Gospel in Art: The Good Samaritan

The Good Samaritan, by Philip Richard Morris © Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery, England

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 10 July 2022
Luke 10: 25-37

There was a lawyer who, to disconcert Jesus, stood up and said to him, 'Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?' He said to him, 'What is written in the Law? What do you read there?' He replied, 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.' 'You have answered right,' said Jesus 'do this and life is yours.'

But the man was anxious to justify himself and said to Jesus, 'And who is my neighbour?' Jesus replied, 'A man was once on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of brigands; they took all he had, beat him and then made off, leaving him half dead. Now a priest happened to be travelling down the same road, but when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite who came to the place saw him, and passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan traveller who came upon him was moved with compassion when he saw him. He went up and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. He then lifted him on to his own mount, carried him to the inn and looked after him. Next day, he took out two denarii and handed them to the innkeeper. "Look after him," he said "and on my way back I will make good any extra expense you have." Which of these three, do you think, proved himself a neighbour to the man who fell into the brigands' hands?' 'The one who took pity on him' he replied. Jesus said to him, 'Go, and do the same yourself.'

Reflection on the painting

Today's parable of the Good Samaritan is probably the best-known of all Jesus' parables, though it occurs only in the Gospel of Luke. We hear the story told of God's provision for a victim of crime, coming through the compassion of a foreign traveller. This parable is so compelling that it has permeated into popular culture far beyond Christian contexts. People who have never picked up a Bible will still recognise the meaning of the term 'Good Samaritan' as someone who comes to the rescue of a stranger in need.

The Samaritan was a well to do man, with resources which he used to help a man in need. At the time, the Samaritans and Jews didn't look kindly upon one another. So the story is all the more compelling as a non Jew comes to the rescue of a Jew. Jesus tells this story to show how broad our 'neighbours' are: everyone! The Samaritan doesn't just help the injured man by giving him a few coins. No, he goes out of his way to help the man and make sure all the man's needs are cared for, both his immediate physical needs (attending to the injuries) and his need for a quiet space to recuperate. The Samaritan thus looks after the man just as he might care for his own self. That is what love is.

Our painting by Philip Richard Morris shows the Good Samaritan attending to the needs of the injured man after getting to the inn. Our reading says that 'he went up and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them' before getting him to the inn, but here the artist took the liberty of setting the nursing of the wounds in the context of the inn. His horse (on the right) is being taken away to be fed by the servant who carries a stack of hay on his head. But the main focus of the painting is the injured man. He is being embraced by the Samaritan, and we can see him slowly recovering and... regaining his dignity. The composition is based on pietà paintings. The injured man is just wearing a loin cloth, again evoking Christ.

LINKS

Christian Art: www.christian.art
Today's image: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-10-25-37-2022/