In the teachings of Jesus the figure of the Samaritan always appears, when Jesus heals ten lepers in Luke 17:11-19, only one returns to praise God and this person is a Samaritan. When Jesus sets as an example, how we should proceed in life in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), he mentions the attitude of the Samaritan in opposition to the Levite and the priest, the Samaritan is the example to follow. Also, on one of his trips, a Samaritan woman gives Jesus water from a well to drink, and the Lord teaches him how to worship God (John 4:1-26).
The Samaritans, despite being despised by the Jews, because they did not comply with the Law of Moses, are the object of Jesus' mercy, because the Kingdom of God is destined for all people of goodwill who fear God: "But go and learn what this means: ´I desire mercy, not sacrifice.´" Matthew 9:13.
The new pact that Jesus tells us about, is no longer about compliance with a rigid Law, but about the freedom of the spirit, the freedom of love: "Love your neighbor as yourself" Mark 12:31.
The Samaritans were a group of foreign peoples brought by the Assyrians, after the destruction of the Kingdom of Israel: "The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Kuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took over Samaria and lived in its towns." 2 Kings 17:24.
This is why the Samaritans, although they adopted customs of the ancient settlers of the Kingdom of Israel, do not belong to the old covenant established by Moses: "To this day they persist in their former practices. They neither worship the LORD nor adhere to the decrees and regulations, the laws and commands that the LORD gave the descendants of Jacob, whom he named Israel" 2 Kings 17:34.
The Kingdom of God is a universal call to the conversion of Jews, Samaritans and pagans.
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