The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)

One of Christ’s most memorable parables is the story of the Good Samaritan. This inspirational tale emphasises the importance of faith in action, love of neighbour, universal brotherhood, and of caring for the sick and needy.

Pope St John Paul II explained: “The Gospel of Luke records the parable, telling how a man had been robbed, beaten and left beside the road half dead. According to the Gospel account, “a Samaritan who was journeying along came on him and was moved to pity at the sight. He approached him and dressed his wounds, pouring in oil and wine. He then hoisted him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, where he cared for him. The next day he took out two silver pieces and gave them to the innkeeper with the request: Look after him, and if there is any further expense I will repay you on my way back.” 

He went on: “The Good Samaritan does not mind that he might be criticized for helping someone whο has “tradi­tionally” been considered his enemy. And he does not ask him any questions: where he comes from, why he is there, where he is going. He asks no questions at all. Very simply the Good Samaritan sees the injured person in need, and he spontaneously helps him up, takes him to an inn, and sees that he receives all he needs to get well again.” 

The pope concluded: “This is charity! A charity which makes no exception because of the other person’s ethnic origin, religious allegiance or political preference, no exceptions whatsoever; a charity which sees the person as a brother or sister in need and seeks only one thing: to be of immediate assistance, to be a neighbour.”

Looking beyond its moral message, early Christian writers also interpreted details from the parable symbolically. In the man left half dead, they saw Adam, who committed a mortal sin in the Garden of Eden. According to them, the Good Samaritan, who rescued the victim, symbolised Christ the Saviour of humanity. Further, they identified the innkeeper as the leaders of the Church, who continue Christ’s saving mission in his absence.

This grand stained glass window unfolds the story of the parable in five specific scenes. It was created in 1907 by the Burlison & Grylls studio for the church of St Leonard’s and St Mary’s, Malton. Around a central image of ‘Christ the comforter’ are a series of paired quotations and illustrations of the parable.

Within Catholic churches, stained glass windows of the parables are not as common. This particular church was formerly an Anglican place of worship, within which parable windows were more popular. This is because of the greater emphasis within that tradition of the Word of God over the sacraments.

It’s interesting that the Jewish priest who ignored the injured man is dressed as a bishop, wearing a mitre cap with two lappets (decorative flaps). He is too busy reading the Bible, or a prayer book, to attend to the victim. This is possibly a subtle criticism of the Church hierarchy, as the window is found within the former sanctuary of the church, where the priest would officiate.

See the series of images telling the story of the parable:

And the full window:

Where to find this work of art
St Leonard and St Mary’s, Malton

Read the relevant passage
Luke 10:25-37

On a similar theme

• From the Old Testament: Early Christian writers viewed the stricken victim as a symbol of fallen Adam, who was in dire need of rescue.
• From the New Testament: Like the victim of the parable, Christ was stripped of his clothes and left to die.