The Good Samaritan

One day, a person who thought he knew the Jewish laws very well wanted to test Jesus. He wanted to see how well Jesus knew the laws. He asked Jesus, “What must I do to receive eternal life?” Jesus answered with a question, “What does the law say?” The man knew the answer. He said, “You must love the Lord your God, and you must love your neighbour as much as you love yourself.” Jesus answered, “You are right! Now go and do it! Then you will receive eternal life.”

The man had one more question. He wanted to know who his neighbour was. Who must he love? His family? All the people in his village? Maybe everyone who was a Jew? He was sure he wasn’t supposed to love people who weren’t Jews.

Jesus answered his question by telling him a story.

A man was travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho. It was a lonely road that went through the mountains. Robbers attacked the man, took his clothes and beat him. Then they ran away. For a while the man lay there. He thought he was going to die. Then a priest walked past. He was an important man. He pretended not to see the wounded man and crossed to the other side of the road.

Everything was quiet again. The man continued laying there, hoping for someone to help him. Then a Levite came past.

He was also an important man. He also chose to pass the man without looking at him.

And then a Samaritan came down the road. Jews and Samaritans didn’t like one another. They didn’t even speak to one another. But this Samaritan felt sorry for the wounded man.

He went to him, washed his wounds with wine and put olive oil on them to soothe the pain. He bandaged the man’s wounds. Then he put him on his donkey and took him to an inn. He took care of him for the rest of the day. The next day the Samaritan had to leave. He gave the innkeeper extra money and said, “Please take care of this man until he is well. If you need more money, I’ll pay you when I come this way again.” After Jesus had told the story, he asked the man who knew the law, “Which of the three men loved his neighbour?” The man said, “The man who felt sorry for the wounded man and helped him.”

Jesus told him, “That’s what you must do when you see people who need help. Everyone who needs help is your neighbour.”

Luke 10:25–37