*Luke 10:25-42
Jesus shares the parable of the Good Samaritan, teaching a powerful lesson about compassion and love for one’s neighbor.
- The Lawyer’s Question:
- A lawyer stands up to test Jesus, asking what he must do to inherit eternal life.
- Jesus responds by asking what the Law says, to which the lawyer answers: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
- Jesus affirms the answer and instructs him to follow these commands to live.
- Parable of the Good Samaritan:
- Seeking clarification on who qualifies as a “neighbor,” the lawyer asks Jesus another question.
- In response, Jesus tells the story of a man attacked by robbers while traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho.
- A priest and a Levite each pass by the injured man without helping.
- A Samaritan, despite historical animosity with the Jews, shows compassion by tending to the man’s wounds, transporting him to an inn, and providing for his care.
- Jesus asks who among the three was a neighbor to the injured man; the lawyer answers, “The one who showed mercy.”
- Jesus encourages him to go and do likewise.
- Visit to Martha and Mary:
- Jesus visits the home of sisters Martha and Mary.
- Martha is preoccupied with preparations while Mary sits and listens to Jesus’s teaching.
- Frustrated, Martha asks Jesus to tell Mary to help her.
- Jesus gently corrects Martha, affirming that she is worried about many things, but Mary has chosen what is better by focusing on Jesus’s words.
Luke 10:25-42 teaches us the importance of loving others and spending time with God. In the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus shows that true love means helping those in need, no matter who they are. In the story of Mary and Martha, He reminds us that while doing good things is important, listening to God and growing in our faith matters even more. We can apply this by being kind and generous to others while also making time to pray, read the Bible, and focus on what truly matters in life.
Luke 10:25-42 (WEB)
10:25 Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?”27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”28 He said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.”29 But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”30 Jesus answered, “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, 34 came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the host, and said to him, ‘Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.’ 36 Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?”37 He said, “He who showed mercy on him.”Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”38 As they went on their way, he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard his word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she came up to him, and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister left me to serve alone? Ask her therefore to help me.”41 Jesus answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.”