Grace

The story of the Good Samaritan (Lk. 10:25-37) is a story with which many people have become familiar. Surely, it is a comparison between those who purposely passed by and the one who stopped to help. At its core, this is a story about God’s grace, how God came to help those who the religious establishment would not. The Hebrew word for “grace” is CHEN. It means “to bend, to stoop.” Over time it came to include the concept of “condescending favor.” In the parable of the Good Samaritan a man is attacked and left “half dead” on the side of the road. Perhaps due to busy schedules or desire to avoid becoming unclean by touching a dead body, both a priest and a Levite, ignored this opportunity to help another person. Samaritans were not liked by many Jews since they had not retained a pure blood line; they had intermarried with Gentiles. So, this man with an imperfect bloodline was a better neighbor to the injured man than those who claimed they were more perfect. The Samaritan bent over and helped someone who was injured and dying. Jesus uses this as an example of Himself. He was far more important than either the priest or Levite, but He stopped, and personally touched and treated this injured person. Not only this, but long-term concern was shown with the promise to check on the man later on. Each of us are broken and perhaps half-dead because of how life has treated us, but God has grace for us and is not afraid to reach out and touch us. He is also concerned about us until we are healed. We should also provide similar grace to others as illustrated here. To show grace to others is to extend favor or kindness to one who doesn't deserve it and can never earn it. Receiving God's acceptance by grace always stands in direct contrast to earning it. When the thought of grace appears in scripture, the idea presented is its being undeserved. The recipient is not getting what he or she deserves. Favor is being extended simply out of the goodness of the heart of the giver.