Bible story · Luke 10:25–37

The Good Samaritan

Jesus tells a story about a stranger who stops to help a hurt man. A 2-minute animated story, told simply for children and families, with each verse from the King James Version.

Start the story For parents

1 of 8

One day a man asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” So Jesus told him a story.

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

2 of 8

A man was traveling along the lonely road from Jerusalem down to Jericho. Robbers attacked him, took everything he had, and left him lying hurt by the road.

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.
Luke 10:30 KJV

3 of 8

A priest came down the road. When he saw the hurt man, he crossed to the other side and kept on walking.

And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
Luke 10:31 KJV

4 of 8

Then a Levite, who helped in the temple, came by. He looked at the man, and he walked past on the other side too.

And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
Luke 10:32 KJV

5 of 8

Then a Samaritan came along. Samaritans and Jews did not get along, but when he saw the man, his heart was filled with pity.

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
Luke 10:33 KJV

6 of 8

He cleaned and bandaged the man’s wounds, lifted him onto his own donkey, and took him to an inn to look after him.

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.
Luke 10:34 KJV

7 of 8

The next day he paid the innkeeper and said, “Take care of him. If it costs more, I will pay you when I come back.”

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.
Luke 10:35 KJV

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Jesus asked, “Which of the three was a neighbor to the hurt man?” The answer came: “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said, “Go and do the same.”

And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Luke 10:37 KJV

The end

Next story: The Lost Sheep

What does this story teach?

Our neighbor is anyone who needs help, not just people like us.
Kindness means stopping to help, even when it costs us time or money.
Mercy can cross any line that divides people.
Jesus wants us to “go and do likewise.”

Questions to talk about

Use these with your children after the story, at bedtime, at the table or in a class.

Why do you think the priest and the Levite walked past?
What did the Samaritan do to help, step by step?
Who is someone different from you that you could be kind to?
What is one way you can be a good neighbor this week?

Read the story in the Bible

This retelling uses simple words for young readers. Read the full account in Luke 10:25–37, one verse per screen:

Frequently asked questions

Where is the story of the Good Samaritan in the Bible?

The parable of the Good Samaritan is in Luke 10:25–37. Jesus tells it to answer a lawyer’s question, “And who is my neighbour?”

Who were the Samaritans?

Samaritans lived in Samaria, between Galilee and Judea. They and the Jews of Jesus’ day had a long history of disagreement and generally avoided each other, which is why it was so surprising that the Samaritan was the one who helped.

Why didn’t the priest and the Levite help?

The Bible does not say why. Some think they were afraid of the robbers, or worried about becoming ceremonially unclean. Jesus’ point is that the people expected to help did not, and the one least expected did.

What is the meaning of the Good Samaritan?

Being a neighbor means showing mercy to anyone in need, whoever they are. Jesus ends the story in Luke 10:37 with the words “Go, and do thou likewise.”

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