the Good Samaritan

Opening Question: How do you show your friends and family that you love them?
Let’s read and discus what the Bible says about loving your neighbor.

Luke 10:25-37
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" 27 He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself..' " 28 "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" 37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

1 John 4:10-11
10 What is love? It is not that we loved God. It is that he loved us and sent his Son to give his life to pay for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we should also love one another.

Word List:
expert on the law – an expert in the religious laws that the Jewish people of Israel had to follow
priest / Levite – religious leaders of Israel
Samaritans – people who were hated by the Jews, because their blood was not 100% Jewish
two silver coins – two day’s wages (enough to stay in a motel for two months)

Discussion Questions:
Q1 What did the priest and Levite do when they saw the injured man lying on the road (31-32)?
Q2 What did the Samaritan do when he saw the injured man lying on the road?
Q3 How much money did the Samaritan spend on the injured man? How much time?
Q4 According to the story, who is the neighbor to the injured man?
Q5 Today, who has been a good neighbor to you? Who is your neighbor?
Q6 According to 1 John 4:10-11, why do you love your neighbor?
Q7 What does it mean to “love your neighbor as yourself”? How will you “love your neighbor as yourself” this week?