When a religious lawyer tried to trap Jesus by asking, 'Who is my neighbor?', Jesus answered with one of the most famous parables in history. In this story, a Jewish man is beaten and left for dead. The religious leaders (a priest and a Levite) completely ignore him. The hero of the story ends up being a Samaritan—a group of people the Jews despised. By making the 'enemy' the hero, Jesus shattered the religious rules of the day. This lesson teaches children that God's love has no boundaries, and our love shouldn't either.
What You'll Teach
- ✓ The lawyer asked Jesus a question to justify himself, not to learn.
- ✓ The priest and the Levite knew God's law, but they did not show God's love.
- ✓ Jews and Samaritans historically hated each other.
- ✓ The Samaritan went out of his way to bandage, transport, and pay for the injured man.
- ✓ Jesus commands us to show mercy to everyone, making everyone our 'neighbor.'