The Parable of the Good Samaritan

An expert in the law tests Jesus by asking how to inherit eternal life. He himself quotes the law: love God with all your heart, and your neighbor as yourself. “This do, and thou shalt live,” Jesus answers. Wanting to justify himself, the man presses: “And who is my neighbour?” Jesus tells the story: a man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when robbers stripped him, beat him, and left him half dead. A priest sees him and passes by on the other side. A Levite does the same. But a Samaritan on a journey is moved with compassion; he bandages his wounds, pouring on oil and wine, sets him on his own animal, brings him to an inn, and takes care of him. The next day, he gives two denarii to the innkeeper and promises to pay whatever else is needed. Which one was a neighbor to the wounded man? “He that shewed mercy on him.” Jesus concludes: “Go, and do thou likewise.”