N9
We are duty-bound to help a person who needs rescue provided it is reasonably within our ability to do so.
Category: Neighbours & Brothers
Type: Positive
Form: Explicit
Source dataset: Old Testament
Uniqueness: Not unique
Classical commandment: Yes
New Covenant Literal Application
Applies to Person Categories: Everyone
Literal Application: mandated
More explanation about New Covenant Literal Application
The New Covenant Literal Application Code (NCLA) is an interpretive guide used by the authors to indicate which person categories a mitzvah applies to, and at what level of literal compliance.
It combines person categories such as Jewish, K'rov Yisrael, and Gentile, together with male/female distinctions and an application level such as mandated, recommended, optional, or prohibited.
This code reflects the authors' interpretive opinion and is provided for prayerful consideration. On this page, the technical code is summarized into plain language to help new readers understand it more easily.
Detailed codes: GFm - Gentile female, mandated | GMm - Gentile male, mandated | JFm - Jewish female, mandated | JMm - Jewish male, mandated | KFm - K'rovat Yisrael female, mandated | KMm - K'rov Yisrael male, mandated
Bible references
Key NT Scriptures
- Matthew 9:10-13
Key OT Scriptures
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Deuteronomy 25:11-12
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Jeremiah 22:3
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Proverbs 24:11-12
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Psalms 82:4
Supportive NT Scriptures
- Luke 5:30-32
- Luke 6:36
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Luke 10:25-37
- Mark 3:1-5
- Mark 12:30-31
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Matthew 25:31-46
Bible verses copyright: PUBLIC DOMAIN except in the United Kingdom, where a Crown Copyright applies to printing the KJV. See http://www.cambridge.org/about-us/who-we-are/queens-printers-patent
Commentary
Rabbi Michael Rudolph
" Do unto others as you would have them do unto you " is the well-known "golden rule", but it does not appear in the Bible in that form. What is in the Bible is Mark 12:30-31 , which states: '... and you are to love ADONAI your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your understanding and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'You are to love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other mitzvah greater than these. Applying that principle, Scripture teaches that we have a duty to help others, even to try to save the life of a person who is attacked. What is unclear is whether the duty applies even if it puts the protector in danger and, because Scripture is silent on the matter, I will not speculate. The parable of the "good Samaritan" is the classic Scripture that lauds assisting a person who has been attacked, but it is noteworthy that at no time was the "good Samaritan" in danger since he gave his help after the attack on the injured man had occurred. Nevertheless, he helped the stranger in need by spending his own time and money. Interestingly, some U.S. States have adopted what they call the "Good Samaritan Law" which does not require that a bystander help a person who is in distress, but states that if he does and causes injury in the process, he cannot be sued for his attempt.
Classical commentators
The mitzvah that Maimonides and HaChinuch glean from Scripture is that we must seek to save the life of one who is attacked even if it requires killing the attacker. In reaching this conclusion they rely on Deuteronomy 25:11-12 in a very strange way, which is to construe that the man who is attacking the other is not trying to kill him, but that the wife who comes to her husband's aid (by grabbing the attacker's private parts) is trying to kill the attacker, and thereby becomes a lethal attacker herself. That is why Scripture commands that we must show no pity on her and cut off her hand. Meir did not address the subject.
Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah, Torah from a New Covenant Perspective, Volume 1 & 2
Classical sources
Maimonides
Maimonides (Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, 12th century) organized all 613 Torah commandments into a structured list. These linked items show where this Law of Messiah commandment overlaps with that classical framework.
Source and License
Based on The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective by Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster.
License: CC BY-ND 4.0 (Attribution required, NoDerivatives). CC BY-ND 4.0
Disclaimer: the original content is authored by Rabbi Michael Rudolph and Rabbi Daniel Juster; additional notes or implementation details on this website are not part of their original work and do not represent their views.
Record source: The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective - Volume 1 & 2
Copyright note: Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah, Torah from a New Covenant Perspective, Volume 1 & 2