The Good Samaritan
When asked 'Who is my neighbor?' Jesus tells of a despised Samaritan who shows mercy to a wounded traveler ignored by religious leaders.
Luke 10:25-37
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The Story
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. 'Teacher,' he asked, 'what must I do to inherit eternal life?'
'What is written in the Law?' Jesus replied. 'How do you read it?'
He 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.'
'You have answered correctly,' Jesus replied. 'Do this and you will live.'
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, 'And who is my neighbor?'
In reply Jesus said: 'A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.
A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. "Look after him," he said, "and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have."
'Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?'
The expert in the law replied, 'The one who had mercy on him.'
Jesus told him, 'Go and do likewise.'
The Kind Stranger
Kids Version
Someone asked Jesus, 'Who is my neighbor?'
Jesus told a story to answer:
A man was walking down a road when—BAM! Robbers attacked him! They took everything he had and left him lying on the ground, hurt and bleeding.
A priest came walking down the road. He saw the hurt man. Did he help? NOPE! He crossed to the other side and kept walking.
Then a Levite came—another important religious person. He looked at the hurt man, then walked right past on the other side. No help!
Then came a Samaritan. Now, Jewish people and Samaritan people did NOT like each other. They were kind of like enemies.
But when the Samaritan saw the hurt man, his heart hurt for him. He stopped! He cleaned the man's wounds and wrapped them up. He put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn.
The Samaritan paid for the man to stay at the inn. He told the innkeeper, 'Take care of him. If it costs more, I'll pay you back!'
Jesus asked, 'Which one was a good neighbor to the hurt man?'
The answer was obvious: the Samaritan! The one everyone thought was an enemy!
'Go and do the same,' Jesus said.
Your neighbor isn't just the person who lives next door. Your neighbor is ANYONE who needs help—even someone who's different from you. Be like the Good Samaritan!
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Scripture — Luke 10:25-37 (KJV)
25And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27And he answering said, 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.
28And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
29But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
30And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead .
31And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again , I will repay thee.
36Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Memory Verse
“And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
— Luke 10:25 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “The Good Samaritan” in the Bible?
When asked 'Who is my neighbor?' Jesus tells of a despised Samaritan who shows mercy to a wounded traveler ignored by religious leaders. This story is found in Luke 10:25-37.
Where is “The Good Samaritan” found in the Bible?
“The Good Samaritan” is found in Luke 10:25-37, in the book of Luke.
What can children learn from “The Good Samaritan”?
This story teaches children about Love your neighbor, Mercy, Compassion, Breaking barriers. A man was hurt by robbers. Important religious people walked right past him! But a stranger from a different country stopped to help. Jesus says we should be like that kind stranger.