Kindness and Goodness: Lessons from the Good Samaritan

Have you ever driven past someone stranded on the side of the road and thought about stopping to help, but then continued driving? Maybe you were running late, or perhaps you worried it might be unsafe. That moment of hesitation—when compassion meets opportunity—is exactly what we’ll explore today through the story of the Good Samaritan.

What Does True Compassion Look Like?

In Luke 10:30-37, Jesus tells the story of a Jewish man who was attacked by bandits while traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. Three people encountered this injured man:

• A priest who saw him but crossed to the other side of the road
• A temple assistant (Levite) who looked at him but also passed by
• A Samaritan who “felt compassion for him” and stopped to help

What makes this story particularly powerful is the historical context. Samaritans and Jews were enemies—they despised each other. Yet Jesus makes the Samaritan the hero of the story, not the religious leaders who should have known better.

The Samaritan didn’t just acknowledge the problem; he took action. He:

• Cleaned and bandaged the man’s wounds
• Placed him on his own donkey
• Took him to an inn
• Paid for his care
• Promised to return and cover any additional expenses

Why Do We Hesitate to Show Kindness?

We live in a culture that loves awareness. We’re great at identifying problems and discussing issues like homelessness, poverty, and injustice. But awareness without action accomplishes little.

Jesus calls us to be solution cultivators—people who don’t just acknowledge problems but actively work to solve them. The Samaritan in the story demonstrates this perfectly. All three characters “moved” when they saw the injured man:

• The priest moved across the street
• The temple assistant moved across the street
• The Samaritan moved toward the situation

Compassion That Leads to Action

True compassion isn’t just a feeling—it’s a catalyst for action. Throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus being “moved with compassion” before performing miracles:

• Healing the sick (Matthew 14:14)
• Feeding the 4,000
• Healing the blind

In each case, compassion led to action. The same should be true for us.

The Difference Between Kindness and Goodness

Kindness is the action that follows compassion. While even non-believers can perform kind acts, goodness comes from a deeper place—it’s about integrity, character, and what happens when no one is watching. True goodness can only come through the Holy Spirit.

A billionaire might donate millions to charity without feeling anything because it doesn’t cost him anything meaningful. But genuine kindness, rooted in goodness, will always cost you something:

• Time – The Samaritan’s schedule was interrupted
• Comfort – He walked while the injured man rode his donkey
• Money – He paid for the man’s care
• Reputation – He helped someone from an enemy culture

Going Beyond the Minimum

The Samaritan didn’t just provide emergency first aid and leave. He went above and beyond:

• He stayed overnight
• He arranged for continued care
• He promised to return and pay any additional costs

This reveals that his actions weren’t just about checking a box or feeling good about himself. He understood that serving others is ultimately about honoring God.

How Can We Apply This Today?

Jesus concludes the story by saying, “Go and do likewise.” But how can we do this effectively?

Jesus begins this teaching by saying, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” This raises an important question: How can you love your neighbor as yourself if you don’t fully love yourself?

To truly love ourselves, we must see ourselves as God sees us—as chosen people, a royal priesthood, children of God. When we understand our identity in Christ, we can extend that same dignity to others, even those society might consider unworthy.

Life Application

The Good Samaritan story challenges us to be “distracted by the Holy Spirit”—to allow God’s compassion to interrupt our busy schedules and comfortable routines. Here are some practical ways to apply this teaching:

• Pay attention to what moves you with compassion. What social issues or needs consistently stir your heart? This might be God’s invitation to get involved.
• Move toward situations, not away from them. When you see someone in need, resist the urge to cross to the other side of the road.
• Be willing to pay the cost. True kindness will cost you something—time, money, comfort, or convenience. Be willing to sacrifice.
• Go beyond the minimum. Don’t just provide temporary relief; look for ways to help restore people to wholeness.
• Build trust through consistency. Like the Samaritan who had enough credibility with the innkeeper to say “put it on my tab,” develop a reputation for reliability and integrity.

Questions to Ask Yourself:

• What situations or people have I been “crossing the street” to avoid?
• What would it look like for me to move toward a difficult situation instead of away from it this week?
• How am I viewing the people I encounter—as interruptions to my schedule or as divine appointments?
• In what ways might God be calling me to go beyond minimum kindness to restorative goodness?
• Am I allowing my identity as God’s beloved child to shape how I treat others, especially those different from me?

Remember, kindness and goodness aren’t just nice qualities—they’re fruits of the Spirit that should characterize our lives as followers of Jesus. When we allow compassion to move us to action, we become living examples of God’s love in a world that desperately needs it.