power logo   Luke 10:30-37 Home / teachings / Parables / Good Samaritan
Parable of the Good Samaritan.  
29But the man attempting to further justify himself, said to Jesus; And who is my neighbor? 30And answering, Jesus said; A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among robbers, who stripped him of his clothing and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31And by coincidence a certain priest came down that way and seeing him, he passed by on the opposite side. 32And in the same way a Levite, also being at the place, coming and seeing him, he passed on the opposite side. 33But a certain traveling Samaritan came upon him, and seeing him, he was filled with pity. 34And coming near, he bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine, and set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35And going on the next day, he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, Take care of him. And whatever more you spend, when I come again I will repay you. 36Then which of these three, do you think, was neighbor to him who fell among the robbers? 37And he said, The one doing the deed of mercy to him. And Jesus said to him, Go and do likewise.
MKJV
Insights
  • Jesus spoke this parable to a scribe, a teacher of the law, (a Jew) who was trying to further justify himself.
  • Remember that the Jews did not interact with the Samaritans.
  • The priest and the Levite who passed by, most likely did so to keep from becoming unclean. Concerned more about keeping their religious laws rather than showing compassion.
  • The Samaritan who gave aid to the man, is seen as the neighbor to the Jewish man, who asked Jesus the question. Notice: the Jewish man would not even say the word, "Samaritan".
symbolism
This parable can be viewed as a broad gospel message.
  • The man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, symbolizes the fall of man.
  • And he fell among thieves, symbolizes this wicked world, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, Galatians 1:4.
  • The priest that passed by is symbolic of the law.
  • The Levite that passed by is symbolic of keeping all of the religious rituals. Neither the law or the keeping of religious rituals could help the man.
  • The good Samaritan is a picture of Jesus / God, There is none good but One, that is God, Matthew 19:17, Mark 10:18, Luke 18:19 . A bruised reed shall he not break, Matthew 12:20
  • The good Samaritan bound up the mans wounds, By His strips we are healed, 2nd Peter 2:24
  • The good Samaritan poured oil and wine. Oil signifies the Holy Spirit and wine signifies the birth of the new covenant.