But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text highlights a significant detail: the Samaritan "came down to him" (or "came where he was"), contrasting with the priest and Levite who merely came "to the place." This emphasizes the Samaritan's personal involvement and initiative, actively approaching the injured man with genuine, heartfelt compassion that transcended societal barriers.
But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just explained that loving your neighbor is the second greatest commandment. To illustrate who qualifies as a neighbor, he tells the story of a man attacked by robbers and left for dead on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. A priest and then a Levite see the wounded man but pass by, ignoring him. This is the immediate backdrop for the Samaritan's arrival.
Think about the last time you felt truly moved to help someone. What if that person was from a group you were taught to dislike or distrust?
Jesus tells the story of a wounded traveler on the road to Jericho. A priest and a Levite, religious figures from his own people, pass him by. But then, a Samaritan appears. Samaritans and Jews were bitter enemies, with centuries of animosity between them. Yet, when this Samaritan sees the man in need, something powerful happens: 'he had compassion.'
This isn't just a moment of sympathy; it's a profound, active concern that overrides deep-seated prejudice. The Greek word used for compassion here suggests a deep, visceral stirring, like the gut-wrenching empathy you feel for a suffering loved one. It’s the kind of feeling that compels action, pushing past societal barriers and personal comfort.
It's one thing to feel sorry for someone; it's another to do something about it, especially when it costs you.
The Samaritan's compassion wasn't passive. The original language suggests a deep, gut-level reaction to the man's suffering. This wasn't just a mild feeling of pity; it was an overwhelming urge to act.
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What followed was immediate and costly:
This active, sacrificial compassion is the core of the story. It’s the embodiment of loving your neighbor as yourself, showing that true neighborliness is defined by selfless action, not by ethnic or religious affiliation.
Understand the original words
Samareitēs · Greek Noun
An inhabitant of the region of Samaria. Due to historical, religious, and ethnic tensions, Jews and Samaritans typically avoided each other; this group was often viewed with contempt or hostility by first-century Jews.
splagchnizomai · Greek Verb
A deep, visceral feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the suffering of others, often accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate that suffering. In the New Testament, it is frequently used to describe the divine mercy of Jesus.
The deep-seated animosity between Jews and Samaritans, stemming from historical and religious differences, makes the Samaritan's compassion in Jesus' parable all the more powerful, highlighting that true neighborly love transcends ethnic and religious divides.
c. 150 BC - AD 6
Samaritan Temple on Mount Gerizim Destroyed
The Samaritan temple on Mount Gerizim, a rival to Jerusalem's, was destroyed by John Hyrcanus. This event significantly deepened the animosity between Jews and Samaritans.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus Rejected by Samaritans
Jesus and his disciples were initially rejected by a Samaritan village when they were on their way to Jerusalem, causing disciples James and John to want to call down fire on them.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry in Samaria
Despite initial rejection, Jesus later ministered in Samaria, healing a leper and converting the woman at the well, demonstrating God's love extends to all.
c. AD 30-33
Lawyer's Question on Eternal Life
A Jewish lawyer, seeking to test Jesus, asks what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus redirects the question to the law, specifically the commandments to love God and neighbor.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
Jesus tells the parable of a man attacked by robbers and left for dead. A priest and a Levite pass by without helping, but a Samaritan stops to show compassion and care.
This verse directly quotes the second greatest commandment, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' which is the very principle the lawyer struggles to define and the Samaritan embodies.
Romans 13:10This passage explains that love fulfills the law, highlighting how the Samaritan's compassionate action, despite his social standing, perfectly demonstrated the essence of true love for one's neighbor.
1 John 4:8This verse states that God is love, providing the ultimate theological backdrop for the Samaritan's selfless act, as his compassion reflects the very nature of God.
Galatians 3:28This verse speaks to unity in Christ, transcending social and ethnic divides, which is powerfully illustrated by the Samaritan, an outcast from Jewish society, showing greater compassion than religious leaders.
Philippians 2:5-7This passage calls believers to have the same mindset as Christ, who, though divine, humbled himself and took the form of a servant; the Samaritan's selfless action mirrors this Christ-like humility and service.
vincentLuke 10:33: "But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,"
Came where he wasThere is a strong contrast with the other cases, and a downright heartiness in the words, κατ' αὐτὸν, down to him. The Levite had come κατὰ τόπον, "down to the place."
calvinLuke 10:25-37: "And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
- But when the Pharisees heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they assembled together. 35. And one of them, a doctor of the law, put a question to him, tempting him, and saying, 36. Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37. Jesus saith to him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.…
The text highlights a significant detail: the Samaritan "came down to him" (or "came where he was"), contrasting with the priest and Levite who merely came "to the place." This emphasizes the Samaritan's personal involvement and initiative, actively approaching the injured man with genuine, heartfelt compassion that transcended societal barriers.
Jesus has just explained that loving your neighbor is the second greatest commandment. To illustrate who qualifies as a neighbor, he tells the story of a man attacked by robbers and left for dead on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. A priest and then a Levite see the wounded man but pass by, ignoring him. This is the immediate backdrop for the Samaritan's arrival.
Jesus has just explained that loving your neighbor is the second greatest commandment. To illustrate who qualifies as a neighbor, he tells the story of a man attacked by robbers and left for dead on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. A priest and then a Levite see the wounded man but pass by, ignoring him. This is the immediate backdrop for the Samaritan's arrival.
"But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion." — The text highlights a significant detail: the Samaritan "came down to him" (or "came where he was"), contrasting with the priest and Levite who merely came "to the place." This emphasizes the Samar…
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Last reviewed October 2026