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The Good Samaritan
A Parable from the Gospel of Luke
When Jesus was preaching and teaching, people were very fond of coming up to Him and asking all kinds of difficult questions. But Jesus always had a good answer for them, and sometimes He found He could explain His meaning better by telling them stories.
One day a lawyer came to Jesus and asked what he must do in order to gain the Eternal Life about which Jesus was speaking. But Jesus knew that this man ought to have known the answer to the question himself, so He replied:
“What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”
The lawyer answered:
“You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.”
“You have answered right,” said Jesus; “do this and you shall live.”
But the lawyer, to excuse himself, said:
“But who is my neighbor?”
Then Jesus told him a parable, or a story with a lesson, to help him understand. Try to imagine the scene, just as the lawyer did.
There was a terribly rough, steep, and dangerous road which lay between the city of Jericho and Jerusalem; and one day, as a man was going along it, robbers rushed out at him from behind the rocks, and wounded him, and tore off his clothes, and robbed him, and left him half-dead on the side of the road.
The poor man lay there so helpless that he hardly knew what was going on. His eyes were shut, and he was only half-conscious of his pain and misery. But by and by, a priest came over the brow of the hill. He was anxious to get to his journey’s end, and when he saw the poor wounded man, all torn and bleeding, he hastily crossed the road, so that he could not properly see him. He knew well enough that the man had been injured by the wild robbers of the district, and he hurried off in case he got into the same trouble himself.
Then presently a Levite came by. He ought to have been a good man also, for he helped the priests in the Temple service. He noticed the man and came up and looked at him; but when he saw what trouble he would have to take in order to help him, he also passed by on the other side.
But at last a Samaritan came along, riding on an donkey, and by this time it was getting late in the day.
The Jews and Samaritans were always quarrelling and disputing, so if the priest and the Levite would not help, it was not much use expecting the Samaritan to do anything. But as the Samaritan looked on the poor traveler, his heart was filled with pity. He saw him lying there with hardly any clothes on, in the cold, darkening night, and knew that if he left the man he would be sure to die before the morning.
So he got off his beast, and kneeled down, and managed to bind up the bleeding wounds, pouring soothing oil and wine upon them. Then he lifted the traveler up and set him on his own beast and took him slowly and very carefully down the road until they reached an inn. All that night the Samaritan attended to him; and in the morning, as he had to continue his journey, he gave the innkeeper money to look after the traveler until he was well again, and promised that if more was wanted, he would repay it next time he passed that way.
When Jesus had finished the story, He said:
“Which now of these three, do you think, was neighbor to him that fell among thieves?”
The lawyer considered a moment, running back through the events in the story, and then answered:
“He that showed mercy to him.”
Then Jesus replied:
“Go and do likewise.”
The Story of Hannah and her Prayer
From the Old Testament Book of First Samuel
Try to imagine a beautiful stretch of land, rich in fields and vineyards, almost completely surrounded and shut in by hills.
If you had climbed one of these hills three thousand years ago, you would have noticed travelers coming from all directions toward the small village of Shiloh. And the secret of their coming was that the Tent of God and the altar for sacrifice had been set up here, and once a year at least the people came to worship God and bring Him their offerings.
This Tent contained the Holy Ark, the Golden Candlesticks and the Altar of Incense, and other precious things.
When the people brought their offerings, part of the animal was burnt on the altar, part was given to the priests as their share, and the rest belonged to the worshipper, so that he might make a great feast for himself and his family. So we can imagine that, all up the hill-sides and on the plain, thousands of Israelites met together and feasted and enjoyed themselves, with their children.
The High Priest, Eli, was a good man, but he was weak, and allowed his sons, Hophni and Phinehas, to behave very badly to the people. They were very greedy, and often took far more of the offering than their fair share.
One year a man named Elkanah came to Shiloh, bringing with him his two wives, Hannah and Peninnah, and Peninnah’s sons and daughters.
Having made the offering, his family sat down to the feast, and Elkanah gave his sons and his daughters and his wife Peninnah very handsome portions: but to his favorite wife, Hannah, he passed a double portion. But Hannah was sad and miserable. She could not smile, she could not eat, she could only weep. What was the trouble?
She had no son nor daughter of her own, and, because of this, Peninnah teased her and scorned her year by year when she came up to Shiloh.
Elkanah was grieved that his poor wife should feel so sad, yet knowing only too well the reason of her trouble, he said softly to her:
“Hannah, why do you weep? And why don’t you eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
But her husband’s tender words made Hannah feel more broken-hearted than ever, and as soon as the feast was over, she rushed away to the House of God. Lifting up her arms to heaven, she wept bitterly, and prayed as she had never prayed before to God, pleading with Him that He would give her a son, and vowing that if He would grant her petition, she would give the boy to the Lord all the days of his life.
The old priest Eli was seated near the door of the House of God, and as he watched her, he feared she must be drunk; for though her lips moved, he could not hear Hannah’s secret prayer. So he spoke to her severely, saying:
“How long will you be drunken! Put away your wine!”
But Hannah answered him meekly, saying:
“No, my lord; I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.”
Then Eli’s face changed, and he said kindly:
“Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.”
So Hannah smiled with pure joy, and went her way, and all the sorrow fled away from her face, for she believed that God would do as Eli had said.
After some years Hannah again came to Shiloh, and this time she brought with her a little child. How he must have enjoyed the strange journey, riding, running, laughing, and amusing himself with the other children on the road!
Elkanah brought a bullock as an offering, but Hannah had something far more precious than a bullock to give to the aged priest. She went up to him, and holding her little son by the hand, she said: “O my lord, as your soul lives, I am the woman that stood by you here, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed, and the Lord has answered my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore I give him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be given to the Lord.”
So this little child, who was named Samuel, stayed at Shiloh with the kind old priest, and became like a son to him, helping him and learning to wait on him.
Every year there came a glorious day when his mother arrived for the feast, and Samuel used to go up the hill, and watch eagerly for her coming.
How the mother and son would kiss each other, and how glad Hannah would be to see how he had grown, and how strong and happy he was!
God gave Hannah three more sons and two daughters, but I think she loved the boy she had given to the Lord the best of all.
After Eli died, Samuel became a great prophet and leader of the people, for everyone knew that God spoke to him, and no word of his was without effect.
The Story of the First Disciples of Jesus
From the Gospels.
When Jesus was thirty years old, His Heavenly Father told Him that it was time He left the quiet life at Nazareth, and begin His public ministry.
So Jesus left His home, and went down to the country round the beautiful little Sea of Galilee, and visited the city of Capernaum.
Now Jesus knew that He would need some friends to go with Him through the land, but He did not look among the rich, or noble, or even very clever men.
He needed men with true hearts, who would follow Him willingly wherever he went, and take Him as their Lord and Master.
As soon as Jesus reached the district of Galilee, He began preaching about his father’s kingdom. “Now is the time,” He said, “The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the Good News!”
He also healed the sick by laying His hands upon them, and this made the people come round Him in crowds, for they had never heard or seen such a wonderful Teacher.
As Jesus preached on the shore, the crowd was so great that, seeing a fisherman named Peter, Jesus asked him to push his ship out from the land a little way, so that He might speak from the boat, and thus all would hear Him better.
Peter gladly lent his boat, and guided it a little way out into the water.
Now Peter listened to every word Jesus said, as He talked to the people and told them of the Kingdom of Heaven, and what it meant to do the will of God upon earth.
When at last Jesus stopped, He turned to the boatman and said:
“Launch out into the deep and let down your nets.” But Peter answered:
“Master, we have toiled all night and have taken nothing; nevertheless, at your word, I will let down the net.”
Peter had a brother, Andrew, and together they let down the great net into the sunlit lake, though they knew it was not the best time to catch fish. But suddenly, to their astonishment, the fish came into the net in such numbers that Peter and his brother could not pull it in, and so they had to beckon to their partners, James and John, who were in another boat, to come and help them.
The four men managed to drag in the net, but there were so many fish that they filled up both the boats, so that they were in danger of sinking. Never before had these fishermen seen such a catch of fish, and Peter fell on his knees before Jesus and cried:
“Depart from me, O Lord, for I am a sinful man!” But Jesus loved Peter and his brother and saw that they and James and John were just the men He needed as His disciples.
So when the fish were brought ashore, Jesus turned to Peter and Andrew, and said, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then the brothers left their nets, and from that day they followed Jesus.
As he walked on, Jesus saw that James and John were busily mending their nets with their father, and Jesus asked them to follow Him too.
So James and John left their trade as fishermen, and leaving the nets with their father, they followed their new Master.
Jesus also chose eight other men to follow Him and be His disciples; but Peter and James and John were His special friends amongst them all.
One day, when they were returning home to Capernaum, Jesus overheard His disciples quarrelling together as to which of them would be the greatest when, as they expected, Jesus became a great King. And when He reached the house where He was staying, He asked them:
“What was it that you were arguing about along the way?”
How their faces flushed with shame! And none of them dared to answer the Master.
Now in that house a little child was playing amongst them, and Jesus called him, and took him on His knee, so that all the disciples should see him. Then Jesus said:
“Whosoever shall receive one of such children in My name, receives Me; and whosoever shall receive Me, receives not Me, but Him that sent Me.”
Jesus meant that true greatness was shown by humble deeds, and that even a kindness done to a little child was the same as though the kindness was done to Jesus Himself, or to His Father in Heaven.
One day, when Jesus was travelling near the River Jordan, some of the women heard that the great Teacher, who was so fond of the children, had come; so, while Jesus was busy preaching, they pushed in towards the front, bringing their children with them, and asked Jesus to put His hand upon them and bless them. But the disciples were vexed with the women, and tried to drive the children away. When Jesus saw this, He was much displeased, and holding out His arms, He cried:
“Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not; for of such is the Kingdom of God.”
He then took the children up in His arms one by one and blessed them.
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The Story of The Curing of Naaman
From the Old Testament Book of Second Kings
There was once a great captain called Naaman. He lived in the land of Syria to the north of Israel, and one time when his soldiers were fighting against the Israelites they carried off with them a little girl, and brought her as a slave to Naaman’s wife.
It was indeed hard for the little girl to be torn from her home, but it seems that her master and mistress were very kind to her, and she knew that the God of Israel still loved her, and was her Friend, even though she lived far away in a strange country.
But a great trouble came into the household, for it was found that Naaman was seized with a terrible disease called leprosy. The little girl heard her mistress grieve over her husband’s illness; for no doctor and none of the priests of the idols that Naaman worshipped could cure it. But the little girl knew that the God of Israel alone had power to cure this awful disease.
At last one day she exclaimed:
“Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria; for he would heal him of his leprosy.”
Then someone went and told Naaman what the little girl from the land of Israel had said. Naaman went at once to the King of Syria, and the King was so anxious that his great captain should be cured that he wrote a letter to the King of Israel, to send with Naaman.
So Naaman set out with many servants, and a large present of silver and gold and beautiful clothes and took the letter.
But when the King of Israel read the letter, he was quite frightened, for he knew he could not cure the leprosy, and was afraid that the King of Syria would come and fight him, if Naaman returned to his own land as ill as ever.
So he tore his clothes in his distress, and could not think what to do.
But happily, the prophet Elisha heard about the letter, and he sent to the King and said:
“Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.”
So Naaman left the grand palace and went to the prophet’s tiny house and waited in his chariot at the door.
Elisha did not come out, but just sent a message to say that Naaman was to go to the river Jordan, and dip himself in the water seven times, and then he would be cured.
But Naaman was very angry at the message, and cried:
“I thought he will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and heal me.”
Naaman thought his own rivers at home were far better than all the rivers of Israel, so he turned away in a rage.
But his servants were wiser than their angry master, and said:
“My father, if the prophet had asked you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much rather then when he said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean!’”
So Naaman was persuaded to go, and the chariot drove off to the river Jordan.
Then Naaman went down into the water, and dipped himself seven times. And his flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
Oh, how glad he was that he had done what the prophet told him!
He went back quickly with all his servants to Elisha, and said before them all:
“Now I know that there is no god in all the earth, but in Israel.”
He wanted to make Elisha take a great present from him; but Elisha would not take anything at all.
So Naaman collected some of the dirt of the land of Israel to take home with him, in order that he might build an altar to the Lord upon it. Then he drove away into Syria, where he was awaited by his wife and the little maid who knew that God could work miracles.
The Story of The Foolish Son
from the Gospel of Luke
Here is a beautiful story which Jesus told to teach the people about the love their Father in Heaven had for them, even when they had turned away from Him and had got themselves into trouble by doing wrong.
There was a certain man who had two sons, but the younger son grew restless. He was tired of home and of being under his father’s rule. So he asked his father for his inheritance. He immediately went away to a far country and used up all his money in wild living.
When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need. He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. The young man wanted to fill his belly with the husks that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any. But when he came to himself, he said, “How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.’”
He did not waste another moment after making up his mind, but set forth on the long, weary journey back to his father’s house.
But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck and kissed him.
Then the poor son, kneeling at his father’s feet, cried out:
“Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight, and am no more worthy to be called your son.”
He was just going to say that if only he could be a hired servant, he would be thankful, but his father stopped him from speaking another word, and cried to those standing around:
“Bring forth the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring hither the fatted calf and kill it and let us eat and be merry. For this, my son, was dead, and is alive again; he was lost and now is found.”
Now the father’s elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing and was very surprised. He called one of the servants to him, and asked what was going on. The servant told him the good news: “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and healthy.” The elder brother was not glad, as you might expect, but instead became very angry, and he would not go into the house. Therefore his father came out, and begged him to come in and join the feast. But he answered his father, “Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this your son came, who has devoured your living with the worst kind of people, you killed the fattened calf for him.”
The father looked at him and said, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But it right to now celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive again. He was lost and now is found.”
