Новый Завет Взаимоотношения Иисуса Христа с фарисеями, язычниками и самарянами

A course of lectures on the New Testament. Topic: "The Relationship of Jesus Christ with the Pharisees, Pagans, and Samaritans." Lectured by Catechist Alexei Volkov In Galilee, Jesus was surrounded by a variety of people. We have already discussed His disciples. But in Galilee, He was also surrounded by zealots of the Law—Pharisees and Zealots, pagans, and Samaritans. The most prominent were, of course, the Pharisees. They believed in observing all the precepts of the Torah (or the Five Books of Moses). But they didn't limit themselves to this. They also believed in observing the precepts of the Oral Torah, the so-called "tradition of the elders," over which they and Jesus had conflicts. In fact, conflict between the Pharisees and Jesus was inevitable. After all, Jesus taught a religion of the "pure heart," regardless of its form. The religion of the Pharisees was a religion of outward forms, regardless of their inner content. However, not everything about Pharisaism was as bad as one might think from a superficial reading of the Gospels. Beneath these outward rituals, and even outright eccentricities observed among the Pharisees to attract attention to their "righteousness," there was much that was sincere and honest. After the death and resurrection of Jesus, it was from among the Pharisees that many would become Christians. The Zealots, or in Hebrew "Kanaim," meant zealots. The Romans called them Sicarii, from the word "sika" (dagger). They were "pious" murderers who killed anyone suspected of deviating from the Law (Torah). When Jesus was still very young, they rebelled in Galilee to free themselves from Roman rule. The rebellion was suppressed. The Zealots were exterminated, but their sympathizers remained. They persistently saw Christ as a great leader who, using His divine power, would expel the Romans and establish a Kingdom where they—the Jews—would live well. They rejected Jesus' admonitions about the spiritual nature of this Kingdom. There were many pagans in Galilee. Jesus treated them more favorably than one might expect from someone raised in Jewish culture. He understood that pagans would be more likely to accept His Kingdom than orthodox Jews, who prided themselves on their national and religious exclusivity. The Jews treated the Samaritans most harshly, considering them something akin to heretics. The Samaritans, as a people, were formed by the intermingling of Jews and pagans during the Assyrian domination of these areas. Their religion incorporated many ancient Jewish beliefs. But the Jews viewed them as apostates and heretics. However, Jesus often cites the Samaritans as an example for us, as they showed greater warmth and compassion than the devout Jews. After Jesus healed ten lepers, only one thanked Him. Nine acted according to the Law (the Torah), and one acted according to his conscience. This was a Samaritan. Jesus holds him up as an example for us, just as He did with the Good Samaritan in the parable of the same name. The zealous Jews—a priest and a Levite—failed to provide for the man in need; help came from a heretical Samaritan. Jesus says to each of us: "Go, and do likewise" (Luke 10:37). Link to the Telegram channel where we publish lecture videos and announce events at our Orthodox school for adults: https://t.me/voskreskatushyno Donations for missionary work and catechesis Sberbank card No. 4276380230167285 linked to the phone number +7(925)832-98-25 (Alexey Valentinovich V.) When transferring funds, be sure to indicate "For missionary work"