The Good Samaritan · who is my neighbor?
A Bible story to tell as a family · Luke 10:25–37 · ages 5–14 · 10 min
The story
One day, an expert in the law, someone who spent his life studying God's laws, stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus turned the question back to him: “What is written in the Law?” And, “How do you read it?”
The man knew the answer by heart: love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus said he had answered correctly: do this and you will live. But the man wanted to justify himself and asked, “And who is my neighbor?” It was like asking: who am I required to love, and who can I leave out?
So Jesus told a story. A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, a lonely road full of curves and rocks, where it was easy for someone to hide. And there he fell into the hands of robbers. They took everything he had, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead by the side of the road.
By chance, a priest was going down that road, a man who served God in the temple. He saw the wounded man... and passed by on the other side. Then a Levite came, another temple helper. He came to the spot, saw the man... and he too passed by on the other side. The text doesn't say why. Maybe fear, maybe hurry. It only says they saw and stayed far away.
Then a Samaritan came along. For the people listening to Jesus, this was the last person they would expect to be the hero: Jews and Samaritans had been at odds for centuries. But when the Samaritan saw the man, he had compassion. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine, which were the medicine of that time. He put the man on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
The next day, before leaving, he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. He asked him to take care of the wounded man and promised to repay any extra expense when he came back. The Samaritan didn't know that man. He didn't even know his name. Even so, he paid the bill.
Then Jesus turned the question inside out: “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The man answered, “The one who showed him mercy.” Notice that he didn't even say the word Samaritan. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
25One day an expert in the law stood up to test Him. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26“What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?” 27He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28“You have answered correctly,” Jesus said. “Do this and you will live.” 29But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30Jesus took up this question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31Now by chance a priest was going down the same road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32So too, when a Levite came to that spot and saw him, he passed by on the other side. 33But when a Samaritan on a journey came upon him, he looked at him and had compassion. 34He 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. 35The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Take care of him,’ he said, ‘and on my return I will repay you for any additional expense.’ 36Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37“The one who showed him mercy,” replied the expert in the law. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
What the Bible says
- v. 27: the law sums it all up in loving God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself.
- v. 33: the Samaritan saw the wounded man and had compassion.
- v. 37: Jesus said, “Go and do likewise.”
What we learn
The expert in the law wanted to know how far his obligation went. Jesus changed the question: instead of “who is my neighbor?”, he asked who acted like a neighbor. The love God asks for doesn't pick who deserves it; it comes close to whoever has fallen, even if that person is a stranger or an enemy. Many Christians, from the earliest centuries, have seen in the Samaritan a picture of Jesus, who came to us in our wounds and paid the bill. And the story ends with a task for today.
Questions to talk about
For little ones
- What happened to the man on the road?
- What did the Samaritan do to help?
For kids
- Why do you think the priest and the Levite passed by on the other side?
- Who at your school or on your street might need someone to stop and help?
For teens
- Jesus chose a Samaritan, someone from a rival people, as the hero of the story. Who would the Samaritan be today for your group of friends? What does that change in the story?
For adults
- What most makes us pass by on the other side: fear, hurry, tiredness, or the idea that it's not our problem? Which of these weighs on you most right now?
Activity
Put together a pretend first-aid kit with bandages, cotton balls, and a cloth. One family member plays the wounded man and the kids play the Samaritan: they put on the bandage and bring the wounded man to the couch, which will be the inn. Then choose together a real person who needs care this week and decide on a concrete gesture: a visit, a note, or a meal.
To memorize: Luke 10:27
Prayer
God of love, thank you that Jesus came close to us when we had fallen. Open our eyes to those who are suffering near us. Give us courage to stop, care, and help, even when it's hard. In Jesus' name, amen.