The Good Samaritan

A Jewish man is robbed, beaten, and left by the side of the road to die. Both a Levite and a priest pass by him. The sight of a bruised, bloody, naked and helpless man may have evoked pity in them. But they have places to go to and things to do. They worry about what people might think and what religious laws they might break. So, they move on.

A Samaritan man, however, is so moved by the condition of the helpless Jew that he is compelled to act. He overlooks not only the ethnicity of the man but also his own personal inconvenience. Ignoring his plans for the day, he stops and tends to the bloody wounds of the injured man. He puts him on his animal and takes him to an inn.

But the Samaritan’s kindness does not end there. He stays with the Jew at the inn until he has to leave the next day, with the intention of returning in a few days. He also foots the boarding expenses out of his own pocket. He even requests the innkeeper to take care of the Jew until he returns. The Samaritan forfeits his time, money, and energy to help the Jewish man.

Jesus holds up the Samaritan man’s love as an example of Christ-like love. His followers are characterized by radical love and kindness. The world will know we are Jesus’ followers by our love—not the kind of love that costs us nothing, but the kind that is sacrificial, uncomfortable, selfless, disruptive, and unconditional.

Respond

• Is there anyone who crosses your path daily that God is prompting you to show love to?
• How can you practice stepping out of your comfort zone to show love to others?