The Good Samaritan

A Lawyer came to Jesus and asked a question to trick him. He said "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

Jesus understood how well this man knew the law of Moses. Instead of answering the question, he asked the lawyer, "What is written in the law? how readest thou?" or what do you think they say.

The lawyer replied, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself."

Jesus said, "Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live." But the lawyer had another question, "And who is my neighbour?" he asked Jesus.

To answer him Jesus told the story of the good Samaritan.
This is the story:

One day a man traveled the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way robbers stopped him. They took his money, tore off his clothes, beat him, and left him half dead by the roadside.

Soon a priest came along. He saw the injured man lying there, but he did not stop to help. He did not even say a kind word to the poor man.

Next a Levite came by. He too, saw the wounded man lying by the road, he looked at him but did nothing. He hurried on, leaving the poor man to die.

Perhaps the poor man would have died if a kind hearted Samaritan had not come along. The Samaritan saw the suffering man lying there. He had compassion on him and bent over the stranger. The wounded man was a Jew. Even though the Jews were not friendly to his people the Samaritan felt he must this help Jew who was in great trouble.

First he bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

And on the next day when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the inn keeper, and said to him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

Now asked Jesus, "Which of these three men was a neighbor to the one that was attacked by the robbers?"

And the lawyer said, "He that shewed mercy on him."

Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do the same.

Jesus taught him then as he teaches us now. All men are our neighbors. Jesus loves all men just as we should also. We should show love to all reguardless of skin color or nationality. We should not choose who we should help but help all that may need it.