Exposition

The Bible makes us understand that, we should not forget to open our doors to strangers, for in so doing, we may entertain angels unaware. In the times we currently find ourselves, it is easy to cook up all manner of excuses to not fulfil the above mandate, from security risk issues to tendencies of picking up diseases like COVID-19. However, Scripture is not limited by times and seasons. Similar risks existed in Jesus’ time. That is perhaps one of the reasons the priests and the Levites decided to bypass the wounded stranger from our Scripture reading.

They could have thought it was a set-up or some other excuse. But a stranger made a difference. The wounded man coming from Jerusalem most likely was a Jew and our Bible makes us understand that Jews had no dealings with Samaritans. This Samaritan broke the enmity by extending kindness to this ‘undeserving’ Jew when he most needed it. He removed the guard of fear from his heart and allowed God to take over. That is exactly what we should do, let the Spirit take charge of the fears that hinder our kindness. For God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Let us be led by God’s Spirit in doing good. He will lead us out of danger/evil and not into it but rather into his blessings.