LUKE 10:29–37
THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN
BRIEF INTERPRETATION
Text – Luke 10:29–37
29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead.”
31 “Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.”
32 “So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.”
33 “But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion.”
34 “He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.”
35 “And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’”
36 “Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?”
37 He said, “The one who showed mercy on him.” And Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Historical and Jewish Context
Jesus tells this parable in response to a scholar of the law who wanted to clarify the limits of the command to “love your neighbor.” The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was steep, rocky, and notorious for attacks, making the story immediately relatable. Priests and Levites were respected religious figures, but ritual purity laws and personal safety may have influenced their behavior. Samaritans and Jews in that era had longstanding religious and cultural differences, yet both communities valued acts of mercy. Jesus’ choice of a Samaritan as the compassionate helper would have surprised His listeners, demonstrating that kindness and neighborly love can be found across cultural boundaries.
Catholic Theological Perspective
This parable expresses the heart of the Gospel: love of God and love of neighbor are inseparable. The Samaritan becomes a model not because of his group identity but because of his compassion—mercy expressed through concrete action. Catholic tradition also reads this parable allegorically: Christ is the true Good Samaritan who approaches wounded humanity, heals through the sacraments (oil and wine), and entrusts us to the care of the Church until His return. This story teaches that every person in need is our neighbor and that authentic discipleship requires mercy, generosity, and crossing boundaries of prejudice or fear.
Parallels in Scripture
Lv 19:18 – Love your neighbor as yourself.
Mt 5:43–48 – Love of enemies and universal charity.
1 Jn 3:16–18 – Love shown in deeds, not only words.
Key Terms
Neighbor – Anyone whom God places on our path who needs mercy or compassion.
Samaritan – A member of a community related to Israel but separated by historical and religious differences; here presented positively as an example of mercy.
Mercy – Love that responds to suffering with concrete actions of care.
Catholic Liturgical Significance
This parable appears frequently in the lectionary because it is foundational for Christian life. It is central to Catholic social teaching, inspiring works of mercy, charitable institutions, and pastoral outreach. It shapes the Church’s understanding of moral responsibility, reminding believers that love is active, universal, and inclusive. The parable challenges Christians to recognize Christ in the wounded and to act with compassion regardless of social, cultural, or religious distinctions.
Conclusion
Jesus expands the definition of “neighbor” beyond boundaries of group identity. True neighborliness is defined not by affiliation but by compassion. The parable invites all believers to imitate the Samaritan’s mercy and to reflect God’s love in practical, sacrificial service to those in need.
Reflection
Do I recognize the wounded person on my path? What fears or prejudices keep me from acting with compassion? Jesus invites me to a love that is active, inclusive, and courageous—reflecting His own merciful heart.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, Good Samaritan and healer of our souls, open my eyes to the wounded around me. Fill my heart with compassion, remove every barrier to love, and help me act with generosity and mercy. Heal my wounds with Your grace and make me an instrument of Your care in the world. Amen.
DETAILED INTERPRETATION
INTRODUCTION
The Good Samaritan story has influenced the world right down the centuries since Jesus introduced it. Many institutions all over the world have adopted the name, “Good Samaritan.” However, the church fathers presented Jesus himself as the Good Samaritan who sacrificed his life for saving fallen humanity. Like the priest and the Levite in the story, the Jewish leaders did not help those who needed their care. Jesus who taught us that God values mercy over sacrifice (Mt 9:13) has given us this touching story for the correct charitable approach to people of all races who need our help.
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
(29) The man wanted to justify himself so he asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbour?”
Because he wished to justify himself
Luke the Evangelist gives the lawyer’s intention in raising the question, “who is my neighbour?” The lawyer wanted an assurance that he was perfect in practising the religion. His expected answer from Jesus must be the widespread belief of the time. During the Old Testament times, people understood the neighbour as a fellow Israelite who lived in the locality.
(30) Jesus then said, “There was a man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him and went off leaving him half dead”
Went down from Jerusalem to Jericho
Jesus gives this story based on crimes happening on the route from Jerusalem to Jericho. Though a short distance of 21 miles, it descended from Jerusalem that is 2,300 feet above sea level to Jericho, which is 1,300 feet below sea level – a steep descent of 3,600 feet. The road was narrow, rocky with scarves and had sudden turnings. Since it was infested with bandits, the road had a nickname, “bloody way.”
A man
The victim in the story is a man with no other details like his race, nationality, or class. Jesus gave importance to the suffering man, regardless of who he was. He could be a Jew because he was on his way from Jerusalem to Jericho.
(31) It happened that a priest was going along that road and saw the man, but passed by on the other side
A priest
This parable has a priest and a Levite as characters. There is a difference in their designations. All priests were Levites, but not all Levites were priests. The Levites were descendants of Levi, one of the 12 sons of Jacob. Before God’s covenant with Israelites at Mount Sinai, all the heads of the families were priests. After the sin of the Golden Calf, only the Levites declared faithfulness to God. So, God selected them for divine service at the Holy Place in the tabernacle and later in the Temple of Jerusalem. God selected Aron, the brother of Moses, who was also a Levite as the chief priest. His sons and their descendants were the priests and the High Priests.
Going down
The priest was also going from Jerusalem, after his priestly duty in the Temple. Jericho was the second city of Judea where many priests and Levites lived. So, it was natural that the Levites and the priests who do Temple service used to travel back and forth between Jerusalem and Jericho.
He passed by on the opposite side
The priest used the opposite side of the road for his safety to avoid uncleanliness by touching a dead body if the victim would die. Or he did not want to take the risk of attack from the same robbers. The victim’s dreadful situation was sure proof of the robbers’ presence there. So, he rushed for his safety without caring for the victim.
(32) Likewise a Levite saw the man and passed by on the other side
The Levite was a little more considerate because he looked at the person and understood his situation. Though he felt sympathy, he also did nothing and went on the opposite side for his safety. Humanity had the same approach to those in need throughout the centuries. Jesus wanted to change this attitude. Mere sympathy without action for help is unchristian.
(33) But a Samaritan, too, was going along that road, and when he came upon the man, he was moved with compassion
Samaritan
The Jews would hate Jesus for projecting a Samaritan as the generous man in the parable in contrast with the priest and the Levite. The Jews and Samaritans were hostile for centuries. The Samaritans were the occupants of the territory Joshua had assigned to the tribes of Ephraim and the half-tribe Manasseh. Samaria was its capital.
When the Assyrians deported into captivity the ten tribes of the Northern Israel, “The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim, and he settled them in the cities of Samaria in place of the Israelites. These people occupied the country of Samaria and resided in its cities” (2 Kgs 17:24). They intermarried with the remaining Israelites in the occupied area. The pagans who were resettled in Samaria continued worship of their idols. So, God sent lions among them that killed some people. The king of Assyria sent them an Israelite priest from exile to teach them the worship of the God of the land, Yahweh. They studied the books of Moses and worshipped the God of Israel, but continued their idolatry. “They honoured the LORD but at the same time, served their own gods, according to the customs of the nations from where they had been banished” (2 Kgs 17:33). Because of this mixed race and mixed worship, the Jews considered Samaritans as “half-breeds” and hated them.
The animosity between the Jews and Samaritans escalated because of several other reasons: (1) when the Jews returned from Babylonian exile and started rebuilding the Temple and the walls of Jerusalem, the Samaritans opposed it and halted it for some time (Neh 6:1-14). (2) The Samaritans perpetuated their idolatrous worship by building a temple for the idols on Mount Gerizim. (3) Samaritans offered a refuge for all the outlaws of Judea (Josh 20:6- 7; 21:21). (4) Though Samaritans accepted the Torah, they rejected other Jewish scriptures and traditions. Hence, the Jews hated Samaritans and had no contact with them (Jn 4:9; 8:48).
Jesus drew a contrast between the Jews and Samaritans in their faith in action. The Samaritan, whom the Jews hated and considered worthless because of his non-Jewish beliefs and practices, became a compassionate and helping neighbour for the helpless and suffering Jew.
(34) He went over to him and treated his wounds with oil and wine and wrapped them with bandages. Then he put him on his own animal and brought him to an inn where he took care of him
Unlike the priest and the Levite who passed by on the opposite side avoiding any contact with the victim, the Samaritan expressed his compassion in action. When the priest and the Levite thought of what bad would happen to them if they took care of the victim, the Samaritan considered what would happen to the victim if he left him there unattended. With this difference in approach, the Samaritan took the risk of a potential attack on him by the robbers who had attacked the victim.
The Samaritan used oil, wine, and cloth he had as first aid for the victim. Israelites used these to heal the sore from circumcision. Ignoring the Jewish-Samaritan rivalry, the Samaritan treated the victim as his own, shared what he had, spent time from his busy life, supplied the service of his ass to carry the victim while he went on foot to the nearby inn, and contributed money for the treatment.
(35) The next day he had to set off, but he gave two denarii to the innkeeper and told him: ‘Take care of him and if you spend more, I will repay when I come back’
The next day
The Good Samaritan spent one night with this sick stranger, took care of him in the inn, and made sure that he got better. Two silver coins were the wage of a labourer for two days. He gave that for the victim’s food, lodging, and medical expenses because the victim had nothing left with him after the robbery. That amount was more than what was due for the care. The Good Samaritan was kind enough to meet the expenses of the proper treatment of this victim who could be a Jew who hated the Samaritans. This shows that his compassion was not just an ordinary impulse of sympathy. It was a generosity from his heart.
Allegorical Interpretation
According to Saint Paul, Jesus is the wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:24). So, the teachings of Jesus have extraordinary meaning and everlasting relevance. Some parables of Jesus have a deeper meaning than the surface interpretation. Though parable is a simple story to illustrate a spiritual or moral lesson, some have allegorical applications to the salvation history. In an allegory, there will be two levels of meaning. Besides the simple message, there will be a symbolic level where the characters, place and plot match with the story of the Kingdom of God. The early church fathers have given an allegorical interpretation to the parable of the Good Samaritan.
This parable has a simple message without an allegorical interpretation. However, an understanding of the allegorical interpretation of this parable can help us realize the message from the perspective of the fall of mankind and the redemption of humanity by Jesus as a Good Samaritan. Church fathers like Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, and Origen in the second century, and Chrysostom, Ambrose, and Augustine in the fourth and fifth centuries have given the allegorical interpretation of this parable.
According to these church fathers, Jerusalem was the paradise, and Jericho was the sinful world. Adam was “the man” going down from Jerusalem. The robbers were Satan and his followers. They stripped off the man from his original grace and immortality. The priest is the Law and the Levite represents the prophets of the Old Testament period. They did not save humanity. Jesus is the Good Samaritan. The Jews had called Jesus a Samaritan while accusing him: “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and are possessed?” (Jn 8:48). The oil stands for the anointing with the Holy Spirit and wine for the blood of Jesus he offered for us. The inn is the church, and the innkeeper is Apostle Peter. The promise of the Samaritan that he will return to repay stands for the second coming of Christ.
The victim would have died without someone’s help. Similarly, we would have been dead, if Jesus had not come to rescue us like the Good Samaritan. Like him, Jesus did not consider the religion or status of the victim in his redemptive plan. The concern of the ancient Jewish leaders were religious rituals and their own welfare and status rather than the people they served. Our call is to follow Jesus, the Good Samaritan, who risked and sacrificed himself for all humanity to rescue us from the attack of the evil.
(36) Jesus then asked, “Which of these three, do you think, made himself a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
Jesus did not give a direct answer to the scholar who questioned him. Instead, as an efficient teacher, Jesus let the scholar answer from the parable. The victim and all three wayfarers were strangers and not neighbours. Still, Jesus presents them as neighbours who were responsible to help the victim. However, only one acted as a true neighbour.
(37) The teacher of the Law answered, “The one who had mercy on him.” And Jesus said, “Go then and do the same”
Though the lawyer did not like to acknowledge the Samaritan as a good neighbour, he had to answer that. He did not say “the Samaritan”, instead, he answered indirectly: “The one who treated him with mercy.” Then Jesus commanded the lawyer and other listeners to do as the Samaritan did. That means:
1) We must take initiative to help those in need and shall not wait for them to seek our help.
2) We should spend our time on those who need our care.
3) We need to share the little resources we have like the wine, oil, cloth, means of transportation, and money as the Good Samaritan did.
4) We should even be willing to risk our lives for others. The robbers could attack the Good Samaritan while he was taking care of the victim.
5) We should ask ourselves, what would happen if I did not help him rather than what I would lose if I helped him.
MESSAGE
1. God seeks mercy rather than sacrifice (Hos 6:6). Religious rituals become meaningful when we help others based on our love of God and love of neighbour.
2. Any person in need is our neighbour. Religion, ethnicity, or nationality shall not be a criterion for discriminating between beneficiaries.
3. God sends his help through people who help us like the “Good Samaritan.” Jesus has called us to be “Good Samaritans” for others.
4. God gave the Old Testament Law, the prophetic teachings, and other writings for the good of humanity. However, the religious leaders during the public ministry of Jesus had bypassed the core message of service to the suffering of humanity. Instead, they gave undue importance to rituals and traditions. Our Bible study should lead us to practise love as given in the Bible.
5. Jesus is the Good Samaritan and we are the victims of Satan. Jesus sacrificed all he had including his life to rescue us from the robbery of Satan and admitted us in the inn that is the church. He will come again to take us with him to a healthy and glorious future. Let us continue to be under the church’s protection and nourishment.