Luke 10:25–37

A Story about a Good Samaritan

²⁵Then an expert in Moses’ Teachings stood up to test Jesus. He asked, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 

²⁶Jesus answered him, “What is written in Moses’ Teachings? What do you read there?” 

²⁷He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ ” 

²⁸Jesus told him, “You’re right! Do this, and life will be yours.” 

²⁹But the man wanted to justify his question. So he asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” 

³⁰Jesus replied, “A man went from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way robbers stripped him, beat him, and left him for dead. 

³¹“By chance, a priest was traveling along that road. When he saw the man, he went around him and continued on his way. ³²Then a Levite came to that place. When he saw the man, he, too, went around him and continued on his way. 

³³“But a Samaritan, as he was traveling along, came across the man. When the Samaritan saw him, he felt sorry for the man, ³⁴went to him, and cleaned and bandaged his wounds. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. ³⁵The next day the Samaritan took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. He told the innkeeper, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than that, I’ll pay you on my return trip.’ 

³⁶“Of these three men, who do you think was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by robbers?” 

³⁷The expert said, “The one who was kind enough to help him.” 

Jesus told him, “Go and imitate his example!”