Rev's Review

The two Great Commandments Jesus taught us was; Love the Lord your God and Love your Neighbour. The Parable of the ‘Good Samaritan’, is a story that Jesus used to explain how to love your neighbour. Neighbour in the Biblical sense means people.

Today, we call someone who helps another that they are a Good Samaritan. This is because they are helping someone even at their own expense. This may be helping someone pay their utility bill, driving a cancer patient to chemotherapy or even calling a friend or sending them a card to encourage them during their trial. Actually being a Good Samaritan is helping someone that might hate you and praying for someone that dislikes you to the max. The truth is that we can all be good Samaritans or we can be someone that doesn’t care for anyone but themselves. Which are you?

Who Were the Samaritans?

A Bit of Ancient history

Samaritans were despised by the Jews because they were known as half-breeds, half Jewish and half Gentile. When the Northern Kingdoms were taken captive by the Assyrians, they intermarried with them to settle in the place that is called Samaria, just north of Judea. As usually happens in such cases, they adopt the worship of their false, pagan gods, falling into idolatry. When the Jews returned to Jerusalem and tried to rebuild the temple, the Samaritans would pour pigs blood in the temple area which was to make the temple unclean and the building project of the temple had to be stopped so that the temple area could be cleaned up again. This was detestable to the Jews and polluted what they considered to be a holy place; therefore the Samaritans were hated even more than the Roman conquerors. They would not even walk in Samaria but would go far out of their way, even if it was a longer trip, to avoid entering Samaria because they believed the Samaritans were unclean people. This is precisely why Jesus mentioned the Samaritan in this parable because he would be the least likely to ever help a fellow Jew because the Samaritans also had a hate that was equal to that held by the Jews against the Jewish people because of the way that they were treated by them.

The Anglican Op Shop

The Anglican Parish of Cobram’s Op Shop is located at 35 Main Street Strathmerton.

We are open Thurs, Frid, Sat, Mon 10am-4pm, Sun, 11am-4pm

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Did Jesus name this Parable; The Parable of the Good Samaritan?

In the first place, the name of the Parable of the Good Samaritan is never mentioned by Jesus. Bible scholars and translators have attached this name because they see man as being a “Good Samaritan” who goes above and beyond where most people would go. A Good Samaritan as opposed to most Samaritans in their minds…pagan, idolators.

How can we be ‘Good Samaritans’ at school, home and the wider community

To offer a helping hand if needed. If we become aware of injustice, be available if someone wants to talk to you, be available. If you would like to make an appointment to see me, please contact the school during business hours or on

0439 066 553 after that time.