The parable of the good Samaritan
key words
bible reference
Luke 10:25-37
lesson objective
To help the children learn the meaning of the parable of the Good Samaritan.
memory verse
“Then he told them many things in parables” (Matthew 13:3a, NIV*).
prepare yourself to teach
Jesus told this parable in response to the question: Who is my neighbor? His response went beyond the idea that our neighbor is a relative or friend; it included people that we do not always like or that our society considers unacceptable. The Samaritan of this story was that kind of person for the Jews.
Jews and Samaritans had irreconcilable cultural and racial conflicts. For the Jews, the Samaritans were despicable, a mixture of marriage between Israelites with Gentiles. That is why Jesus tells this parable in which the Samaritan shows mercy, a behavior contrary to that of the Jewish leaders. A characteristic feature of this story is that Jesus uses religious leaders as examples: a priest and a Levite. Those who were listening to this parable hoped that both the priest and the Levite would stop to help the wounded man. Surely it was very difficult for them to accept that the behavior of the Samaritan man put to shame the attitude of their religious leaders.
The Samaritan not only helped the wounded man, but he took care of him and cared for him until he recovered. He showed kindness that went beyond expectations.
One truth that Jesus wanted to teach through this parable is goodness. The Jewish leaders failed in this aspect, but the Samaritan man shows us the kind of compassion that should permeate the Christian’s behavior in this world.
adaptation
Young children can understand perfectly that two characters in this parable did not show kindness, ignoring the wounded man, while the Samaritan chose to show kindness and love his neighbor.
Pay attention while your children play together. Do they show kindness in their actions? Are they loving each other? Preschoolers go through a period when their world is centered on themselves. They act in an individualistic way and want to satisfy their personal needs, without taking others into account. Through this parable, help them understand that God wants us to be kind to each other and love others as we love ourselves.
introduce the lesson
The traveler’s road
Look in magazines or books for illustrations of roads or paths. Show them to the group and explain to them that people who travel are traveling through these places. If some have traveled, allow them to briefly tell about their experiences.
Tell them today’s Bible story is about a man who was traveling and had a serious accident on the road.
Find the Band-Aids!
Before children arrive, hide a number of Band-Aids/ bandages in the classroom. Make sure there are enough for all your children. If you prefer, make the bandages with paper or cardboard.
Tell the children: Today’s Bible story is a parable. Do you remember what a parable is? (A special story that Jesus told to teach people.) Today’s parable is about a man who needed help.
Then ask them to find the bandages in the room and return them before you finish counting to 30.
If possible, prepare visual aids for the story. Perhaps you can use flannel-board material, puppets or other aids available to you. If time allows it, ask some volunteers to help you dramatize the parable.
teach the lesson
The following activity will help children understand the biblical truth of this lesson.
A kind man
Jesus told special stories called parables. One was about a man who proved to be kind.
There was a Jewish man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. He walked a long time on a difficult and dangerous path. Suddenly, some thieves attacked him, wounded him and took away everything he had. Then they left, leaving the man lying on the side of the road.
A traveling Jewish priest saw the wounded man, but he did not stop. He passed by without helping him. After a while, another important Jewish religious leader came along the same path. But, he did not stop either, instead he walked faster and left.
Later, a man from a place called Samaria came by. The Samaritans and the Jews were not good friends. Surely the injured man was thinking: “This man is not going to help either.” But, it was not like that. The Samaritan did stop to help the man.
He cleaned and bandaged the man’s wounds. Then he put him on his donkey and took him to a lodging place where he could be safe. The Good Samaritan gave money to the manager of that place so that he would take care of the wounded man until he was fully recovered.
Jesus finished this story with a question: “Who acted like a neighbor to the wounded man? (Allow them to respond.) Jesus teaches us that God wants us to be kind to all people.”
connect the lesson
The story of the Good Samaritan
Give your children Student Activity Sheet #62-A and #62-B. Allow time for them to write their name and trace the word of faith. While they are doing this, ask them: “What is a parable?” (A special story that Jesus told to teach.)
Allow them to color the scenes on Student Activity Sheet #62-A while briefly reviewing what they learned. Then help them cut out the two drawing strips along the dotted lines. Tell them how to join the strips by sticking them in the sections marked A and B.
Make the cuts in the dotted vertical lines to form two openings. Help the children put the strip of drawings there to show the story of the Good Samaritan.
Encourage the children to take home their activity sheets to share the lesson with their families and friends.
practice the memory verse
Write the memory verse on a card or sheet of paper, and hide it in the classroom before the children arrive.
Say: “Today’s text is lost and we must find it. Could they help in the search?” (Describe the material you used to write the text, and let the children look for it.) If they do not find it, guide them near the place where you hid it, so that they find it easier). When they find it, celebrate with your children. Thank them for their help and say the verse with them.
wrap-up
Pray
Give time for children to say their prayer requests and then pray for them.
Encourage
Encourage the children to find ways to help others this week.
Invite
Since the next lesson will deal with the parable of the grand banquet, we suggest that you buy or make an invitation for each member of your class. Make some extra invitation cards, and encourage the children to invite some friends. Tell them they will study the story of a great celebration.
* Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™