Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. – Luke 10:33-34 (NLT)
When Jesus’ audience heard about the priest and the Levite passing by the injured man without stopping to help, they were expecting Him to say next that a common Jewish man came to the rescue. But when Jesus told them that a lowly Samaritan – someone despised by the Jews – would be the hero for the day? They weren’t expecting that! They were shocked!
From the despised Samaritan’s perspective, there was no hesitating, debating, or consideration required about the injured man’s race or ethnicity. He saw a man in desperate need and he responded. And it cost him time, energy, and money, but none of that mattered. His example is a picture of the love God calls us to show others; love that goes beyond convenience, beyond prejudice, and beyond what is comfortable. So, as Jesus tells this story, He’s not just giving a moral lesson; He’s also shattering deeply rooted cultural norms and challenging His listeners’ hearts.
“Let it never be forgotten that what the Law demands of us – the gospel really produces in us.” – Charles H. Spurgeon
As believers, the gospel transforms us to live this way. While the law demands compassion, the grace of Christ enables us to give it freely. We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Jesus didn’t wait for us to cry out for help, He didn’t see us as inconvenient or unworthy. He saw us in our brokenness and met our greatest need by sacrificing Himself on the cross at Calvary.
Today, ask yourself: “Who is God calling me to see with fresh eyes? Is there someone I’m tempted to pass by because it feels inconvenient or uncomfortable? May we let the love of Christ flow through us, producing a compassion that moves us to action.
Former Blackout Artist 