The Strangers on the RoadSample

The Samaritan On The Road

What Do We Know About The Samaritan?

For Jesus’ Jewish audience, the idea that a Samaritan would better demonstrate God’s heart than a priest or Levite was unthinkable. Samaritans were considered tainted and impure because their lineage contained a mix of Jewish and foreign blood. Even though prejudice toward the Samaritans was widespread in the Jewish community, Jesus chose to single out this character as the one who would demonstrate sacrificial love.

How Does The Samaritan Point To Jesus?

Ever since sin entered the world in Eden and God established the sacrificial system to maintain a relationship with us, those He placed in spiritual leadership failed time and time again to adequately care for hurting people. Seeing our depraved condition, God met humanity as we lay half-dead on the road of life. We were half-alive in the sense that we were physically breathing, but we remained spiritually dead due to sin. Jesus bound up our wounds and poured out the wine of His blood, paying our debt, just as the Samaritan did for the man by paying the innkeeper.

How Do These Answers Impact Us?

God has a heart for those the world often overlooks. Jesus was born in an unimpressive stable in an incredibly ordinary town, and He ultimately went on to secure our redemption. In the same way, no matter how insignificant you feel, God sees you and can use you to bring hope to others!

Big Idea

Similarly to the Samaritan, Jesus met humanity as we lay half-dead on the road of life. We were half alive in the sense that we were physically breathing, but we remained spiritually dead due to sin. Jesus bound up our wounds and poured out the wine of His blood, paying our debt, just as the Samaritan did for the man by paying the innkeeper.

Let's Think About This

Question #1: What is one thing that “jumped out” to you while reading Luke 10:33-35?

Question #2: What parallels can you see between the Samaritan and the ministry of Jesus?

Question #3: As Christians, we should be known as men and women who care for those who are overlooked by others. What are some practical ways we can demonstrate the love of God to hurting people in our community?