Today is Monday, August 9th, 2004; Karen's Korner #346

Some of you know that I am a part of an ecumenical Christian service group known as the Marys & Marthas (M & Ms for short). Now and then the group looks at the short verses in the book of Luke that tells about these two sisters.

 

The other day I was looking at that part of Luke and the verses and my Bible commentary right above the ' Marys & Marthas" verses caught my eye. Pretty familiar text to church or Sunday School-goers, but I particularly liked the commentary in the box near the writing:

 

Luke 10:30-36 (Jesus is talking):

 

"A Jew going on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes and money and beat him up and left him lying half dead beside the road.

 

"By chance a Jewish priest came along; and when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other sie of the road and passed him by. A Jewish Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but then went on.

 

"But a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw him, he felt deep pity. Kneeling beside him the Samaritan soothed his wounds with medicine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his donkey and walked along beside him till they came to an inn, where he nursed him through the night. The next day he handed the innkeeper two twenty-dollar bills and told him to take care of the man. 'If the bill runs higher than that,' he said. 'I'll pay the difference the next time I am here.'"

 

Boxed commentary on these verses:

 

To the lawyer, the wounded man was a subject to discuss.

 

To the thieves, the wounded man was someone to use and exploit

 

To the religious man, the wounded man was a problem to be avoided.

 

To the innkeeper, the wounded man was a customer to serve for a fee.

 

To the Samaritan, the wounded man was a human being worth being cared for and loved.

 

To Jesus, all of them and all of us are worth dying for.
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