Day 4 - The Parable of the Good Samaritan

Reading Passage: Luke 10:25-37

The Parable of the Good Samaritan reveals the desire God has for love and mercy to be at the forefront of our hearts, regardless of who is on the receiving end.

The beauty of the example that Jesus gave, of what it looks like to be a good neighbor, is that in His response, Jesus changed the man’s words (“Who is my neighbor?”) from a passive stance to an active sense. He gave a sense of responsibility to those around Him and invited them to have compassion for all, even those who may not be like them. 

Mercy does not need a reason and it is not earned. In fact, mercy is often defined as not getting what one deserves

What Jesus did with this parable was not only communicate that eternal life was available for all people (even those who were not Jewish) but also showed that it’s through our love for God and others that we can truly live out the fulfillment of the law. 

As we read the words of Jesus, may it bring you to a greater understanding of who God is and how desperately needed His love is to the world around us.

As you read the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 what do you learn about loving others?

Reminder: To understand the heart of Jesus’ parable here, read before and after the parable to identify the original audience Jesus was talking to and cultural reference points and characters they would have understood. Also observe the ending, which often had an unexpected twist that Jesus desired the audience to notice most.