The Good Samaritan’s Kindness – A Lesson in Love and Compassion
One day, a man approached Jesus with an important question: “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus replied, “What is written in the Law?”
The man answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself.”
Jesus nodded. “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.”
But the man wanted to justify himself, so he asked, “Who is my neighbor?”
To answer, Jesus told a parable—one of the most well-known and beloved stories of kindness and compassion.
A Man in Trouble
A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. The road was long, winding, and dangerous. As he walked, a group of robbers attacked him! They stole everything he had, beat him badly, and left him lying by the side of the road, barely alive.
The man lay there in pain, hoping someone would help him. After some time, a priest came walking down the road. Surely, a man of God would help him! But the priest saw the injured man and quickly crossed to the other side, continuing on his way without stopping.
Later, a Levite—another religious leader—came down the road. The wounded man’s heart lifted with hope. But the Levite also passed by, ignoring the man’s suffering.
The Kindness of a Samaritan
Then, a Samaritan came down the road. Now, Samaritans and Jews did not get along in those days. Many people would have expected the Samaritan to ignore the wounded man or even mock him.
But instead, the Samaritan’s heart was filled with compassion. He hurried to the man’s side, bandaged his wounds, and gently lifted him onto his donkey. He carried him to an inn and took care of him throughout the night.
The next day, the Samaritan gave the innkeeper some money and said, “Take care of him. If you spend more, I will repay you when I return.”
The Lesson of the Story
After telling the parable, Jesus asked, “Which of these three was a neighbor to the man who was attacked?”
The man who had asked the question replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”
Jesus smiled and said, “Go and do likewise.”