The Good Samaritan
Who Is My Neighbor? Jesus Redefines Love
Where to find this story in the Bible
The story of Good Samaritan is found in Luke 10:25–37 of the King James Bible (Luke).
Books: Luke
Historical & Cultural Context
Jesus told this parable in response to a lawyer's question 'Who is my neighbour?' The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was a 17-mile descent of about 3,600 feet through rocky, desolate terrain — notorious for bandits. Jews and Samaritans had centuries of mutual hatred stemming from the Assyrian resettlement of Samaria (722 BC) and the rival temple on Mount Gerizim. By making a Samaritan the hero and religious leaders the villains, Jesus deliberately shattered ethnic and religious prejudice.
Key Characters
Key Verses
Luke 10:27
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself."Read in context
Luke 10:33
"But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him."Read in context
The Lawyer's Question
A lawyer — an expert in the Mosaic law — stood up to test Jesus with a question: 'Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?' Jesus, as He often did, answered with a question: 'What is written in the law? How readest thou?' The lawyer gave the correct answer: love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus confirmed it. But the lawyer, 'willing to justify himself,' pressed further: 'And who is my neighbour?' He wanted a boundary — a line that separated those he was obligated to love from those he could ignore. Jesus answered with a story that demolished every boundary.
The Beaten Traveler
A man was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho — a 17-mile road descending 3,600 feet through desolate, rocky terrain known for banditry. Thieves attacked him, stripped him, beat him, and left him half dead. This was not an unusual event on this dangerous road, which makes the responses that follow all the more revealing.
The Priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan
A priest came down the road, saw the wounded man, and passed by on the other side. A Levite did the same. These were the religious professionals — the men whose entire lives were dedicated to serving God and people. Their reasons for passing by may have been practical (touching a corpse would make them ceremonially unclean) or personal (fear of a trap), but Jesus offers no excuses. They simply failed to love. Then came a Samaritan — a member of a mixed-race people despised by Jews, considered heretics and outsiders. He saw the wounded man and 'had compassion on him.' He bandaged his wounds, poured oil and wine on them, placed him on his own donkey, brought him to an inn, and paid for his care — promising to cover any additional expenses on his return.
The Question Reversed
Jesus turned the lawyer's question inside out. Instead of asking 'Who is my neighbor?' (which seeks limits), He asked, 'Which of these three was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?' The lawyer couldn't even bring himself to say 'the Samaritan' — he answered, 'He that shewed mercy on him.' Jesus' final command: 'Go, and do thou likewise.' The parable doesn't define who qualifies as your neighbor — it defines what it means to be a neighbor. Love is not a category; it's an action.
Symbolism & Typology
The Wounded Traveler
Represents all of fallen humanity — stripped, beaten, and left half dead by sin. We cannot save ourselves; we lie helpless and need someone to come to us.
The Priest and Levite
Represent the failure of religious ritual and law to save. They 'passed by on the other side' — the law identifies the problem (sin) but cannot heal it. Religion without compassion is empty.
The Samaritan
Many Church Fathers saw the Good Samaritan as Christ Himself — the despised outsider who alone has compassion, binds wounds, pays the full price for healing, and promises to return.
The Inn
Represents the church — the place where the wounded are cared for until the Samaritan (Christ) returns. The two pence may represent the Old and New Testaments, or the sacraments, given to sustain until His return.
Cross-References
Spiritual Lessons
Religion Without Compassion Is Empty
The priest and Levite were religiously qualified but morally bankrupt. Theological knowledge and religious titles mean nothing if they don't produce tangible love for suffering people.
Love Crosses Every Boundary
The Samaritan crossed ethnic, religious, and cultural boundaries to help a man who, in normal circumstances, would have despised him. True love doesn't ask 'Do they deserve it?' — it asks 'Do they need it?'
Compassion Is Costly
The Samaritan gave his time, his resources, his animal, his money, and his ongoing commitment. Real compassion costs something. It's not a feeling — it's an investment.
The Question Isn't 'Who Is My Neighbor?' but 'Am I Being a Neighbor?'
Jesus flipped the question from defining recipients to defining responsibility. Stop looking for limits on love and start looking for opportunities to show it.
Discussion Questions
Use these questions for personal reflection, small groups, or family Bible time.
What does the story of The Good Samaritan teach us about religion without compassion is empty? How have you seen this truth in your own life?
Love Crosses Every Boundary: How does this lesson from The Good Samaritan challenge the way you think or act today?
Put yourself in jesus's position. What would have been the hardest part of this experience? What would have required the most faith?
The theme of this story is "Compassion and Mercy." Where do you see this theme playing out in the world today?
How does this story reveal something about who Jesus is and what He came to do?
If you could share one truth from The Good Samaritan with someone who has never read the Bible, what would it be?
Family Activity Ideas
Bring this story to life with hands-on activities for children and families.
📖 Scripture Memory Challenge
Memorize Luke 10:27 together as a family this week. Write it on a card, post it on the fridge, and practice saying it each morning. By the end of the week, see who can recite it from memory!
All ages🎭 Act It Out
Have family members take turns acting out different scenes from The Good Samaritan. Assign roles, create simple costumes from household items, and let everyone participate. After the performance, discuss what each character might have been feeling.
Ages 4–12💝 Mercy Jar
Create a family "Mercy Jar." Each time someone shows kindness or forgiveness during the week, add a marble or note. At the end of the week, read through the notes together and thank God for His mercy.
Ages 4+🍽️ Dinner Table Devotion
At dinner this week, read Luke 10:33 aloud and ask each person: "What is one thing from the story of The Good Samaritan that you want to remember?" Let everyone share — even the youngest.
All agesFrequently Asked Questions
Where is the story of Good Samaritan in the Bible?
The story of Good Samaritan is found in Luke 10:25–37 of the King James Bible (Luke).
Where in the Bible is the story of Good Samaritan?
You can find the story of Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25–37 (KJV).
Where does the story of Good Samaritan start in the Bible?
The story of Good Samaritan begins in Luke 10:25–37. In response to a lawyer's question, Jesus tells the story of a Samaritan who shows mercy to a beaten traveler — while a priest and Levite pass by. Love has no boundaries.
Why did Jews and Samaritans hate each other?
The hostility between Jews and Samaritans stretched back centuries. After the Assyrian exile (722 BC), Samaritans intermarried with foreign settlers and established their own temple on Mount Gerizim. Jews considered them racial and religious half-breeds. Jesus' choice of a Samaritan as the hero was deliberately provocative — and deeply meaningful.
Is the Good Samaritan a real event or a parable?
This is a parable — a fictional story Jesus told to illustrate a spiritual truth. It is presented as a teaching tool in response to the lawyer's question, not as a historical account. However, the setting (the Jericho road) and social dynamics were completely realistic to Jesus' audience.
Is the Good Samaritan an allegory for Christ?
Many church fathers interpreted it allegorically: the wounded man is fallen humanity, the priest and Levite represent the inability of the law to save, and the Samaritan is Christ who rescues, heals, and pays the price. While Jesus' primary point was ethical ('Go and do likewise'), the Christological reading has rich theological resonance.
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The Good Samaritan Quiz for Kids
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