The Parable of the Good Samaritan - Bible Lessons for Kids
Teach children the powerful message of love, compassion, and kindness through the Parable of the Good Samaritan, using engaging, age-appropriate ideas that bring this timeless Bible story to life. There are many meaningful ways to guide kids in understanding what it means to love their neighbor, show mercy to others, and live out their faith through everyday actions, using hands-on lessons, creative activities, and thoughtful discussion rooted in Scripture.
WHAT IS A PARABLE?
A parable was a short story that Jesus used to teach people about God. These stories helped people understand what Jesus was saying because He connected them to people’s everyday lives. Parables can also be easier to remember than long speeches.
THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN
The parable of the Good Samaritan appears in Luke 10:25-37. Jesus taught this parable in response to a man asking Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus told this story. A Jewish man was travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho. Along the way, he was beaten, robbed, and left by the side of the road.
Soon, a priest came by, but passed the man on the other side of the road. Later, a Levite came along and also passed the injured man on the other side of the road. Finally, a Samaritan came by. He took pity on the man. He cared for the man’s wounds, put him on a donkey, and brought him to an inn, where he cared for the man. The next morning, he gave the innkeeper two coins and asked him to care for the man, promising to reimburse any extra expenses.
The Good Samaritan Bible Lessons for Kids
If you’re looking for an easy and effective way to teach about the Good Samaritan, be sure to check out our scripted lessons, printable crafts and discussion questions.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT THE GOOD SAMARITAN
When Jesus told this story, it would have been a surprise that the priest and Levite didn’t help the man, yet the Samaritan did. Priests and Levites were religious leaders and had a duty to help people. But these men made excuses instead of helping. Samaritans, on the other hand, were enemies of the Jews. Jewish people went out of their way to avoid Samaritans. So the fact that it was a Samaritan would have been shocking.
This story is a powerful reminder that God calls us to love ALL people, not just our friends. We are to show love and kindness to everyone. This includes people who look different, act differently, and people who don’t like us.
BOX OF KINDNESS CRAFT FOR OLDER KIDS
Older kids will build a small box to hold bandages full of kindness ideas!
Take time to brainstorm realistic ways kids can show love and care to their neighbors. These could be everyday things that happen at school, home, or the playground. For example, helping someone who is hurt, inviting someone to play if you see they are alone, or sharing your cookie with a sibling.
Then turn these brainstormed ideas into a visual reminder by creating a Kindness Box. Kids will cut out and assemble the bandage box and write different ways to show love on each bandage. This printable craft, included in the Parable of the Good Samaritan for Older Kids, serves as a reminder to act like the Good Samaritan.
BANDAGE HIM UP CRAFT FOR PRESCHOOLERS
Younger kids will add bandages to a picture of the man on the road and talk about ways to love their neighbors.
Doing an activity with Band-Aids is a great way for little learners to connect with the story of the Good Samaritan. There is something about peeling and sticking Band-Aids that captures preschoolers' hearts. After reading the story of the Good Samaritan, give children a printable version of the injured Jewish Man, which you can find in The Parable of the Good Samaritan for Preschoolers.
Then give the kids Band-Aids to stick over the man. If you would prefer, there are also printable Band-Aids that kids can cut out and paste onto the man.
While this activity is simple, it can be a powerful reminder of showing kindness and love to those around us. Encourage the children to draw a picture of something that they can do to show love to their neighbor.
ACT IT OUT FOR PRESCHOOLERS
Many kids enjoy acting out stories and moving around when a story is being told. Having kids act out the parable of the Good Samaritan will also help solidify the story in their memories.
Read the story of the Good Samaritan from your children’s Bible, or use the script provided in The Parable of the Good Samaritan for Preschoolers. As you read, ask kids to do the actions for each moment in the story. Getting kids’ bodies up and moving is a great way to help the story ‘stick’ in their minds.
OTHER CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES TO TEACH ABOUT THE GOOD SAMARITAN
For more ideas about teaching the Good Samaritan, check out Kindness Bible Lessons for Kids.
Good Samaritan Obstacle Course: Create a simple obstacle course using materials in your room. Then put stuffed animals or figures in the obstacle course. Kids have to collect the stuffed animals or figures while they go through the obstacle course. Connect this to the parable: stopping to help isn’t always convenient.
Helping Hands Craft: Have kids trace their hands (as many as they would like). Write ideas on each hand for how they can show kindness and love to those around them. Then glue the hands onto a large piece of paper so the kids can take it home more easily.
The Road to Jericho Game: Use painter’s tape to make a road on the ground. Then have kids line up on one end of the road. Put a stuffed animal or figure on the side of the road to be the injured Jewish man. If you say, “stop to help”, the kids have to stop and help the injured man. If you say, “cross to the other side”, the kids have to move to the other side of the road and pass by.
Kindness Challenge Jar: Write some ideas of how to show kindness on slips of paper, and then put them all in a jar. At the start of the week, have kids pull one of the papers and challenge them to do that act of kindness at some point throughout the day or week.
videos to teach the parable of the GOOD SAMARITAN
Watching videos can be an effective way to help kids learn Bible stories, especially for visual learners. Be sure to preview any videos you intend to show to ensure they are age-appropriate. Here are some suggestions:
WANT TO CONTINUE LEARNING ABOUT THE PARABLES OF JESUS?
This lesson is part of a five-lesson series on the Parables of Jesus. The other lessons include The Parable of the Talents, The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, The Parable of the Mustard Seed, and The Parable of the Great Banquet.
And for more parable lessons, from an earlier parable series, check out Parable of Jesus for Older Kids and Parables of Jesus for Preschool.
