The Good Samaritan as a Model for Biblical Care

## A Lawyer's Question, an Eternal Answer In Luke 10, a lawyer tries to test Jesus with a question: *"Who is my neighbor?"* Jesus doesn't answer it directly. Instead, he tells a story — and it upends every assumption about who is responsible for whom. A man is beaten, robbed, and left for dead on the road. Two religious leaders — a priest and a Levite — see him and cross to the other side. Then a Samaritan — a half-breed outsider despised by the Jews — stops, binds his wounds, puts him on his own animal, takes him to an inn, and pays for his care. *"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor?"* Jesus asks. The answer is obvious. And uncomfortable. ## What the Samaritan Did (and Didn't Do) Look closely at the Samaritan's actions. They are instructive for anyone who wants to offer genuine care: **He saw him.** He didn't look away. The first act of care is simply paying attention. **He had compassion.** The Greek word (*splanchnizomai*) refers to a gut-level, visceral response. This was not detached charity — it was felt care. **He went to him.** He crossed the distance. Care requires movement toward the hurting person. **He bandaged his wounds.** He did something practical, immediate, and physical. **He took him to a place of sustained care.** He didn't just do the minimum. He arranged for ongoing support. **He paid the cost.** Biblical care is costly. Time, money, energy, inconvenience. ## What the Priest and Levite Teach Us The priest and Levite were not evil people. They were busy, perhaps afraid, likely had reasons. But they chose the comfortable path — and Jesus held them up as examples of what *not* to do. In the church today, it is possible to be deeply religious and still cross to the other side of the road. Busyness, discomfort with suffering, and fear of getting involved all tempt us toward the same choice. ## Implications for the Church Jesus ends the parable not with a theological conclusion but with a command: *"Go and do likewise."* (Luke 10:37) This means: - **Building ministries of presence**, not just programs - **Training lay people** in basic soul care skills - **Removing barriers** to counseling for those who cannot afford it - **Staying in it for the long haul** — the Samaritan came back to check on him ## CCEF Resources on Care and Community - [CCEF: Side by Side — Walking with Others in Wisdom and Love (Book)](https://www.ccef.org/product/side-by-side/) - [CCEF: Equipping Lay Counselors](https://www.ccef.org/equipping-lay-counselors/) - [CCEF: The Church as a Counseling Community](https://www.ccef.org/the-church-as-a-counseling-community/) ## Go and Do Likewise Restoring Hope Ministries exists to train, equip, and send Good Samaritans — people who stop, who see, who pay the cost. If you want to grow in your capacity to care for others, our counselor training programs are the place to start.