The Good Samaritan

Luke 10:25-37

The hero of the story was the last person they'd want as a neighbor.

A religious expert tests Jesus: What must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus turns it back: What does the law say? Love God. Love your neighbor. Correct — do this and live. But the man wants to justify himself: And who is my neighbor? Jesus answers with a story. A man is robbed and beaten on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. A priest sees him and passes by. A Levite does the same. Then a Samaritan — despised by Jews — stops, bandages his wounds, puts him on his own donkey, takes him to an inn, and pays for his care. Jesus asks: Which one was the neighbor? The expert can barely say it: The one who had mercy. Jesus says: Go and do likewise.

• Compassion
• Prejudice
• Mercy
• True Neighbor