The Parable of the Good Samaritan: The Other Story

A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.

A priest happened to be going down the same road and saw the man. He felt the need to help the man, yet he had no knowledge on first aid or medication. And judging from the man’s condition, a single mistake could cost the man’s life. Guilty, he passed by the other side to go to the nearest town and find a doctor, hoping that he might still make it in time. When he arrived at the nearest town, the doctor wasn’t available for he visited his relatives in Jerusalem and will be back the next day.

Meanwhile, a Levite saw the half dead man by the road. This Levite was a doctor, so he carefully assessed the condition of the patient. Seeing the degree of the damage, he felt the need to treat this patient. Yet he was not able to bring his tools or any first aid. He hurriedly passed the other side to get his things and buy supplies. But to his dismay, the merchant ran out of bandages and herbs.

The Samaritan then saw the dying man and was filled with pity. Having a little knowledge on first aid and had brought supplies to be sold on the next village, he came to the man, bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii 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.’