A question of love and ethics in the parable of the good samaritan

ALAYMAN

ALAYMAN

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We all know the parable of the good Samaritan, and presumably we would agree that it contextually adheres to Jesus answering the lawyer's question of what is required to attain eternal life, that answer being ostensibly via "love" (the two greatest commands, God and neighbor). What place or form of ethical requirement does that love (of God, and specifically "neighbor") take as it relates to our attitude towards the one(s)/robbers who injured the man headed to Jericho?
 
We would not be vigilantes, but rather report to the proper authorities. I say this because God says vengeance is his, government is established by God to bear the sword, and we are to submit ourselves to authorities (except of course, when those authorities go against God - and punishment/justice for crimes does not go against God).
 
ALAYMAN said:
What place or form of ethical requirement does that love (of God, and specifically "neighbor") take as it relates to our attitude towards the one(s)/robbers who injured the man headed to Jericho?
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Love for one's neighbours would require capturing and punishing the criminals who would harm them, so to the extent that I am able, I would aid the state in doing so.
 
Going to piggyback on this. So the young man that was going to shoot up the mall in Indiana should have just been reported to the authorities? Was the other young man that shot and killed him a vigilante?
 
FundNoMore said:
Going to piggyback on this. So the young man that was going to shoot up the mall in Indiana should have just been reported to the authorities? Was the other young man that shot and killed him a vigilante?
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Different scenario. The good samaritan didn't come upon the scene when the crime was being committed.
 
FundNoMore said:
Going to piggyback on this. So the young man that was going to shoot up the mall in Indiana should have just been reported to the authorities? Was the other young man that shot and killed him a vigilante?
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No, if there's an imminent emergency, it's a good to do what you are able to do to help. For example, the Samaritan basically gave first aid to the beaten man in the road.

But in the parable, the robbers have already done their deed and left by the time the good Samaritan comes by. There isn't an imminent emergency. At that point, aiding the cause of justice means telling the police what you know, not rounding up a posse.
 
ALAYMAN said:
We all know the parable of the good Samaritan, and presumably we would agree that it contextually adheres to Jesus answering the lawyer's question of what is required to attain eternal life, that answer being ostensibly via "love" (the two greatest commands, God and neighbor). What place or form of ethical requirement does that love (of God, and specifically "neighbor") take as it relates to our attitude towards the one(s)/robbers who injured the man headed to Jericho?
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Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
 
Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
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Care to elaborate?
 
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ALAYMAN said:
Care to elaborate?
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Unless I’m misunderstanding what you’ve alluded to, you’re basically asking what attitude we should take towards someone who has wronged us. I believe the ultimate response is to take an attitude of forgiveness as Jesus did near crucifixion time.
 
Should forgiveness be granted unconditionally regardless of any sign of contrition/repentance?
 
ALAYMAN said:
Should forgiveness be granted unconditionally regardless of any sign of contrition/repentance?
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I believe as Christians, God commands us to forgive unconditionally. That doesn’t mean it’s easy or happens instantaneously though—we are sinful humans after all. Also, that doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences for the person who has done a wrong deed.
 
Expanding this question to include those who possess theological perspectives approximating to my own (ie, Ransom and voicecrying), if Jesus' answer to "who is my neighbor" (implying a requirement to love even the unlovable, aka as the "Samaritan" in our parable) then how should we love the criminal? In other words, though it is indeed an extension or application of love to seek justice for the afflicted/robbed person, shouldn't we consider the robber in a restorative agape-encompassing sense?
 
Huk said:
I believe as Christians, God commands us to forgive unconditionally. That doesn’t mean it’s easy or happens instantaneously though—we are sinful humans after all. Also, that doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences for the person who has done a wrong deed.
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It's your 1st sentence that needs fleshed out just a bit IMNSHO. As you previously said, a willing attitude of forgiveness seems obviously required of us ("70X7"), but how does that attitude manifest itself in our actual treatment of the offender in terms of restoration and/or retribution?
 
ALAYMAN said:
It's your 1st sentence that needs fleshed out just a bit IMNSHO. As you previously said, a willing attitude of forgiveness seems obviously required of us ("70X7"), but how does that attitude manifest itself in our actual treatment of the offender in terms of restoration and/or retribution?
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I think it starts (step 1) with a forgiving spirit on the part of the Christian, otherwise we risk becoming the one in sin for going contrary to God’s command. As for step 2, it depends on the offense of the wrongdoer in terms of what restoration/retribution looks like. I believe you’re being too vague and capricious in your questioning (I don’t mean that in a degrading way). I did come across an interesting article along the lines of your questions that I skimmed through. I’d like to reread it later a little more carefully, but I’ll share for now. https://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/163072.pdf
 
Huk said:
I believe as Christians, God commands us to forgive unconditionally. That doesn’t mean it’s easy or happens instantaneously though—we are sinful humans after all. Also, that doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences for the person who has done a wrong deed.
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What does "forgiveness" mean in this context? A, if we're following the arc of the parable of the Good Samaritan, then the criminals have not wronged me, and so I have nothing to forgive. And B, your last sentence implies that, forgiveness or not, I'm not relieved of my civic duty to cooperate with the state to bring the criminals to justice.
 
ALAYMAN said:
We all know the parable of the good Samaritan, and presumably we would agree that it contextually adheres to Jesus answering the lawyer's question of what is required to attain eternal life, that answer being ostensibly via "love" (the two greatest commands, God and neighbor). What place or form of ethical requirement does that love (of God, and specifically "neighbor") take as it relates to our attitude towards the one(s)/robbers who injured the man headed to Jericho?
Click to expand...

well.... Jesus ended that story at the point where the samaritan paid the bills for the injured mans room and board.... then promised to pay for anything else that he needed....... . but if the lawyer Jesus was speaking to was anything like lawyers of today... he would have expected the samaritan to then go after the robbers in court and sue them for reimbursement of the money he spent helping the injured party... and also expected compensation for his time...... ..

but then that is what true forgiveness is all about... it;s about not seeking repayment of a debt... and not expecting compensation or personal redress for an injury - insult or crime committed against us..... ...... it does not,.. however... mean forgetting what was done to us.. ... mean refusing to fulfill a civil responsibilty in the case of reporting a crime...... or that we must give the offender a chance to harm us again.....

if any one us was that injured person in the good samaritan parable... then forgiving the robbers by not demanding compensation for ourselves or punishment for them, would be the christian thing to do.... but what about the next time we make that trip down to jericho?.... .do we take the same road?..... do we go all by ourselves again?.... or do we have a few friends go along with us who can watch our back?.... ... and does taking future precautions mean we failed to forgive?....
 
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ALAYMAN said:
Expanding this question to include those who possess theological perspectives approximating to my own (ie, Ransom and voicecrying), if Jesus' answer to "who is my neighbor" (implying a requirement to love even the unlovable, aka as the "Samaritan" in our parable) then how should we love the criminal? In other words, though it is indeed an extension or application of love to seek justice for the afflicted/robbed person, shouldn't we consider the robber in a restorative agape-encompassing sense?
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restoration should be sought when it is possible... ..but it;s not always possible..... and some of us have learned hard lessons regarding times when it wasn;t... ..and when someone we wanted to forgive only pretended to repent.. just so they could draw us in and have another chance to abuse us again..... ....in my opinion... and experience... it was taking the concept of forgiveness beyond what it should have been and into foolishness..... ......

i don;t expect everyone to understand that.... and i;m not going write another "essay" that some here complain about ..and few ever read... trying to explain it either...... ..but i think it;s enough to say that if we expect nothing in return from someone who has wronged us.. we can continue to love them from a distance while protecting ourselves... and leave the rest up to God..... the Lord said vengence belonged to Him..... but until we forgive the sin in us never ceases to cry for it.... dealing with that can be the hardest part of it.....
 
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Ransom said:
What does "forgiveness" mean in this context? A, if we're following the arc of the parable of the Good Samaritan, then the criminals have not wronged me, and so I have nothing to forgive. And B, your last sentence implies that, forgiveness or not, I'm not relieved of my civic duty to cooperate with the state to bring the criminals to justice.
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In this case, I’m putting myself in the shoes of the person who has been wronged, not as the person who observed the wrongdoing of another.
 
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