Stories & culture
The Good Samaritan, in its world
A lawyer asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” The answer is a story set on a dangerous road, with a hero Jesus’ listeners least wanted.
Key verse
But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion…Luke 10:33
World English Bible (public domain)
The story in brief
Luke 10:25-27A lawyer asked how to inherit eternal life. Love God, and love your neighbor as yourself.Luke 10:29"Who is my neighbor?"Luke 10:30A man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho was robbed, beaten, and left half dead.Luke 10:31-32A priest passed by on the other side. So did a Levite.Luke 10:33-34A Samaritan saw him, had compassion, bandaged his wounds, and took him to an inn.Luke 10:35He paid the innkeeper and promised to repay anything more.Luke 10:36-37"Which of these three... seemed to be a neighbor?" "He who showed mercy." "Go and do likewise."
Background: travel and roads
Most people walked. A day's journey was about 20 miles (30 km).
- From Galilee to Jerusalem took about three days on foot, often in caravans at festivals (Luke 2:44).
- Many Jews from Galilee went through the Jordan valley rather than Samaria.
- The road from Jerusalem down to Jericho drops about 3,300 feet (1,000 m) and was notorious for robbers, the setting of the Good Samaritan.
- Paul traveled Roman roads and sea routes; sailing was dangerous after early autumn (Acts 27:9).
The culture behind the text
The Good SamaritanThe road from Jerusalem down to Jericho drops about 3,000 feet and was known for robbers. A priest and Levite may have avoided the man for fear of becoming unclean from a corpse. The hero is a Samaritan, the group Jesus' audience despised most.Luke 10:25-37
Mary at Jesus' feetSitting at a teacher's feet was the position of a disciple training to teach. Mary is taking a place usually reserved for men.Luke 10:38-42; Acts 22:3
Study notes
How the Bible connects it
Every cross-reference in Lampstead says why it’s linked. A few from this page:
Luke 10:33 → Luke 7:13Why: Jesus also had compassion on the grieving widow, the same word used for the Samaritan
When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Don’t cry.”Luke 10:33 → Jeremiah 38:7-13Why: Ebed-melech the foreigner rescued Jeremiah from the pit when his own people would not
Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, a eunuch, who was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon (the king was then sitting in Benjamin’s gate)… …Luke 10:33 → Matthew 18:33Why: The unforgiving servant should have had mercy as he received mercy
Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?’Luke 10:27 → Mark 12:30-31Why: Mark records the same two great commandments, spoken there by Jesus
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. The second is like this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.Luke 10:27 → Matthew 22:37-40Why: Matthew records the same two commandments on which all the law depends
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind …Luke 10:27 → Deuteronomy 6:5Why: The lawyer quotes "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart" as the first part of the law's summary
You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.Luke 10:27 → Leviticus 19:18Why: He adds "love your neighbor as yourself" from Leviticus, which leads to the parable of the Good Samaritan
“‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am Yahweh.”
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Sources behind these notes: Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (2nd ed.) (2014); Philip J. King & Lawrence E. Stager, Life in Biblical Israel (2001); Biblical Archaeology Society, Biblical Archaeology Society; International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915), "Samaritans". Bible text: World English Bible (public domain).