Exegetical/Hermeneutical paper on Luke 17:11-19 - Essay Example

Jesus most immediate response lifts up a Samaritan as an example of the second greatest commandment: the "Good Samaritan" shows us how to love our neighbor. Luke 17:11-19 is the second mention of a Samaritan in Lukes Gospel. This tenth leper is an example of the greatest commandment. Jesus replies the greatest commandment is the following, “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:29).

Jesus queries, "Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" (Luke 17:18) The surprising incongruity is that out of the ten lepers only a Samaritan knew how to truly worship God. Jew hated the Samaritans because of their differing worship practices. The Samaritans were heathens. However, after Jesus touched this Samaritan, he responded by bowing down and giving thanks to Jesus. This is the example of true worship. When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.

And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village. (Luke 9:51-56) This passage is often interpreted with a negative focus on Samaritans. My Oxford Annotated NRSV Bible titles this passage (in the footnotes) "The hostile Samaritans.

" This passage is clearly about the rebuke to the disciples for assuming the Samaritans were hostile. Jesus clearly came in peace, to turn the other cheek. Jesus wanted to touch people and spread His Word with love, not violence. Unbelievers, if these Samaritans were, suffer the wages of their sin. Jesus showed compassion on the