The text highlights the Samaritan's compassion as an active, physical movement, "came down to him," contrasting with the Levite's passive proximity, "came to the place." This subtle distinction shows that true compassion isn't just being present, but actively engaging with someone's suffering, even when it's inconvenient or unexpected.
But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is the climax of Jesus' response to a lawyer who asked how to inherit eternal life. After the lawyer defined "neighbor" narrowly, Jesus told the parable of the man beaten by robbers and left for dead, whom a priest and a Levite ignored. This Samaritan, a member of a group deeply despised by Jews, is the one who stops, shows mercy, and cares for the injured man.
Think about the deepest divides you've ever witnessed or felt. The parable of the Good Samaritan shatters those lines.
Jesus intentionally chose a Samaritan for this hero’s role. Samaritans and Jews were bitter enemies, locked in generations of hatred and suspicion. Their religious practices and ancestry were deeply contentious.
What's the difference between feeling bad for someone and actually helping them? This parable draws a sharp contrast.
The parable sets up a powerful comparison. The priest and the Levite, religious leaders who should have embodied compassion, passed by the injured man. They saw him, but their hearts remained unmoved.
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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.
dēnarion · Greek Noun
A silver Roman coin that was the standard daily wage for a laborer in the first century. It represents the practical, tangible cost of love and service.
The historical animosity between Jews and Samaritans makes the Samaritan's compassion, in Jesus' parable, a radical act. It directly challenges the ingrained prejudices of his Jewish audience, revealing that true neighborly love transcends ethnic and religious divides.
c. 1st century AD
Jewish-Samaritan Animosity
Deep-seated historical and religious hatred existed between Jews and Samaritans, stemming from differing interpretations of scripture and worship practices. This animosity meant they typically avoided all contact and interaction.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus' Ministry in Galilee
Jesus conducted much of his public ministry in Galilee, a region where Samaritans and Jews interacted, though often with tension. His interactions with Samaritans were sometimes met with rejection, as noted in Luke 9:51-53.
c. AD 27-30
Journey from Galilee to Judea
Jesus and his disciples embarked on a journey from Galilee towards Jerusalem. This journey often took them through Samaria, or along its borders, leading to significant encounters.
c. AD 28— this verse
The Lawyer's Question
A Jewish lawyer, seeking to test Jesus, asks what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus skillfully turns the question back, leading to the lawyer's inquiry about who qualifies as a 'neighbor'.
c. AD 28
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
In response to 'Who is my neighbor?', Jesus tells the parable of a man robbed and left for dead on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. A priest and a Levite pass by, but a Samaritan stops to help.
This verse is the second greatest commandment, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' The parable of the Good Samaritan is Jesus' own expansion of this command, showing that 'neighbor' extends far beyond social or religious circles.
Galatians 3:28The Apostle Paul declared that in Christ, distinctions like Jew and Samaritan, slave and free, male and female, are erased. The Good Samaritan embodies this unity in Christ by showing compassion to someone his own culture would despise.
1 John 4:7This verse states that love comes from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The Samaritan's selfless compassion, despite societal animosity, demonstrates a divine love that transcends prejudice.
Romans 12:15We are called to 'rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.' The Samaritan saw the wounded man and 'had compassion,' mirroring the call to share in others' suffering.
John 4:9This passage highlights the deep animosity between Jews and Samaritans. The Samaritan's kindness to a Jewish man, directly contradicting this historical enmity, underscores the radical nature of Jesus' teaching on love.
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 the Samaritan's compassion as an active, physical movement, "came down to him," contrasting with the Levite's passive proximity, "came to the place." This subtle distinction shows that true compassion isn't just being present, but actively engaging with someone's suffering, even when it's inconvenient or unexpected.
This passage is the climax of Jesus' response to a lawyer who asked how to inherit eternal life. After the lawyer defined "neighbor" narrowly, Jesus told the parable of the man beaten by robbers and left for dead, whom a priest and a Levite ignored. This Samaritan, a member of a group deeply despised by Jews, is the one who stops, shows mercy, and cares for the injured man.
This passage is the climax of Jesus' response to a lawyer who asked how to inherit eternal life. After the lawyer defined "neighbor" narrowly, Jesus told the parable of the man beaten by robbers and left for dead, whom a priest and a Levite ignored. This Samaritan, a member of a group deeply despised by Jews, is the one who stops, shows mercy, and cares for the injured man.
"But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of h…" — The text highlights the Samaritan's compassion as an active, physical movement, "came down to him," contrasting with the Levite's passive proximity, "came to the place." This subtle distinction s…
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Last reviewed October 2026
