Luke 10:33Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

"But a certain Samaritan," as the parable recounts, diligent in his duties, possessing a good disposition and compassion for his fellow beings, approached the wounded man and felt deep empathy for him. He tended to his injuries with wine and oil, symbolizing the healing of his sins. The image of the Samaritan reflects our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, an objector among the listeners might inquire: What is this? Do you equate the Lord with a Samaritan? Indeed, I refer to Him as such, not in regard to His divine essence, but in the expression of His humanity. Just as the Samaritan shared the human condition with others yet stood out in his heartfelt kindness, so too did the Lord appear human, akin to the prophets and patriarchs through His earthly mother Mary, while in His divine power He surpassed them all. Although equal in His human nature, He far exceeded them in eternal splendor. While they, hardened in heart, ignored the wounded man, the Samaritan displayed greater mercy, devotion, and compassion. Similarly, Christ, having found the man fallen through disobedience deserted by the patriarchs and prophets, alone extended mercy and kindness, as proclaimed by the prophet: "The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love" (Psalm 102:8), and also, "Thou, O Lord, art good." Just as the Samaritan hailed from a foreign nation, so Christ came from heaven, not belonging to this world. As God, He became man for our benefit; as Lord, He assumed the role of a servant. He took pity on us, descended from heaven, observed humanity battered, robbed, and wounded by sin, idolatry, immorality, and murder—He saw and was moved to compassion for His creation, preparing for them wine and oil, which means He mixed both to create a remedy for humanity. This blending of wine and oil signifies that the Lord, by uniting His divine nature with our human essence and by merging grace with redemption, brought salvation to mankind. By incorporating the Holy Spirit with His blood, He restored life to humanity. When the Lord's blood flowed from His side to the ground, it cleansed the record of our sins.

In truth, as the Apostle teaches, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize?" (1 Cor. 9:24). The priest journeyed, the Levite too, yet it was the Samaritan who earned the reward. He easily surpassed those who came before; what the law-educated failed to perform, the foreigner executed flawlessly. Those versed in the law, upon seeing their own nature in jeopardy, hardened their hearts, shutting their eyes and bypassing the lifeless form lying as inert as the rich man who disregarded Lazarus at his gate. Conversely, the unfaithful Samaritan, exhibiting greater fidelity than the Jews, set aside his obligations, comforted the stranger, and prioritized the care of the injured man, fulfilling the law without having knowledge of it. For, as the Apostle wrote, "When Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law" (Rom. 2:14). The term "Samaritan" translates to "watchman." He stated: "A certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came upon him." He did not say, "came to him," but rather "came upon him"—indicating that He took on flesh akin to humanity, sharing in our physical struggles but remaining sinless.

When this Samaritan descended—and who descends from heaven if not the Son of Man who both ascended into heaven and dwells there (John 3:13)—He encountered a man nearly lifeless, whom none had tended to, akin to the woman afflicted with a hemorrhage who had exhausted her entire fortune on physicians (Luke 8:43). He approached him, signifying that He drew near to us, embracing compassion for our plight, and offering us His mercy.

Upon arriving, He engaged with humankind, healing the wounds of the spirit with His grace, much like a skilled physician tending to physical injuries with oil, which signifies His loving and joyful message: “Come unto Me,” inviting all who bear burdens, “and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). The wine symbolizes doctrine that can be daunting, highlighted in His words: “Depart from Me all ye workers of unrighteousness” (Luke 13:27). The oil and wine can be understood as the partaking of His body and blood. He carried the wounded upon His own beast of burden, embracing fallen humanity and incorporating us, who place our faith in Him, as His own body. This is why the Apostle Paul expressed: “Ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular” (1 Corinthians 12:27). He has brought us to a place of refuge, which is His Church, aptly described as a shelter because it welcomes people from every nation, tribe, and tongue, and anyone who approaches it in faith. Additionally, He bestowed upon them the gift of the Holy Spirit and miraculous grace, along with the Communion of the Holy Mysteries.

He rendered assistance that would typically be reserved for close relatives: he cleansed the man's wounds with wine, applied oil to ease the suffering, and bandaged the injuries. He then placed the unfortunate man on his donkey and escorted him to the nearest inn, walking alongside. At the inn, he tended to the sick man and, upon leaving for a brief while, entrusted his care to the innkeeper, covering all expenses personally. This Samaritan comprehended the essence of mercy more profoundly than the priest and the Levite, and indeed more than the scholars of the law: he realized that compassion knows no boundaries—be it Samaritan, Jew, or Gentile—and that all people are equal in this regard, and thus, all are our neighbors.