The Parable of the Good Samaritan is a story Jesus told to teach about kindness, compassion, and what it means to be a neighbor. This story, found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 10, illustrates the importance of helping others, regardless of their background or status.
A Question About Neighbors
Bible Verse: Luke 10:25-29
“On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’… And he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?'”
An expert in the law asked Jesus about inheriting eternal life. Jesus told him to love God and his neighbor. The man then asked who his neighbor was, leading Jesus to tell the parable.
The Man Attacked by Robbers
Bible Verse: Luke 10:30
“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.”
Jesus started the story with a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho who was attacked by robbers and left badly hurt on the side of the road.
The Priest and the Levite
Bible Verse: Luke 10:31-32
“A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.”
In the story, a priest and then a Levite came by the injured man. Both saw him but chose to pass by on the other side of the road, ignoring him.
The Good Samaritan’s Compassion
Bible Verse: Luke 10:33-34
“But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.”
Then, a Samaritan came along. Despite Samaritans and Jews generally disliking each other, the Samaritan felt compassion for the injured man. He treated his wounds and took him to an inn for further care.
The Lesson of the Parable
Bible Verse: Luke 10:36-37
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?’ The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’ Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.'”
Jesus asked the law expert who was a neighbor in the story. The expert admitted it was the one who showed mercy – the Samaritan. Jesus encouraged him to act similarly, showing mercy and kindness to others.