An expert in the law of Moses stood up to test Jesus. He asked what he should do to inherit eternal life.
Jesus asked what was written in the law and how the man read it. He answered that one should love God with all one’s heart, soul, strength, and mind, and love one’s neighbor as oneself. Jesus said he had answered correctly and that he should do this and live. Wanting to justify himself, the man asked who his neighbor was.
Jesus told a story about a man going from Jerusalem to Jericho. Robbers stripped him, beat him, and left him half dead.
A priest, who served in Israel’s worship, came down the road. He saw the man and passed by on the other side. A Levite, a member of the group assigned to serve in Israel’s worship, came to the place, saw him, and passed by too.
A Samaritan traveling that way saw the man and felt compassion. He poured oil and wine on his wounds, bandaged them, and placed him on his own animal. He took him to an inn and cared for him. The next day he gave the innkeeper two denarii, the money used at the time, and asked him to continue the care. He promised to repay any extra cost when he returned.
Jesus asked which of the three had become a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers. The expert answered that it was the one who had shown mercy. Jesus told him to go and do likewise.