The Good Samaritan

One sunny afternoon, a crowd gathered around Jesus to hear Him teach. A curious man asked: "Teacher, the law tells us to love our neighbor as ourselves. But who truly is my neighbor?" Jesus smiled kindly and answered with a story:

"A traveler was walking down the lonely, dusty road from Jerusalem to Jericho. As he walked past rocky bends, bandits leaped from the shadows, took his belongings, and left him lying injured by the roadside.

Soon, a respected priest came walking down the path. He glanced at the poor man, but instead of helping, he crossed over to the other side of the road and hurried along. A little while later, another temple assistant passed by, yet he too turned his eyes away and kept walking.

Then came a Samaritan riding on a donkey. In those days, Samaritans and Jews were not considered friends at all. But when the Samaritan saw the hurt traveler, his heart was moved with deep kindness. He bandaged his wounds with soothing oil, lifted him onto his own donkey, and brought him to an inn. He paid the innkeeper to care for him until he was fully healed. "Go and do likewise," Jesus gently whispered.