What is the central moral lesson of Jesus' Good Samaritan parable?

• A. Pray daily
• B. Do good to your neighbors and show mercy
• C. Follow rituals
• D. Keep the law

Answer: (B)

The main idea being tested is that true neighbor-love is shown through mercy in action. In the Good Samaritan, Jesus tells a story where someone is left injured and in need. A priest and a Levite pass by, but a Samaritan stops, cares for the wounds, takes the person to safety, and pays for continued care. This shows that loving your neighbor isn’t about appearances, social status, or merely saying prayers or keeping rules; it’s about actively helping someone in need, even when it’s inconvenient or goes against expectations.

That’s why choosing the idea of doing good to your neighbors and showing mercy fits best. It highlights the call to live out compassion through concrete actions. Praying daily or following rituals are important practices, but the parable emphasizes that mercy and helpful deeds toward others matter most in demonstrating love. Keeping the law focuses on rules, which the story also critiques when rules aren’t accompanied by mercy; the emphasis remains on how we treat people in real-life situations.