Parables of Jesus · New Testament
The Story of the Good Samaritan
Asked “Who is my neighbour?”, Jesus tells of a man left half dead on the road, passed by a priest and a Levite and cared for by a Samaritan.
Editorial text in English. Scripture is quoted from the version you choose; references stay the same in every version.
Introduction
An expert in the law asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, and agrees that the law says to love God and to love your neighbour as yourself. Wanting to justify himself, he asks, “Who is my neighbour?” Luke 10:25–29
Jesus answers with a parable, a story told to make a point, not a report of a particular event. At the end he turns the question around: which of the three proved to be a neighbour? “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:30–37
Principal passages
People in this story
- Jesus The Story of Jesus
- a lawyer
Places named
- The road from Jerusalem down to Jericho Luke 10:30
Only places the passages name. Locations are not guessed.
The story, event by event
In the order Scripture presents them. Expand an event to read its passage here.
“Who is my neighbour?”
A lawyer tests Jesus. Asked what the law says, he quotes the commands to love God with all your heart and your neighbour as yourself. Jesus says, “Do this, and you will live.” The lawyer asks who his neighbour is.
People: Jesus, a lawyer
Left half dead
In the parable a man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho is attacked by robbers, stripped, beaten and left half dead.
People: Jesus
A priest and a Levite pass by
A priest comes down the road, sees him and passes by on the other side; so does a Levite.
People: Jesus
The Samaritan
A Samaritan traveller sees the man and has compassion. He bandages his wounds, sets him on his own animal, takes him to an inn, cares for him and pays the innkeeper to look after him.
People: Jesus
“Go and do likewise”
Jesus asks which of the three became a neighbour to the man. The lawyer answers, “He who showed mercy on him.” Jesus says, “Go and do likewise.”
People: Jesus
Related and parallel passages
- Deuteronomy 6:5 Supporting passage · “Who is my neighbour?” — Quoted in Luke 10:27
- Leviticus 19:18 Supporting passage · “Who is my neighbour?” — Quoted in Luke 10:27
- Mark 12:28–34 Supporting passage · “Who is my neighbour?” — A similar conversation about the greatest commandment, in a different setting
Later in the Bible
Later passages that recall or interpret this story. They are not events within it.
- John 4:9 Direct reference — An example of the distance between Jews and Samaritans: “Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.”
Connected themes
- Love Illustrates the theme
Jesus’ answer to “Who is my neighbour?” Luke 10:36–37
- Mercy Illustrates the theme
“He who showed mercy on him.” Luke 10:37
- Hospitality Illustrates the theme
Care for a wounded stranger. Luke 10:34–35
Questions for study
Written by BibleKenya editors. They are not Scripture.
- How does Jesus change the lawyer’s question in Luke 10:36?
- Why might Jesus have chosen a Samaritan as the one who helps?
- What does the Samaritan do, step by step, in Luke 10:34-35?
- What would “go and do likewise” look like for you this week?
Study guides
- The Parables of Jesus
The good Samaritan as a story page. Luke 10:30–37
Reading plans
- The Parables of Jesus
The plan reads this parable on one of its days.
Use offline
Save this story on your device, then download the Bible books it uses in your version: Luke. The study keeps only its own notes and references; the Scripture comes from the books on your device, never a second copy.