Go and Do Likewise: What the Good Samaritan Teaches Us About Love

In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses exhorts the people to keep the commandments—to heed the voice of the Lord:

“You shall return to the Lord, and obey His voice… with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 30:10).

God's law was meant to shape not only outward behavior but the very heart. It served as a custodian, a set of guardrails for those who longed to draw near to Him. But as St. Paul later explains, the law was only a guardian until something greater arrived—until faith came (Galatians 3:23–24).

The law could restrain, but it could not transform. It told us what not to do, but it didn’t give us the power to become what we were meant to be.

Jesus Reveals the Heart of the Law

When Jesus is asked, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He answers by affirming the heart of the law:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul… and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27).

That’s it. The entire law, boiled down to one command in two directions: love God, and love your neighbor.Not with sentiment. But with action.To will the good of the other.To sacrifice for their sake.

Still trying to justify himself, the scholar of the law presses Jesus further:

“And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29).So Jesus tells a story.

The Wounded Man and the Ones Who Passed By

A man is robbed, beaten, and left half-dead on the side of the road. A priest passes by, then a Levite—both respected religious figures. But neither helps. Why? Because touching a corpse would make them ritually unclean (see Numbers 19:11). Even the risk of impurity keeps them at a distance.

But then comes a Samaritan.

And we must not miss how shocking this is. Jews and Samaritans were enemies—religious, historical, and political. Samaritans were seen as heretics, outsiders, not true children of Israel (see 2 Kings 17; John 4:9). Yet this Samaritan sees the wounded man and is “moved with compassion” (Luke 10:33).

Compassion Means Suffering With

The Samaritan doesn’t merely feel sorry. He acts.

• He cleans and dresses the wounds (Luke 10:34).

• He lifts the man onto his own animal—choosing to walk so the other can ride.

• He brings him to an inn and pays for his care, promising to return and cover any additional cost.

This is no minimal act of charity. This is costly, self-giving, inconvenient love. It is the very definition of mercy.

“The One Who Showed Mercy”

Jesus finishes the parable and asks,

“Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor…?”

The scholar replies,

“The one who showed him mercy.”And Jesus says,“Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:36–37).

Notice: he still won’t say “the Samaritan.” He can’t bring himself to speak the name of his enemy. But he’s understood the lesson.

So must we.

We are called to love strangers. To love our enemies. To give our time, our effort, our money.

Why? Because love does such things.

Christ Is the Fulfillment

Jesus is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). Through Him, the mercy of God is no longer an abstract ideal—it’s a Person. He is our teacher. He is our model.

And He says,

“Take up your cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

The Cross is the ultimate sign of love:

“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).

The Word of God is spirit and life (John 6:63). If we turn to Him, He will give us strength, not only to understand the law but to live what it requires, because the law was always leading here. To love.

Who is the “neighbor” you are tempted to avoid or ignore? What would it look like today to stop—and love them—as Christ has loved you?