SkiesBible story
The good Samaritan
A retelling of Luke 10:25–37: a question about neighbors, and a story that turned it upside down.
But a Samaritan on a journey came upon him, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
Luke 10:33–34
In Luke 10 an expert in the law asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus told of a man beaten by robbers and left half dead. A priest and a Levite passed by, but a Samaritan, from a despised people, stopped, bandaged him and paid for his care. Jesus’ answer: the neighbor is the one who shows mercy. “Go and do likewise.”
The story
A lawyer asked Jesus how to inherit eternal life. Love God with everything, and love your neighbor as yourself, Jesus agreed. “And who is my neighbor?” the man asked, wanting to justify himself.
Jesus told a story. A man was going down the dangerous road from Jerusalem to Jericho when robbers stripped him, beat him and left him half dead. A priest came by, saw him, and crossed to the other side. A Levite did the same.
Then a Samaritan came. Jews and Samaritans had hated each other for centuries. But when he saw the man, “he had compassion.” He bandaged his wounds with oil and wine, put him on his own animal, took him to an inn and paid for his care, promising to cover anything more.
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man?” Jesus asked. “The one who showed him mercy.” “Go and do likewise.”
What it means
The lawyer wanted to know how far his duty went. Jesus changed the question from “who counts as my neighbor?” to “will I be a neighbor?” And he made the hero someone the lawyer despised.
Christians have also seen Jesus himself in the Samaritan: the one who comes to us when we are helpless, binds our wounds and pays the cost.
Pray
Lord Jesus, open my eyes to the people I pass by. Give me your compassion, and the courage to stop. Amen.
Read it in the Bible
Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” “The one who showed him mercy,” replied the expert in the law. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Luke 10:36–37
