The Good Samaritan

This story presents some fun possibilities.

Vocabulary: expert, Jericho, to take pity (took pity), bandaged, wounds, innkeeper, to reimburse, to look after someone, expense, mercy

Grammar activities:

1. Choose five words from the vocabulary list and write new sentences

2. Change the following words into past tense: to reply, to tear, to see, to come, to take

Story:
An expert in the law asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”

A man was going from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was attacked by robbers. They tore off his clothes, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side of the road. Another important man, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side of the road. But a Samartian, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day, he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said, “and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.” Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who was robbed?

The expert in the law replied, “The man who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go, and do the same thing.”

Sample comprehension/ discussion questions:

1. Was the victim a Jew?
2. Was the Samaritan a Jew?
3. How many men passed by the injured man?
4. What was the profession of the first man?
5. What was the tribe of the second man?
6. Had the Samaritan ever seen the injured man before?
7. How did the Samaritan know the man was worth helping?
8. Name two ways we can help others.
9. Should we help only people like us?
10. Name one way you helped someone in the last week.
11. What does this show us about God’s love?

Activity: Have the students act it out. They love the beating part! One student (or a couple) can be the narrator(s) and the other students can fill in the other parts. They really enjoy dramatizing it.