Tuesday, 2 June 2026

the good samaritan on tiktok

I think it was Michael Frost who first introduced me to the idea that the story of the Good Samaritan was an illustration of how we fail to love God by loving our neighbour.

"But who is my neighbour, really?" asks the young techbro, grinning broadly as he spreads his hands wide either side of the mic.

"You are still your brother's keeper," says Jesus.

"Of course. I care more about my family than about strangers," says the influencer, rolling her dough into little balls before carefully indenting them with one perfectly manicured fingertip.

"When you belong to my kingdom, your family is strangers," Jesus tells her.

"You didn't tell us not to do those things, though," insists the guy, tipping his cap back from his forehead to show that the ruddy shade of his face is not merely complexion.

"Didn't I say do unto others as you would have those others do to you?"

"But you didn't really mean that, right? Like, it's all metaphorical. Like a parable!"

"'Go you and do likewise' is not a parable."

"What if I don't want to?"

"If you love me, you will keep my commands," Jesus murmurs.