Parables Of Jesus Christ: The Good Samaritan
by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

One day, a lawyer (see Scribes) asked Jesus Christ for a legal opinion.

"10:25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
10:26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

10:28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

10:29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?" (Luke 10:25-29 KJV)

"Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself"

In answer to the question, the Messiah's parable of the good Samaritan:

The Good Samaritan
"10:30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 10:31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 10:32 And likewise a Levite [see Levites], when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
10:33 But a certain Samaritan [see The Samaritans Of Israel], as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had Compassion on him, 10:34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 10:35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

10:36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

10:37 And he said, He that showed mercy on him.

Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise." (Luke 10:30-37 KJV)

Many who were at one time anti-Christian became good Christians (e.g. see Was Paul Among Them?). For that reason, Christians are to "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."

"5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:44-48 KJV)

The Ten Commandments are actually elements of the Two Great Commandments (see the Fact Finder question below).

"22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.

22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:36-40 KJV)

Fact Finder: How are all of the Ten Commandments about love toward others?
See The Two Great Commandments