Lent Parable: The Good Samaritan
Jesus’ Parable of The Good Samaritan, Walking the Way of Compassion
Read Scripture: Luke 10:25-37
As we conclude our Lenten journey, we encounter one of Jesus’s most familiar yet challenging parables. The story begins with a lawyer asking about eternal life, leading to a discussion about loving one’s neighbor. His follow-up question, “Who is my neighbor?” reflected a common debate in first-century Judaism about the extent of one’s obligations to others. Many religious teachers limited “neighbor” to fellow Jews or even just to those who followed their own religious interpretations. This mirrors our modern tendency to define our circle of concern narrowly, perhaps limiting it to those who share our beliefs, politics, or social background.
The road from Jerusalem to Jericho provided the perfect setting for this story. Dropping 3,300 feet over just 17 miles, this treacherous route was notorious for robbers who could easily ambush travelers and disappear into the numerous caves along the way. Jesus’s audience would have nodded knowingly at this detail—many of them had traveled this dangerous road themselves. Today, we might think of certain neighborhoods or situations we avoid out of fear, places where we too might be tempted to “pass by on the other side.”
The appearance of the priest and Levite would have raised expectations in Jesus’s listeners. Surely these religious leaders would help! Their failure to assist might have been motivated by fear of ritual impurity—touching what might be a corpse would have made them unable to perform their Temple duties. But Jesus’s audience would have recognized these as hollow excuses, just as we might see through our own rationalizations for not helping others: “It’s not convenient,” “Someone else will help,” or “I don’t want to get involved.”
The entrance of the Samaritan would have shocked Jesus’s audience. Samaritans and Jews were bitter enemies, with centuries of religious and ethnic hostility between them. A modern equivalent might be a story about receiving help from someone whose group we’ve been taught to fear or distrust. The Samaritan’s compassion crossed every social, religious, and cultural boundary of his day.
The details of the Samaritan’s care are significant. Oil and wine were standard medicines in the ancient world, but they were also valuable commodities. The Samaritan used his own resources, risked his own safety by stopping, and delayed his own journey. The two denarii he gave the innkeeper would have covered about two months’ lodging—a significant financial commitment. He even promised to return and pay any additional expenses, showing that his compassion wasn’t a one-time gesture but an ongoing commitment.
This parable challenges us to examine how we define our neighbors and what limits we place on our compassion. The Samaritan didn’t just offer emergency help—he ensured the wounded man’s full recovery. In our world of quick fixes and short attention spans, this kind of sustained care stands out. Whether it’s supporting refugees, engaging in long-term community development, or walking alongside someone through mental health challenges, true neighborly love often requires ongoing commitment.
As we emerge from our Lenten journey, we’re called to live out the resurrection through practical acts of compassion. The cross itself was God’s ultimate act of breaking down barriers to show love to those considered enemies. How can we, who have experienced such boundless love, do any less for others?
Reflection Questions:
- What boundaries or prejudices limit your compassion for others?
- Where do you find yourself “passing by on the other side”?
- How can you move from emergency response to sustained care for others?
- Who are the “Samaritans” in your life that challenge your assumptions?
Practical Tip:
Perform an act of kindness for someone you wouldn’t normally interact with. Look for opportunities to serve, whether through generosity, encouragement, or simply being present for someone in need.
Explore More:
- Leviticus 19:33-34 – Love the foreigner as yourself
- Micah 6:8 – What the Lord requires: justice, mercy, and humility
- James 2:14-17 – Faith without works is dead
- 1 John 3:16-18 – Love with actions, not just words
Amy Luinstra
Deacon
