The Good Samaritan {Parables of Jesus series}
One of the best things about summer is that we get to be with our kids all day!
A lot of time to build our deep connections with our kids that may have gotten rusty (and hurried) during the busy school year. As a part of those deep connections, we hope that this summer series about the Parables of Jesus will be a resource that you can use to sow the ideas of love and justice into their hearts while you play as a family.
“Just then a scholar of the Hebrew Scriptures tried to trap Jesus.
Scholar: Teacher, what must I do to experience the eternal life?
Jesus (answering his question): What is written in the Hebrew Scriptures? How do you interpret their answer to your question?
Scholar: You shall love- “love the Eternal One your God with everything you have: all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind”- and “love your neighbor as yourself.”
Jesus: Perfect. Your answer is correct. Follow these commands and you will live.
The scholar was frustrated by this response because he was hoping to make himself appear smarter than Jesus.
Scholar: Ah, but who is my neighbor?
Jesus: This fellow was traveling down from Jerusalem to Jericho when some robbers mugged him. They took his clothes, beat him to a pulp, and left him naked and bleeding and in critical condition. By chance, a priest was going down that same road, and when he saw the wounded man, he crossed over to the other side and passed by. Then a Levite who was on his way to assist in the temple also came and saw the victim lying there, and he too keep his distance. Then a despised Samaritan journeyed by. When he saw the fellow, he felt compassion for him. The Samaritan went over to him, stopped the bleeding, applied some first aid, and put the poor fellow on his donkey. He brought ht man to an inn and cared for him through the night.
The next day, the Samaritan took out some money- two days’ wages to be exact- and paid the innkeeper, saying “Please take care of this fellow, and if this isn’t enough, I’ll repay you next time I pass through.”
Which of these three proved himself a neighbor to the man who had been mugged by the robbers?
Scholar: The one who showed mercy to him.
Jesus: Well then, go and behave like that Samaritan.
The Main Point
Activity
Snack
Video
Want more parables? If you’re interested in the other parables we’ve already talked about, and what we’ve got planned next, here’s the list!
The Wise Builder
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
The Good Samaritan
The Light of the World
Mustard Seed and Yeast
Unmerciful Servant
Lowest Seat at the Feast
Workers in the Vineyard
Hidden Treasures
(Plus three more to be determined!)
3 Responses
[…] Wise Builder The Pharisee and the Tax Collector The Good Samaritan The Light of the World Mustard Seed and Yeast Unmerciful Servant Lowest Seat at the Feast Workers […]
[…] Wise Builder The Pharisee and the Tax Collector The Good Samaritan The Light of the World Mustard Seed and Yeast Unmerciful Servant Lowest Seat at the Feast Workers […]
[…] Wise Builder The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (this one!) The Good Samaritan The Light of the World Mustard Seed and Yeast Unmerciful Servant Lowest Seat at the Feast Workers […]