What Is the Parable of the Good Samaritan — In Biblical Context
Jesus told of a Samaritan who helped a beaten man after a priest and Levite passed by, teaching that love has no boundaries.
Jesus told of a Samaritan who helped a beaten man after a priest and Levite passed by, teaching that love has no boundaries.
"But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him." — Luke 10:33 (KJV)
The Biblical Context
In Luke 10:25-37, a lawyer asked Jesus 'Who is my neighbour?' Jesus responded with the parable of a man robbed and beaten on the Jericho road. A priest and a Levite both passed by, but a Samaritan — despised by Jews — stopped to help, bandaging his wounds and paying for his care. Jesus asked which man was the true neighbour, teaching that love transcends ethnic, religious, and social barriers.
Where It Sits in Scripture
The core passage for this question, Luke 10:33, sits inside Luke 10. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.
"But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him."
Supporting Passages
"And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise."
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