The Story: The Lawyer’s Test and the Road to Jericho

Jesus told this parable in response to a lawyer who tried to test Him. The lawyer asked, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus told him to love God and love his neighbor. The lawyer then asked, "And who is my neighbor?"

• The Victim: A man was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. This road was notoriously dangerous, often targeted by robbers. He was attacked, stripped, beaten, and left half-dead on the side of the road.

• The Religious Failure: A priest came by and saw the injured man. He crossed to the other side of the road and passed by. A Levite (another temple worker) came by, looked at the man, and also passed by on the other side. They avoided him, perhaps fearing ritual impurity or danger.

• The Radical Rescuer: Then, a Samaritan came upon the scene. Samaritans and Jews were bitter enemies, refusing to associate with each other. Yet, this Samaritan saw the man and "had compassion." He poured oil and wine on the man's wounds (first aid), bandaged them, set him on his own animal, and took him to an inn.

• The Costly Care: The Samaritan spent the night caring for the man. The next day, he gave the innkeeper two denarii (about two days' wages) and promised to pay any additional costs when he returned.

Jesus then asked the lawyer, "Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" The lawyer correctly answered, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus concluded, "You go, and do likewise." (Luke 10:36–37)

I. The Core Lesson: Defining Your Neighbor

This parable completely overturns the limited definition of "neighbor" that the lawyer and the Jewish community held.

• The Neighbor is Not Defined by Race or Tribe: The Samaritan was the traditional enemy of the Jew, yet he was the only one who acted rightly. This teaches us that your neighbor is not your friend, relative, or person of your own background.

• The Neighbor is Defined by Need: Your neighbor is anyone God puts in your path who requires compassion, kindness, and help—whether it is spiritual, financial, or physical.

• The Law of Love in Action: Jesus shows that truly loving your neighbor isn't just a feeling; it is a practical action that requires sacrifice of your time, resources, and comfort.

II. The Character Trait: Mercy Over Ceremony

The parable draws a stark contrast between those who value religious practice and those who value human life and mercy.

1. The Danger of Religion Without Heart

The Priest and the Levite were religious experts, but their devotion to ritual purity (touching the potentially dead man would make them ritually unclean) overpowered their human compassion. They represent the danger of knowing the Law but lacking a merciful heart.

2. The Command to Sacrifice

The Samaritan's compassion was costly:

• Time: He stopped his journey and spent a night caring for the victim.

• Money: He paid for the inn and promised more.

• Risk: He risked stopping on a dangerous road and caring for an injured stranger. As a new Christian, this parable commands you to embrace a life of sacrificial mercy, understanding that true worship involves caring for those who are marginalized and hurting (James 1:27).

Applying the Truth Today

Ask yourself: When God places a person in need on your "road," do you cross to the other side to protect your schedule and comfort, or do you stop and show mercy? The Parable of the Good Samaritan is Jesus’s model for practical discipleship and how Christians should engage with a hurting world.

Reflection Questions for Your Journey:

1. Your Road to Jericho. What "dangerous road" are you traveling this week, and who has God placed on it (a co-worker, a family member, a stranger) who is clearly "half-dead" (spiritually, emotionally, or physically)?

2. The Denarii. What "cost" (time, money, effort) is Jesus asking you to pay this week to help a neighbor in need?

3. The Enemy. Is there someone you instinctively consider an "enemy" or an "outsider"? How can you intentionally show them the mercy of the Good Samaritan this week?

Your Reading Guide

To read the entire exchange between the lawyer and Jesus, turn to Luke 10:25–37. For a reflection on mercy and judgment, read Matthew 5:7.