The Good Samaritan

As the story was related to me, many years ago, as a missionary, Elder Jack Welch was admiring the stain glass art work in a German Cathedral. This particular glasswork depicted the parable of the Good Samaritan. It was then he connected the meaning of the parable to the Plan of Salvation. Years later and many hours discussing and pondering his discovery, this is my understanding of the Savior’s immortal words. My thanks to Brother Welch’s insights.

The parable is found in Luke 10:25-37

• 25 And, behold a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 
• Tempted can also be interpreted as tested.
• 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? How readest thou?
• The Savior is the consummate teacher, meaning He often delegates the learning to the student. Learning is the process of self-discovery
• 27 And he answering said: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart…and love thy neighbor as thyself.
• The lawyer was probably a member of the Sanhedrin, who had the scriptures memorized. He would be an expert at the letter of the law, but his (and the Jews) understanding was based on Rabbinic Judaism, an apostate and fallen version of the Law of Moses.
• 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: do this and thou shalt live.
• The essence of love, as Christ and His Father understand it, differs from how their offspring practice it. Love is an all-encompassing set of values and actions, founded on principles of charity, trust, and respect. However, we often translate love (charity) as a form of affection and deep feelings of emotion without the trust and respect.
• 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?
• He went into The Me Pyramid, and wanted to be seen as smart and righteous by others. His intent was to be right (who), and he was not interested in learning what is right. He was in the agreement-seeking mode and not interested in learning truth, especially from the Son of God.
• 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed leaving him half dead.
• Certain man – Adam
• Went down from Jerusalem – went down from Heaven, premortal existence and the presence of God, through the Garden of Eden, and eventually to the Lone and Dreary World.
• Jericho – the world, earth, mortality
• Fell among thieves – tempted of Satan, was subjected to the natural man, the challenges of mortality, and given a weakness (Ether 12:27).
• Stripped of his raiment – lost his immortality, lost his covenant, he was naked (without covenant) before God.
• Wounded him – tempted him and he sinned.
• Half dead – spiritual death, separated from the presence of God. The Holy Ghost will never dwell in unrighteous tabernacles. He will never be offended or mocked and when sin is present, He leaves.
• 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
• Chance – foreordained to this earth and a specific mission. Some refer to this as fate. An understanding of the restored gospel helps us to gain a better idea of how God set in motion the generations of earth’s inhabitants (Deuteronomy 31:7-9).
• Certain Priest – a direct descendent of Aaron from the tribe of Levi. While Aaron and his brethren, before the massive fall at Mt. Sinai, held the Melchizedek Priesthood, the direct descendants of Aaron during the time of Christ only held the Aaronic priesthood, equivalent to the office of a Priest.
• Passed by on the other side – he could do no other action, for he did not have saving power. The Aaronic priesthood is a preparatory priesthood and cannot participate in any saving ordinances except baptism.
• 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
• A Levite – is from the tribe of Levite, but not a direct descendant of Aaron and holds the Aaronic priesthood with offices equivalent to a a Teacher and/or a Deacon. He also has no saving power and only administers to the outward ordinances of the church.
• 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
• A certain Samaritan – Jesus Christ was referred to as a Samaritan by the Jews in John 8:48. The Samaritans were hated and derided by the Jews as unworthy and of a lower spiritual status.
• Had compassion – this is an action based on empathy. Empathy is the ability to see another’s suffering through their eyes, not through one’s own eyes. The Samaritan, Jesus Christ, is the only person to ever live who can honestly say; “I know exactly what you are going through.” His compassion, to save the wounded man, was an action based on his empathy; He knew exactly what the wounded man was going through.
• 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
• And went to him – he ministered to him
• Bound him up – made covenants after the repentance process. In the Garden, when Adam and Eve transgressed, they were naked or without covenant. God made covenants with them, he put them under covenant, they were bound to the covenant, He cut a covenant (Genesis 15, the entire chapter). Whatsoever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven (Matthew 18:18).
• Pouring in oil – consecrated olive oil, used for the healing of the sick in the household of faith.
• Wine – emblem of the Savior’s blood
• Set him on His beast – emblem of the Savior’s body
• Brought him to an inn – took him to a church.
• Took care of him – ministered to him, sent Home Teachers, Visiting Teachers, taught him the new missionary lessons, invited him to Firesides, to study, ponder, and pray. Introduced him to the Inn Keeper, the Bishop.
• 35 An 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.
• On the morrow – after the member was acclimated
• Two pence – 2 days wages equal ½ shekel or equivalent to the Temple tax.
• Gave them to the host – the innkeeper or the Bishop
• When I come again – when the Lord’s comes the 2^nd time, He will make up for any deficit (the Atonement) if we continue to repent and turn to Him.
• 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?
• Christ is teaching the prideful lawyer, He is delegating the learning process to him and He does not rescue or enable during the process.
• 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
• “Therefore, I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.” Be like me.