One day, a lawyer came to test Jesus. He asked, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Jesus answered with a question: "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?"

The lawyer answered:

Jesus said, "You have answered correctly! Do this, and you will live!"

But the man, wanting to justify himself, asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

It was then that Jesus told this story:

What a terrible situation! The poor man had been robbed, beaten, and left on the road, almost dead. He desperately needed help!

The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was known to be dangerous. It was a deserted path, full of curves, that descended through the mountains. Robbers often hid there to attack travelers.

And now this man was there, alone, wounded, bleeding, unable to move. Would anyone help him?

A priest! Someone who served God in the Temple! Surely he would help, right?

But no. The priest saw the wounded man... and passed by on the other side of the road. He pretended not to see and continued on his way.

Why didn't he stop? Maybe he was afraid of being attacked too. Maybe he was in a hurry. Maybe he thought helping would make him unclean according to Jewish law. Or maybe he simply didn't want to get involved.

In any case, he saw someone who desperately needed help... and did nothing.

Then came a Levite - another religious person who worked in the Temple!

The Levite also saw the wounded man. Maybe he even came a little closer to look. But then... he also passed by on the other side. He also didn't help.

Two religious people, two people who knew well God's Law about loving your neighbor, and neither of them stopped to help!

The poor man continued there, suffering, hoping someone would have compassion on him.

Now comes the great surprise of the story!

A Samaritan! Jews and Samaritans were enemies. They hated each other. They didn't speak to one another. A Jew would never expect help from a Samaritan!

But this Samaritan was different. When he saw the wounded man, his heart was filled with compassion.

He didn't ask, "Is this man a Jew? Is he my enemy?" He saw only a suffering human being who needed help.

And what did the Samaritan do? He ACTED!

The Samaritan not only tended to the man's wounds. He put the man on his own animal (probably a donkey), while he himself walked on foot. He took him to an inn and continued caring for him.

And the next day:

Two denarii were equivalent to two days' wages for a worker! The Samaritan gave his own money and promised to pay even more if necessary.

He didn't say, "I've done my part." He made sure the man would continue to be well cared for.

After telling this story, Jesus asked the lawyer:

The answer was obvious! The lawyer answered, "The one who showed him mercy."

Jesus then said:

What does this parable teach us?

First, it teaches us who our neighbor is. The lawyer asked "Who is my neighbor?" expecting a definition - maybe "your neighbor is someone from your people" or "your neighbor is someone from your religion."

But Jesus turned the question around. It's not "Who is my neighbor?" but "To whom am I a neighbor?" It's not about who deserves our help, but about whom we choose to help.

Our neighbor is anyone who needs our help - no matter who they are!

Second, it teaches us that true love is action, not just words or feelings. The priest and Levite probably knew well the commandment "You shall love your neighbor." But knowledge without action is worthless.

The Samaritan didn't just feel compassion - he acted! He stopped, he cared, he paid. True love acts!

Third, it teaches us that loving your neighbor has a cost. The Samaritan spent time (stopped his journey), effort (tended the wounds), comfort (gave his own animal), and money (paid for the inn). Loving truly requires sacrifice.

Fourth, it teaches us not to show partiality. The Samaritan helped someone who would normally be considered his enemy. Jesus calls us to love even those who are different from us or who don't like us.