The Good Samaritan

Jesus told many stories to teach people, to help them learn the truth.

One day a leader of the Jews tried to trick Jesus. He asked Jesus how to get into heaven. The Savior asked what the scriptures said. The leader said a man should love God and should also love his neighbor. Jesus said he was right. Then the leader asked, “Who is my neighbor?” Luke 10:25–29

Jesus answered by telling a story about a Jew who was walking on a road to Jericho. Thieves stopped him, took his clothes, and beat him. They left him on the road, almost dead. Luke 10:30

Soon a Jewish priest went by and saw the man. The priest should have helped him, but instead he walked by on the other side of the road. Luke 10:31

A Jewish man who worked in the temple went by. He also should have helped the injured man. But he, too, walked by on the other side of the road. Luke 10:32

Then a Samaritan came along. The Jews and the Samaritans did not like each other. But when the Samaritan saw the man, he felt sorry for him. Even though he knew the man was a Jew, the Samaritan took care of his wounds and put clothes on him. Luke 10:33–34; John 4:9; see also Bible Dictionary, “Samaritans,” 768

Then the Samaritan took the Jew to an inn and cared for him until the next day. When the Samaritan had to leave, he gave money to the innkeeper and told him to take care of the man. Luke 10:34–35

This was the story Jesus told the leader of the Jews. Then He asked the leader which of the three men was the injured man’s neighbor. Luke 10:36

The leader said the Samaritan was the neighbor because he had helped. Jesus told the Jewish leader to be like the Samaritan. Luke 10:37

Illustrations by Paul Mann