The Good Samaritan

A lawyer stands up to test Jesus: what must he do to inherit eternal life? Jesus turns him back to the law -- love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbour as thyself -- but the man presses further, willing to justify himself: and who is my neighbour? In answer, Jesus tells a story. A certain man goes down from Jerusalem to Jericho and falls among thieves, who strip him of his raiment, wound him, and depart, leaving him half dead. A priest comes down that road, sees him, and passes by on the other side. A Levite does the same -- he comes, he looks, and he walks on.

But a certain Samaritan, a man the listeners would have despised, comes where he is, and when he sees him he has compassion. He binds up the wounds, pouring in oil and wine, sets the stranger on his own beast, brings him to an inn, and takes care of him. On the next day he gives the host two pence -- Take care of him, and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Then Jesus turns the question around: which of these three was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? The lawyer answers, He that shewed mercy on him. And Jesus says, Go, and do thou likewise.