The Good Samaritan: What It Means to Love Your Neighbor

A Man in Trouble

One sunny day, a Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. The road was long and dusty, winding through the hills. Suddenly, a group of robbers jumped out from behind the rocks!

They attacked the poor traveler, took everything he had—his money, his clothes, even his shoes—and left him lying on the side of the road, badly hurt.

The First Helper Passes By

After a while, a Jewish priest came walking down the same road. When he saw the hurt man, he looked the other way and hurried past. He didn't want to get involved.

A little later, a Levite (a temple helper) came along. He also saw the hurt man, but he too crossed to the other side of the road and walked quickly past.

An Unexpected Hero

Then came a Samaritan man. Now, you should know that Jewish people and Samaritans were enemies. They didn't like each other and usually didn't help one another.

But this Samaritan was different.

When he saw the hurt man on the road, his heart filled with compassion. He stopped immediately and ran to help.

Real Help

The kind Samaritan gently cleaned the man's wounds and put oil and wine on them to help him heal. He tore up cloth to make bandages. Then he helped the hurt man onto his own donkey.

He didn't just leave him there and walk away. No! He took the man to an inn—a place where travelers could rest and eat.

The Samaritan told the innkeeper, "Please take care of this man. Spend whatever money you need. When I come back this way, I will pay you back for everything."

He paid the innkeeper right then and there, then continued his journey.

The Lesson Jesus Taught

Jesus told this story to show us something important. He said, "Go and do the same thing!"

The priest and the Levite had probably been busy, worried about their own problems. But the Samaritan took time to help someone who wasn't even his friend.

Being a good neighbor doesn't mean only helping people who are like you or people you know. It means helping anyone who needs help—no matter who they are.

When you see someone who is hurt, lonely, scared, or left out, don't look the other way. Be like the Good Samaritan. Stop. Care. Help.

That's what love really looks like!