Scripture

Summary

Lessons

Luke
10:27-37

A priest and a Levite passed up the injured man at the side of the road.  The Samaritan stopped and took pity upon the injured individual and tended to his wounds.  The Samaritan then paid an innkeeper to care for the continuation of the man's healing.

People of other cultural backgrounds, even from those that are despised, are sometimes better than your own in the eyes of the Lord.

John
1:43-49

Nathaniel held prejudices against people of Nazareth and
overlooked them in spite of Jesus.

Do not judge an individual based on their cultural or ethnic background as long as the individual is following the true God.

John
4:1-42

Jesus asked the Samaritan woman at the well to get Him a drink.  She stated that Samaritans were not supposed to interact with Jews.  Jesus commenced to minister to her and to reveal Himself and His nature to her regardless of what the customs of the world were at the time.

Just because an individual comes from a despised cultural
and ethnic background does not mean that they are the same.  Stop essentializing individuals based on generalizations that you may have learned about an entire race or culture.

Acts
8:26-40

An Ethiopian eunuch traveled up to Samaria to worship God and was on his way back to his home reading Isaiah 53:7-8.  Phillip, a disciple of Jesus went after him as the eunuch was heading back to Queen Candace of Ethiopia.  Phillip asked the eunuch if he understood what he was reading which the eunuch needed someone to tell him what it meant.  Then the eunuch received the Gospel and was baptized.

Just because an individual comes from a different cultural and ethnic background does not necessarily mean that God does not accept them.  If God accepts them, why should we choose not to do so?

Acts
10

Peter receives word from God in a vision that he is to go and share the Gospel with the Gentiles.  Cornelius, a Roman soldier, seeks out Peter and has a convoy of men escort him to Caesarea where Cornelius is and receives the Gospel.  All who were present received the gift of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The major racial and cultural boundary that existed at the time was between the Jews and the Gentiles.  Peter reasoned that if the Gentiles that accepted the Gospel had also received the Holy Spirit then why should Peter continue to show favoritism to the Jews.

Acts
15:1-15:29

The disciples of the Lord convened at the First Church Conference and agreed that the Word would be preached to all nations. There were only three laws provided to the Gentiles.

The only laws instituted for the Gentiles at the time were the following:  to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual impurity.  This clearly defines what should be the only issues that separate us.

Romans
16:17-19

The Romans were encouraged to watch for those that cause division and put obstacles in the way that are against God's teaching because these individuals are serving their own appetites and are deceiving many.

Anyone preaching words, thoughts, or concepts contrary to what is written in the word are not serving God.  Anyone causing divisions other than for those allowed in the Word and those that are putting obstacles in others paths are fooling others that choose to follow those teachings.

I Corinthians
12:12-26

The body of the church is made of up all individuals from all nations and tongues.  If one suffers, all should suffer because we all need each other in unity.  There is no longer any Jews or Greeks but all men are one in the Spirit.

God destroyed the barrier between the different groups of individuals through the sacrifice on the cross.  Who are we to keep it alive if God does not recognize the differences anymore?

Galatians
2:6-3:14, 3:28

All men are joint heirs to God's inheritance through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.  There is no longer a separation between the Jews and the Gentiles.

Ephesians
2:11-3:13

Through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross all have entered into the inheritance of the kingdom.  God's purpose was to abolish the division that existed between the Jews and the Gentiles.

Philippians
2:3

Consider others better than yourself.

If we hold to our own beliefs and attitudes that show our dominance over another group of individuals then how are we holding true to this scripture?

Colossians
3:1-21

Christ came and demolished the barrier between the Jews
and the Gentiles.  Therefore, rid yourselves of all of these things: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

In order to see this text as presented it is necessary to go back to the original Greek language to define the words malice and slander.  Malice is translated as negative moral qualities opposed to God and his goodness.  Slander is translated as abusive, malicious, hurtful, and abusive language.  We should try to consider if our language will be considered offensive
towards others regardless of any other circumstances.

James
2:1-13

Do not show favoritism based on an individual's characteristics or social standing.  Do not commit murder.  Do not judge others.

Any kind of separation or hatred that we hold against a fellow individual is a form of murder.  We should never judge another individual based on their personal characteristics and should only judge with mercy and in accordance to what God has commanded us in the Bible.