The Samaritan didn't just tend to the man's physical wounds with practical remedies like oil and wine; he gave up his own transport and walked, showing a radical self-denial that extended beyond mere first aid to a deep personal investment in the man's well-being. This act of sacrifice, setting the wounded man on his own beast, highlights that true compassion often requires us to inconvenience ourselves significantly for others.
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)
The Samaritan, moved by compassion for a man brutally attacked and left for dead, actively intervenes where a priest and a Levite had passed by. He tends to the man's injuries with practical care, using common medical supplies, then puts him on his own animal, walking himself, and takes him to an inn for further assistance. This selfless act of kindness, extending beyond any social or ethnic obligation, directly answers the lawyer's question about who qualifies as a "neighbor."
When someone is hurting, what does 'helping' actually look like? The Samaritan’s actions paint a vivid picture.
Jesus doesn't just say the Samaritan was kind; he details how he showed kindness. This wasn't a quick fix, but hands-on care.
Binding the Wounds
The text says the Samaritan "bound up his wounds." This implies cleaning them (possibly with the wine, which had antiseptic properties) and then soothing them (with the oil).
Practical Support
He didn't stop there. He "set him on his own animal," meaning the Samaritan himself walked, allowing the injured man to ride. Then, he brought him to an inn and "took care of him," showing continued commitment.
True generosity often costs us something. What did the Samaritan sacrifice to help this stranger?
The Samaritan's help wasn't just about giving what he had, but about giving up what he needed.
Personal Sacrifice
He used his own "oil and wine," resources likely intended for his own journey and well-being. These weren't just spare supplies; they were part of his personal provision.
Shared Burden
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Most strikingly, he gave up "his own animal." This was his mode of transportation, his way to travel comfortably and quickly. By letting the injured man ride, the Samaritan chose to endure hardship himself to ensure the other's comfort and safety.
Who counts as 'neighbor'? This story shatters the narrow definitions we often create.
In Jesus' time, ethnic and religious divides were deep and bitter. The Samaritan's identity was key to the story's impact.
The Unexpected Helper
The man attacked was Jewish, and the priest and Levite who passed him by were also Jewish. The Samaritan, however, belonged to a group deeply despised by Jews. This made his act of kindness shocking and profound.
Redefining Neighborliness
Jesus uses this unlikely hero to show that compassion knows no boundaries. Your 'neighbor' isn't just someone like you, or someone from your group. It's anyone in need, regardless of their background or your history with them. The Samaritan wasn't obligated by law or custom to help; he was moved by pure compassion.
Understand the original words
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 vivid details of the parable reflect common ancient medical practices (oil for soothing, wine for cleansing) and the known dangers of the Jerusalem-Jericho road, making the story resonate with Jesus' audience as both practical and deeply challenging.
c. 27-30 AD
Jesus' Ministry and Teachings
During this period, Jesus taught extensively throughout Galilee and Judea, attracting large crowds and challenging religious authorities with his message and actions.
c. 27-30 AD— this verse
Encounter with the Lawyer
A lawyer, seeking to test Jesus, asks what he must do to inherit eternal life, leading Jesus to ask about the Law.
c. 27-30 AD
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
Jesus responds with the parable of the Good Samaritan, illustrating that one's neighbor is anyone in need, regardless of ethnic or religious background.
c. 27-30 AD
Samaritan-Jewish Tensions
The historical animosity between Jews and Samaritans was deeply entrenched, making the Samaritan's kindness a radical act that challenged the lawyer's preconceived notions.
c. 27-30 AD
Roman Rule in Judea
The region was under Roman occupation, with the road from Jerusalem to Jericho being notoriously dangerous due to its desolate terrain and susceptibility to banditry.
This passage describes wounds and the use of oil and wine for healing, directly paralleling the medical remedies used by the Good Samaritan.
Mark 6:13This verse shows the disciples anointing 'many that were sick' with oil and healing them, connecting the use of oil with divine healing power and care.
James 5:14James instructs the sick to call for the elders, who will pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord, further highlighting the spiritual and medicinal significance of oil in caring for the afflicted.
Matthew 5:43-44Jesus commands his followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them, providing the ethical and spiritual framework for the radical compassion shown by the Samaritan towards someone of a despised group.
Luke 10:25-27This passage immediately precedes the parable and shows the lawyer asking how to inherit eternal life, to which Jesus directs him to love God and love his neighbor, setting up the parable as a practical illustration of who qualifies as a neighbor.
wesleyLuke 10:34: "And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him."
10:34 Pouring in oil and wine - Which when well beaten together are one of the best balsams that can be applied to a fresh wound.
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 Samaritan didn't just tend to the man's physical wounds with practical remedies like oil and wine; he gave up his own transport and walked, showing a radical self-denial that extended beyond mere first aid to a deep personal investment in the man's well-being. This act of sacrifice, setting the wounded man on his own beast, highlights that true compassion often requires us to inconvenience ourselves significantly for others.
The Samaritan, moved by compassion for a man brutally attacked and left for dead, actively intervenes where a priest and a Levite had passed by. He tends to the man's injuries with practical care, using common medical supplies, then puts him on his own animal, walking himself, and takes him to an inn for further assistance. This selfless act of kindness, extending beyond any social or ethnic obligation, directly answers the lawyer's question about who qualifies as a "neighbor."
The Samaritan, moved by compassion for a man brutally attacked and left for dead, actively intervenes where a priest and a Levite had passed by. He tends to the man's injuries with practical care, using common medical supplies, then puts him on his own animal, walking himself, and takes him to an inn for further assistance. This selfless act of kindness, extending beyond any social or ethnic obligation, directly answers the lawyer's question about who qualifies as a "neighbor."
"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…" — The Samaritan didn't just tend to the man's physical wounds with practical remedies like oil and wine; he gave up his own transport and walked, showing a radical self-denial that extended beyond mere…
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Last reviewed October 2026
