The Good Samaritan - (Luke 10:25-37)

The parable of the Good Samaritan, recounted by Jesus in the gospel of Luke, comes in response to a question from an expert of law. This question was: “and who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10, 29). Jesus responds with a parable showing different attitudes that men have had towards those in need. This parable shows us the second most important commandment of God in a practical way, namely: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31) The first is: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30) Read on to discover this teaching of Jesus on loving one’s neighbor.

The parable of the Good Samaritan in the gospel of Luke

“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?” he 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.”

Love your neighbor as yourself

The parable of the good Samaritan tells us that others become our neighbors when we not only look at them from afar but approach and get to know their needs and to help them as much as we can. To fulfill the law as the letter to the Romans says, is to love: “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” (Romans 13:8-10).