In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii 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.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:30-37 (New International Version, NIV)

Many of us have read the story of the Good Samaritan and we understand it is about a man who was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho and was robbed, beaten, and left half-dead. He was ignored by certain people as they passed by, but eventually a Samaritan stopped to render aid. It speaks to us of love for our neighbor, but it also has amazing symbolism that we may not be aware of. Let’s look at the scenario and the people who are mentioned and see who or what they represent.

The robbers represent the devil and his demons who come to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus called the devil a thief in John 10:10. When Adam fell, he fell into the hands of the devil and his demons, who stripped him, beat him, and left him dead in his sins. As Adam’s descendants, the human race has suffered the same fate.

The priest and the Levite who passed by and did nothing symbolize religion. Religion does not help us, but it expects us to help ourselves by earning our way to heaven. We don’t need religion. We need Jesus. The Good Samaritan represents Jesus, who came to help us and save us out of our sin. Jesus saw our lost and hurt condition and did not ignore us, but inconvenienced Himself by coming to earth as a man to help us out of our predicament. He had love and compassion for us. He bandaged our wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Wine represents the blood of Jesus and oil represents anointing. We’ve been purchased by His blood and preserved by the anointing. Wine and oil are healing agents. Healing was provided to us by Jesus.

The injured man was carried to the inn, which represents God’s house. He left him with the innkeeper, who symbolizes the Holy Spirit. He gave the innkeeper two silver coins, the equivalence of two days wages, to care of the man. Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit to care for us for two thousand years, until the Good Samaritan, Jesus, returns. Jesus has not left us without a Comforter. The two days wages represent 2,000 years because II Peter 3:8 tells us that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The two silver coins was payment of a ransom (Exodus 30:11-16). Silver in the Bible represents redemption. Jesus ransomed us. He paid the price for us to be saved, healed, filled with the Holy Spirit, and provided for.

The Samaritan paid the innkeeper enough to care for the man and promised to give him more if it cost more to care for him. Jesus paid for everything we need now or will ever need. Remember the two coins represent two days wages, or two thousand years, so the coins actually symbolize a period of time. The Samaritan said that if more was needed, He would pay for it, meaning that if it could take more than 2,000 years before Jesus returns.

After telling about the man and the good Samaritan, He instructed us to go and do likewise. Until Jesus returns, we are to care for those who are lost, injured, and left for dead along the side of the road of life. We are to bring them to the Lord and to the Father’s house so they can receive healing and help. Jesus cared for us and gave Himself for us. We are to go and do the same.

The rich, hidden meaning of this passage shows us that Jesus paid for our redemption and healing, has left us in the care of the Holy Spirit for 2,000 years or a bit longer, and will return for us very soon! And, like Jesus, we are to minister to broken people so they too can receive His redemption and healing. The story of the Good Samaritan continues through us.