* PLAY 1: The Good Samaritan
* PLAY 2: The Good Samaritan
* PLAY 3: The Good Samaritan
Bible Meory Verse
“…’Love your neighbor as yourself’” Matthew 22:39
Jerusalem and Jericho are two towns in Israel. Merchants (people that sold things) had to travel over the road from Jerusalem, a city, to Jericho, a small town, to sell their products. In those days, people walked, rode on donkeys, horses or camels or rode in carts. Going from Jerusalem to Jericho was dangerous because robbers would attack people along the road. In this story a priest, a Levite and a Samaritan were mentioned. Priests and Levites were the religious leaders of the Jews. Samaritans were enemies of the Jews.
Luke 10:25-37
“On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?’
(26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. ‘How do you read it?’
(27 He answered: ‘”Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind”; and, “Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
(28 ‘You have answered correctly,’ Jesus replied. ‘Do this and you will live.’
(29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’
(30 In reply Jesus said: ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. (31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. (32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. (33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. (34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. (35 The next day he took out two silver coins 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.’
(36 Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?’
(37 The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’
Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.
1. What did the robbers do to the merchant? (“Jerusalem to Jericho. A distance of 17 miles and a descent from about 2,500 feet above sea level to about 800 feet below sea level. The road ran through rocky, desert country, which provided places for robbers to waylay defenseless travelers.” NIV Study Bible
2. Why did the first two men not help the merchant? Why do you think people don’t help those in need?
3. Who helped the merchant? “It is significant that the person Jesus commended was neither the religious leader nor the lay associate, but a hated foreigner. Jews viewed Samaritans as half-breeds, both physically and spiritually.” NIV Study Bible
4. How did the Samaritan help the merchant?
5. Who is our neighbor? What are we supposed to do for our neighbor?
Once a man was talking to Jesus and he asked, “Who are the people I should love?” So Jesus told him a story.
A Jewish man was walking along a desert road. When robbers came and hurt him. They even took his clothes!
The man was hurt!
And he was sad.
He felt lonely.
He felt bad.
A priest who was walking, Came down the road that day.
He saw the man, but didn’t help! He just went on his way!
The man was hurt!
And he was sad.
He felt lonely.
He felt bad.
A worker from the temple walked right up to the man.
But did he help? No, he did not! He left him in the sand!
The man was hurt!
And he was sad.
He felt lonely.
He felt bad.
Soon, an enemy saw the man was hurt. But he didn’t leave him all alone lying in the dirt.
He put him on his donkey. Gave him a place to stay. Paid for food and medicine and helped him on his way!
The man was happy!
He wasn’t sad!
He was thankful!
He felt glad!
“Which man showed the most love?” asked Jesus.
“The enemy who helped him,” answered the man he was talking to..
“You’re right,” said Jesus, “Now go and show that same kind of love to other people.”
CHARACTERS: Storyteller, Injured group, unhelpful group
STORYTELLER: Once, a man was walking from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was attacked, beaten up and robbed! The thieves took his money. They took his merchandise. They took his clothes. He lay in a ditch by the side of the road and he called and he called and he called for help…
INJURED GROUP:
Anybody, anybody please help me!
I was beaten and robbed and I have an owie!
STORYTELLER: Soon, a priest came by. Of course the man expected the priest to help him. But do you know what happened instead…
UNHELPFUL GROUP:
The priest walked by with his nose held high,
Pretending he didn’t hear the hurting man cry.
STORYTELLER: The man lay there getting weaker and weaker. He couldn’t even crawl out of the ditch! So he did the only thing he could do, he called and called and called for help…
INJURED GROUP:
Anybody, anybody please help me!
I was beaten and robbed and I have an owie!
STORYTELLER: Soon, a Levite came by. A Levite was someone who helped make sure everything was prepared for the worship services. The injured man was sure the Levite would help him. But you know what happened instead…
UNHELPFUL GROUP:
The Levite walked by with his nose held high,
Pretending he didn’t hear the hurting man cry.
STORYTELLER: By now, the man was getting desperate! He was too weak to yell anymore. All he could do was whisper and whisper and whisper for help…
INJURED GROUP:
Anybody, anybody please help me!
I was beaten and robbed and I have an owie!
STORYTELLER: Well, who should come along that same road but a Samaritan—a man this guy didn’t like. He didn’t like anyone from Samaria! He made fun of the people who lived there! He expected the Samaritan to walk on by, or maybe even hurt him worse! BUT…The Samaritan stopped. He offered his hand.
He bandaged his wounds and he helped the man.
He put him on a donkey, he took him to an inn,
And he paid the innkeeper to take care of him!
Here’s the moral of the story, if you don’t yet know it;
Don’t just say you love your neighbour, find a way to show it!
CHARACTERS: Narrator, Merchant, Robber, Priest, Levite, Good Samaritan, Innkeeper (can have Narrator be Innkeeper)
NARRATOR: Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:39 Someone asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Then Jesus told this story.
MERCHANT: (enters) Hi boys and girls. I am a merchant, which means I buy and sell things. I live in Jerusalem. I am going to load all my things on my donkey and go to the town of Jericho (exits).
ROBBER: (enters) Ha, Ha I am a robber. If any merchant comes along this road today, my friend and I are going to beat him up and take his money (goes to the far side of stage).
MERCHANT: (enters with donkey & starts going across stage) La, la, la.
(Robber & friend beat up merchant, rob him & leave)
PRIEST: (enters) I am a priest and I’m on my way to a church service (stops & looks at merchant). I cannot stop today or else I will be late for service. I must be on my way. I’d better hurry or I might be attacked. I am sure some help will come soon so I will just let him lie (exits).
LEVITE: (enters) I am a Levite and I help priests at the church. This truly is a horrid sight. I really do believe he ought to be at home in bed. But I’m no doctor, mercy me. Besides, I feel quite sick myself–I’d better run along (exits).
SAMARITAN: (enters) I am a Samaritan. My people long have been hated by merchants from Jerusalem. (shocked) How can it be? This wounded man is out here all alone. I would have come here sooner, friend, if I had only known! (takes care of merchant) Oh, there’s a warm and friendly inn, I must put him to bed. (walks to end of stage, Innkeeper enters at that end) Be sure to take care of this man, Mr. Innkeeper. I intend to pay in full when I return for everything you spend (exits & soon after Samaritan & Innkeeper exit).
NARRATOR: Who helped his fellowmen in every way he could? Who is the one who acted here the way a neighbor should? The Good Samaritan–he was the only one to stay and though the merchant hated him, he helped him anyway. How wonderful if you and I and all God’s children would show such a love to all we meet as Jesus said we should!