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The Good Samaritan

Kindness, neighbours and helping others; practise past tense and story order.

A2–B145–60 minutesLuke 10:25–37Printable
Teacher note: A parable is a story used to teach. Samaritans and Jews had a difficult relationship; the unexpected helper challenges narrow ideas about who counts as a neighbour. Learners can discuss the story without sharing personal beliefs.
Teacher AnswersBible Stories & English
1Lesson Goals
AI illustration of a Samaritan caring for an injured traveller beside a donkey

I will be able to:

  • retell the main events.
  • use the story’s vocabulary.
  • practise the language focus.
  • explain an idea with evidence.

Start here: Look at the picture. What might the traveller need?

2Read the Story

Jesus told this story when a man asked who his neighbour was. A traveller was going from Jerusalem to Jericho. Robbers attacked him, took his belongings and left him badly hurt beside the road.

A priest saw the injured man but walked past. A Levite, another religious worker, also passed without helping. Then a Samaritan came along. He felt compassion and stopped. He cared for the man’s wounds, put him on his animal and took him to an inn.

The next day, the Samaritan gave the innkeeper money to care for the traveller. He promised to pay any extra costs when he returned. Jesus asked which person had acted as a neighbour. The answer was the one who had shown mercy. Jesus told the listener to show the same kindness.

Simplified retelling for English learners; not a direct Bible quotation. Based on Luke 10:25–37. AI illustration.

3Vocabulary

Match 1–6 with A–F.

  1. traveller
  2. wound
  3. compassion
  4. inn
  5. mercy
  6. belongings

A. a place where travellers can stay
B. things that a person owns
C. an injury to the body
D. kindness shown to someone in difficulty
E. a person on a journey
F. a feeling that makes you want to help someone who is suffering

Use two words in your own sentences.

4Check Your Understanding
  1. Where was the traveller going?
  2. What did the robbers do?
  3. Who passed without helping?
  4. How did the Samaritan first help?
  5. Where did he take the traveller?
  6. What did he promise the innkeeper?
  7. Who acted as a neighbour, and why?

Answer in sentences where you can. Point to evidence in the reading.

5Language Focus

Past simple: use past forms to tell a finished story. Example: see → saw; stop → stopped.

  1. The traveller ___ to Jericho. (go)
  2. The Samaritan ___ the injured man. (help)
  3. He ___ money to the innkeeper. (give)
  4. The priest ___ past. (walk)
6Think & Speak

Discuss in pairs. Give a reason for each answer.

  1. What makes someone a good neighbour?
  2. Which action in the story shows kindness most clearly?
  3. How can people offer help safely today?

Useful language: I think… because… / A helpful person can… / First…, then…, finally…

You may use imagined examples.

7Use Your English

Write 60–80 words about someone helping a neighbour. Use past simple verbs and first, then and finally.

Plan: Who? What happened? What was the result?

Check capitals, verbs, spelling and punctuation.

8Puzzle or Game

Put these events in order: A. The Samaritan paid the innkeeper. B. Robbers attacked the traveller. C. The Samaritan cared for the wounds. D. Two people passed without helping. E. The traveller was taken to an inn.

Extra challenge: Explain your answers to a partner using complete sentences.

9Success Criteria ✓
  • I can retell the main events.
  • I can use three new words.
  • I can complete the language task.
  • I can support an answer with evidence.

Exit reflection: One thing I learned…

One thing I want to practise…

10Show What You Can Do

Retell the story in 5–6 sentences. Explain how the Samaritan acted as a neighbour.

Write below or prepare a 45-second spoken response. Use your own words.