Read: Luke 10:25-37
Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" (Luke 10:36 ESV)</blockquote
Have you ever had something terrible happen to you, while the very people who should and could have helped you just looked the other way? If so, then you have something in common with the man from Jesus' story about the Good Samaritan.
A priest passed by. A Levite passed by. Both of whom were under moral, religious, and cultural obligation to help the victim. So why didn't they?
Remembering that this story is a parable you have to look at the context Jesus tells it in. What was going on in that time? Well, both the priests and the Levites had condoned rampant corruption within the established religious system. People were making a lot of money off of religion. It was robbery.
Jesus' parable was a challenge to those listening to rise above the corruption. He was calling them to help their neighbors and friends, to not live selfishly, and to love God and others. He was showing them it was possible to live above instead of among the robbers.