
This Good Samaritan word search brings to life one of the most beloved parables ever told. Found exclusively in the Gospel of Luke (10:25–37), the story was taught by Jesus in response to a lawyer who asked how to inherit eternal life and who his neighbor truly was.
The parable takes place on the treacherous road between Jerusalem and Jericho, a steep, winding desert route so notorious for violent robberies that it was nicknamed “The Way of Blood.” A Jewish traveler is attacked by robbers, beaten, stripped, and left half dead. A priest and a Levite, both respected religious figures, pass by without helping. It is a Samaritan, a member of a group historically despised by Jews, who stops, bandages the wounded man’s injuries with oil and wine, carries him on his donkey to a nearby inn, and pays for his care.
Jesus told this parable to challenge prejudice and redefine the meaning of neighborly love. The hero is the least expected character, powerfully illustrating that true compassion crosses every cultural, ethnic, and religious boundary without hesitation.
This Good Samaritan word search printable is designed to be both fun and educational. Alongside the puzzle, you will find definitions for all 24 keywords, five key FAQs, and an engaging Did You Know? section, including a fascinating fact about how two silver coins represented two full days of lodging in first-century Palestine.
This word search printable makes an ideal resource for Sunday school classes, Bible study groups, homeschooling families, and anyone eager to explore this timeless and inspiring story more deeply.
ALMS, BANDAGED, BEATEN, CHARITY, COINS, COMPASSION, DANGEROUS, DONKEY, GOODWILL, GRATEFUL, HEALED, INNKEEPER, JERUSALEM, JERICHO, KINDNESS, LEVITE, LOVE, MERCY, NEIGHBOR, OIL, PARABLE, PRIEST, ROBBERS, SAMARITAN
ALMS – Voluntary giving of money, food, or goods to help those in poverty. In the parable, the Samaritan’s generous act reflects the spirit of almsgiving by caring for a stranger in need.
BANDAGED – The Samaritan carefully wrapped and covered the wounded man’s injuries to stop bleeding and prevent infection, showing practical, hands-on compassion rather than simply feeling sympathy and walking away.
BEATEN – The traveler was violently attacked by robbers who struck him repeatedly, leaving him seriously injured, bleeding, and helpless on the road between Jerusalem and Jericho, unable to save himself.
CHARITY – A selfless, unconditional love and generosity toward others in need. The Samaritan demonstrated true charity by spending his own time and money on a stranger without expecting anything in return.
COINS – The Samaritan gave two silver coins to the innkeeper to pay for the wounded man’s care and lodging, promising to cover any additional expenses upon his return, showing extraordinary financial generosity.
COMPASSION – A deep feeling of sympathy and concern that moves a person to act. Unlike the priest and Levite, the Samaritan felt genuine compassion when he saw the injured man and immediately helped.
DANGEROUS – The road between Jerusalem and Jericho was notorious for being unsafe, winding through rocky desert terrain where bandits frequently attacked and robbed travelers, making it one of the most feared routes.
DONKEY – The Samaritan used his own donkey to carry the wounded man to the nearest inn, ensuring the injured traveler would not have to walk while weak and in pain from his wounds.
GOODWILL – A friendly and helpful attitude toward others. The Samaritan’s actions embody goodwill in its purest form, as he extended kindness to someone from a different background without hesitation or prejudice.
GRATEFUL – The rescued man would certainly have felt deeply thankful toward the Samaritan who saved his life. Gratitude is a natural response to receiving unexpected mercy and generous care from a compassionate stranger.
HEALED – The wounded traveler recovered from his injuries thanks to the Samaritan’s treatment with oil and wine, proper bandaging, rest at the inn, and the financial provision made for his ongoing medical care.
INNKEEPER – The person who managed the roadside lodging where the Samaritan brought the injured man. The Samaritan entrusted the innkeeper with the wounded traveler’s care, paying him and promising to return and settle any extra costs.
JERUSALEM – The holy city and starting point of the traveler’s journey. Jerusalem was a major religious and cultural center, making it significant that both a priest and a Levite began their journey there before abandoning the wounded man.
JERICHO – An ancient city located in the Jordan Valley, and the destination of the traveler in the parable. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho descended steeply through wilderness, making it a dangerous and isolated route for travelers.
KINDNESS – The quality of being warm, caring, and considerate toward others. The Samaritan’s kindness was extraordinary because it crossed cultural and ethnic boundaries, showing that true kindness has no limits or conditions attached.
LEVITE – A member of the Israelite tribe of Levi, who assisted priests in temple worship. In the parable, the Levite saw the wounded man but chose to pass by on the other side, ignoring his desperate need.
LOVE – The central message of the parable. Jesus used the story to illustrate that love for one’s neighbor means actively helping anyone in need, regardless of their nationality, religion, or social background.
MERCY – Compassionate treatment shown toward someone in distress. Jesus concluded the parable by asking who showed mercy, and the answer pointed clearly to the Samaritan, who responded with kindness rather than indifference or fear.
NEIGHBOR – A key concept in the parable. Jesus redefined “neighbor” not as someone who lives nearby or shares your background, but as anyone who shows mercy and practical love to another person in need.
OIL – Olive oil was used by the Samaritan as a soothing, healing agent on the wounded man’s injuries. In biblical times, oil was a common remedy for wounds, valued for its ability to soften and protect damaged skin.
PARABLE – A short, simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual truth. Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan in response to a question about eternal life, teaching his audience about love and true neighborliness.
PRIEST – A religious leader who performed sacred duties in the Jerusalem Temple. Ironically, the priest in the parable failed to help the wounded man, possibly fearing ritual impurity, and chose to walk past on the other side.
ROBBERS – A group of violent thieves who attacked the traveler on the Jericho road, stripping him of his clothing and possessions, beating him severely, and leaving him half dead with no means of escape or survival.
SAMARITAN – A person from the region of Samaria, traditionally despised by the Jewish people. In the parable, a Samaritan becomes the unlikely hero, demonstrating that true compassion and love for others transcends ethnic and cultural divisions.
ALMS, BANDAGED, BEATEN, CHARITY, COINS, COMPASSION, DANGEROUS, DONKEY, GOODWILL, GRATEFUL, HEALED, INNKEEPER, JERUSALEM, JERICHO, KINDNESS, LEVITE, LOVE, MERCY, NEIGHBOR, OIL, PARABLE, PRIEST, ROBBERS, SAMARITAN
Jesus told this parable in response to a lawyer who asked how to inherit eternal life and then questioned who his neighbor truly was.
They likely feared ritual impurity from contact with a possibly dead body, or simply prioritized personal safety and convenience over their religious duty to help others.
Jews and Samaritans were historical enemies. Jesus deliberately chose a Samaritan as the hero to challenge prejudice and show that genuine compassion transcends ethnic and religious boundaries.
True neighborly love means actively helping anyone in need, regardless of their background. Compassion must go beyond feelings and translate into concrete, selfless action toward others.
The parable appears exclusively in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 10, verses 25 to 37, and remains one of Jesus’s most recognized and universally appreciated teachings.
Read Luke 10:25–37.
This steep, winding desert route through rocky wilderness was so dangerous that it was commonly nicknamed “The Way of Blood” by travelers of that era.
Their conflict originated after the Assyrian conquest of Israel, making the Samaritan’s heroic role in the story deliberately shocking and provocative to Jesus’s Jewish audience.
This generous payment demonstrated serious financial commitment, as a single silver denarius represented an average worker’s complete daily wage in first-century Palestine.
Wine acted as a natural antiseptic to clean infections, while olive oil soothed and softened damaged tissue, together forming a widely trusted ancient healing remedy.
Luke, traditionally identified as a physician, may have been particularly drawn to recording this story because of its remarkable emphasis on physical healing and compassionate practical care.




