In brief
The good Samaritan is not a historical figure but the hero of a parable told by Jesus (Luke 10:25-37). A lawyer asks: “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus describes a man left half dead on the road to Jericho. A priest and a Levite pass by; a Samaritan on a journey is moved with compassion and takes care of him. Jesus concludes: “Go and do likewise.”
What does the name The Good Samaritan mean?
This character has no name: he is a teaching figure. The word “Samaritan” refers to an inhabitant of Samaria, a region named after the city of Samaria, built by King Omri on the hill bought from Shemer (1 Kings 16:24). The word “good” is not in the biblical text: it comes from tradition.
The story of The Good Samaritan
A lawyer's question
Luke 10:25-29A lawyer stands up to test Jesus: “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus sends him back to the law, and the man cites love for God and neighbor. Jesus approves: do this and you will live. But the lawyer, wanting to justify himself, asks: “Who is my neighbor?” The parable answers that question.
A man left half dead
Luke 10:30-32Jesus tells of a man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho. Robbers strip him, beat him and leave him half dead. A priest comes along the same road, sees him and passes by on the other side. A Levite does the same. Both men tied to the temple service do not stop, and the parable does not say why.
A Samaritan moved with compassion
Luke 10:33-34A Samaritan on a journey arrives, a man with whom the Jews had no dealings. He “was moved with compassion.” He goes to him, binds up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine, sets him on his own animal, brings him to an inn and takes care of him. His love costs him time, effort and money.
Two denarii and a promise
Luke 10:35The next day, the Samaritan gives two denarii to the innkeeper and says: take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I return. His compassion does not stop at first aid. He commits for the long term to a stranger who can give nothing back.
Go and do likewise
Luke 10:36-37Jesus turns the question around: which of these three seemed to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers? The lawyer answers: “He who showed mercy on him.” Jesus concludes: “Go and do likewise.” The real question is no longer who deserves my love, but whose neighbor I become.
Test your knowledge
What The Good Samaritan teaches us
- A neighbor is not a category of people to define, but someone I choose to draw near to.
- A religion without compassion misses the heart of God's law.
- True love costs time, money and comfort, and it commits for the long haul.
- Mercy knows no border: Jesus takes as his model the man his listeners kept at a distance.
- Many Christians also see in Jesus the true Samaritan, who came to bind our wounds when we could not save ourselves.
Key verses
The lawyer sums up the law well: love God with all one's being and one's neighbor as oneself. The whole parable shows what this second commandment means in practice.
The expression “moved with compassion” translates a deep emotion, felt in the gut. Before acting, the Samaritan looks at the wounded man and lets his distress touch him.
Jesus shifts the question. The lawyer asked who his neighbor is; Jesus asks who proved a neighbor to the wounded man. The final command is simple and practical: act with mercy.
Bible verses to meditate on
Sermons about The Good Samaritan
- The Good Samaritan: The Parable That Turns Our Idea of "Neighbor" Upside DownThe preacher stresses the shock of the parable: the hero is not a Jew but a Samaritan, with whom the Jews had no dealings. He also sees in Jesus the true good Samaritan who comes near to bind up our wounds.
- The Good Samaritan: A Bible Study on Luke 10:25-37The study notes that Jesus slows down his story to detail each of the Samaritan's gestures. It invites us to see ourselves also in the man left half dead, who can only receive a completely free mercy.
- What If the Good Samaritan Was Jesus Caring for You?The preacher presents two readings of the parable: imitating the Samaritan, and seeing Jesus in him. He notes that the verb translated “moved with compassion” has, in the synoptic gospels, Jesus as its subject or a character who represents God.
Frequently asked questions
Did the good Samaritan really exist?
The good Samaritan is a character in a parable, a story told by Jesus to teach. The account begins with “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho” (Luke 10:30), with no name or historical detail. Its aim is not to report a news item, but to answer the question: “Who is my neighbor?”
Why did Jesus choose a Samaritan?
Jews and Samaritans had no dealings with each other (John 4:9). By making a Samaritan the model of love for neighbor, set against a priest and a Levite who pass by, Jesus shakes his listeners' prejudices. Mercy, not religious belonging, shows who truly obeys the law.
Where can I find the parable of the good Samaritan?
It appears only in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 10, verses 25 to 37. It is part of the dialogue between Jesus and a lawyer about eternal life, just before Jesus' visit to the home of Martha and Mary.