritan.
“This is how the caste system works. Whatever Caste you are born into, is where you live all your life. There is no “bettering” yourself. Those who are on the street, were born to be on the street and taken advantage of, robbed, and beaten. One does not interact with those outside your caste.
“Samaria is a territory between Judea and Galilee just west of the Jordan River. They were bitter enemies of the Jews for ethnic and religious reasons. The Samaritans were no longer a pure caste as they had intermarried with others outside their caste, including Jews, and were considered impure people. If you were born a Samarian, you are unclean.
“When I was studying for priesthood, I was teaching. In my class of students, I brought in youngsters from the street, people outside my caste, as I was instructed to do. I lived with my Grandmother at this time. When I came home from teaching, she directed me to the back of the house where I had to bathe before entering the house; I was unclean. I had associated, perhaps touched, with those beneath my caste. She tolerated it because I was her loved grandson.
“So, you can understand that people in the caste would not handle a man covered in blood who was not of their caste. What the Samaritan did was counter to everyone’s belief in what was right in their society. Jesus is showing us in this parable when love is superior to legalism.”