Most of us are familiar with the story of the Good Samaritan. We know about the man who was traveling on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho where he was robbed. We know about the religious leaders passing him by. We recall how the Good Samaritan helped him. But if we explore this passage a little further, we can see the love the Good Samaritan showed was not just in his actions, but in a few things he didn’t do as well.

The Good Samaritan didn’t shame him for his struggle. The story doesn’t really give us insight into why the man was traveling alone or on such a dangerous road. This road was already known as a hideout for outlaws and robbers. Why would he go this way? And especially alone? Didn’t he have more common sense? Didn’t he know better? It’s interesting that the Good Samaritan never shames him for this, he only gets him off the road and on the way to wholeness.

The Good Samaritan didn’t help him halfway. In the story, the Good Samaritan is not the only one who saw the dying man. Two religious leaders passed him by. How could anyone who claims to love God leave their brother in his time of great need and distress? Was it too much to be there for him? Was it too inconvenient? Those answers are for another day, but we see here the Good Samaritan jumps into action.

The Samaritan could’ve just carried him to shelter, maybe given him some nourishment and been on his way. But no, he made sure he was fully healed and helped. He arranged for him to stay at an inn, expenses paid, and made sure he was better. He exemplifies true love by seeing his friend to wholeness.

The Good Samaritan didn’t make the man feel like his brokenness was a burden.

It says the Samaritan “came to where the man was.” He went to his place of need. He came to him when the man had no strength and couldn’t go on.

The Samaritan never said “You’re too much! You’re too heavy! You’re too expensive! Helping you is hurting ME!” The list could go on. He never made the man feel bad for being in such a situation. He just got him better. He got him off the road, where he didn’t belong, to a better place. He never made him feel like a burden, or that helping him was just too hard.

What a wonderful example of covenant love.

The story of the Good Samaritan is a story of how God loves and helps us and how we should do the same for each other.

May we always have eyes to see the broken and a heart to help them instead of turning away. Who needs your help today? Who is hurting and needs your love and friendship?