The Good Samaritan parable is one of the most beloved gospel stories for young and old alike.  The story is told in Luke 10:29-37 and documents the journey of a man going from Jerusalem to Jericho.  On his way, the man is attacked by robbers who strip and beat him.  A priest and a Levite pass by without helping, but a Samaritan stops and cares for him, taking him to an inn and paying for his care.

This parable has been interpreted with different points of emphasis.  Many scholars have overlooked the significance of the man being a Samaritan.  In first-century Judea, the Jews viewed Samaritans as their enemies.  Most of those listening to Jesus’ parable would have assumed a Jew to be the hero of the story.  Instead, Christ describes the Samaritan man as the good-doer and goes against the assumptions of those listening to him to demonstrate the far-reaching love of the Lord and what it is to show the way of Christ.