The Good Samaritan
Jesus told a story about a man who was hurt by robbers. Two people passed by, but a Samaritan stopped, cared for him and paid for his help. Jesus said, 'Go and do the same.'
You will learn to...
- Retell Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan.
- Answer the question 'Who is my neighbour?'
- Think of ways to show compassion.
Words to know
- Parable
- A story Jesus told to teach about God.
- Compassion
- Caring about someone's pain and wanting to help.
- Samaritan
- Someone from Samaria. Jews and Samaritans often didn't get along.
Read the full lesson (for older kids and grown-ups)
An expert in God's law asked Jesus what it meant to love your neighbour. 'Who is my neighbour?' he asked. Jesus answered with a story.
A man was travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho when robbers hurt him, took his things, and left him by the road. A priest came by, saw him, and passed on the other side. Then a Levite, who helped in the temple, did the same.
Then a Samaritan came by. Jews and Samaritans usually didn't get along. But the Samaritan felt compassion. He bandaged the man's wounds, put him on his own donkey, took him to an inn and paid for his care. Jesus asked, 'Which one was a neighbour?' The expert said, 'The one who showed mercy.' Jesus said, 'Go and do the same.'
A parable is a story Jesus told to teach a lesson. In this one, the surprise hero is someone from a group people didn't like. Jesus teaches that everyone is our neighbour, and that loving others means helping, even when it costs us something. Being kind to people who are hurting is a way to follow Jesus. (Kids should always get a grown-up to help when someone is hurt.)
“As you would like people to do to you, do exactly so to them.
Family conversation starters
- Who are people we sometimes overlook?
- What's one way our family can 'go and do likewise'?
Main people: Jesus · Topics: Parables, Kindness, Loving your neighbour, Compassion · Review status: awaiting theological review