Lessons From The Parable Of The Good Samaritan

The Parable of the Good Samaritan: What true love and mercy look like in action.

The parable of the Good Samaritan as told by the Lord Jesus Christ and found in the New Testament book of Luke 10:25-37, begins with a conversation between Jesus and an expert in Jewish law. The lawyer asks, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus responds by asking what the law says, to which the lawyer replies, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Jesus affirms this answer but the lawyer, seeking to justify himself, asks, “And who is my neighbor?”

In response to his question, Jesus tells the parable:

A man is traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho and was attacked by robbers. They strip him, beat him, and left him half dead by the roadside.

1. The Priest: A Jewish priest comes along, sees the injured man, but passes by on the other side of the road, avoiding him entirely.
2. The Levite: Next, a Levite (a temple assistant) also sees the man and, like the priest, crosses to the other side and continues on his way.
3. The Samaritan: Finally, a Samaritan comes upon the scene.

Note: Samaritans were despised by Jews at the time due to ethnic and religious differences.

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Moved with compassion, the Samaritan approaches the injured man, bandages his wounds (pouring oil and wine on them, common remedies of the time), and places him on his own donkey. He takes the injured man to an inn and cares for him overnight. The next day, the Samaritan gives the innkeeper two denarii (about two days’ wages) and instructs him to look after the man, promising to reimburse any additional costs upon his return.

After finishing the story, Jesus asks the lawyer, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The lawyer replies, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus then instructs him, “Go and do likewise.”

Context
Cultural Setting: The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was known for its steep descent and isolation, making it a prime spot for banditry. The priest and Levite were religious figures expected to uphold compassion, yet they avoided the man, possibly due to concerns about ritual purity (touching a dead or bleeding body could make them unclean under Jewish law) or personal safety. The Samaritan, however, was an outsider — Jews and Samaritans had a long history of hostility — making his actions even more striking.

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Purpose of the Parable: Jesus uses the parable of the Good Samaritan to challenge narrow definitions of “neighbor” and to illustrate what true love and mercy look like in action.

Lessons from the Good Samaritan

1. Love Transcends Boundaries: The Samaritan’s compassion crosses ethnic, religious, and social divides. The lesson is that a “neighbor” is not defined by proximity, similarity, or status, but by need.
   -We are called to love and help anyone in distress, regardless of differences.
2. Compassion Requires Action: The Samaritan didn’t just feel pity; he acted — bandaging wounds, transporting the man, and paying for his care.
   -True love is practical and sacrificial, not just emotional or theoretical.
3. Hypocrisy is Condemned: The priest and Levite, despite their religious roles, failed to help. This critiques those who prioritize rules, status, or convenience over mercy.
   Faith without works is empty.
4. Mercy Over Judgment: The Samaritan didn’t question the man’s worthiness or how he ended up in this situation. He simply helped.
   -This teaches us to offer grace and aid without prejudice or conditions.
5. Personal Sacrifice is Part of Love: The Samaritan gave his time, resources (oil, wine, money), and risked his safety on a dangerous road.
   -Loving others often involves inconvenience or cost to ourselves.
6. A Call to Imitate: Jesus’ final command, “Go and do likewise,” makes this a personal challenge. The story isn’t just a nice tale, it’s a model for how we should live, actively seeking opportunities to show mercy.
7. Redefining Righteousness: In the Jewish culture, the priest and Levite represented righteousness through adherence to the law, yet the Samaritan, an outcast, embodied true righteousness through his actions.
   -This suggests that God values a heart of compassion over external piety.

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Broader Implications
The parable aligns with the broader biblical theme of loving God and others as the essence of faith (e.g., Matthew 22:37-40 ). It also foreshadows the ministry of Jesus as He, too, would cross boundaries, show mercy to the outcast, and ultimately sacrifice Himself for humanity’s sake.

GO AND DO LIKEWISE