Noting the continuing popularity among pastoral theologians of the Good Samaritan as an image of the pastoral caregiver, the author argues that the parable is not really about the obligation of the pastor to offer care but about accepting help from one toward whom one has deeply-engrained prejudicial attitudes and/or hostility. Thus, if the parable is used for insight into the role of function of the pastor, the negative models of the Priest and the Levite are instructive; but if one is looking for a positive pastoral image from among the parables of Jesus, one might consider the image of the Unjust Judge.
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