The Good Samaritan and the Keeper of the Inn

In the days when the roads were perilous and the journey long, there walked a man from Jerusalem to Jericho who fell among thieves and was left wounded and forsaken. Many passed him by—the priest and the Levite—yet it was the Samaritan, a stranger to the beaten path, who showed mercy and compassion (Luke 10:30-37).

With gentle hands, he bound the man’s wounds, pouring oil and wine as healing balm, and lifting him upon his own beast. But the journey was not yet ended, for the road was harsh and the Samaritan’s time short. Thus, he brought the afflicted man to an inn, a resting place where weary travelers found shelter and care.

To the keeper of the inn he gave silver coins, saying, “Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay thee.” So the wounded man was laid in safety, tended by the hands of one who bore the responsibility of hospitality.

The keeper of the inn, though unnamed in the sacred text, played a vital part in this tale of mercy. His house was a haven—walls that sheltered, fires that warmed, and beds that comforted. He was the earthly steward appointed to care for the stranger, the sick, and the weary, fulfilling the law that bids us love our neighbor as ourselves.

In ancient times, such inns were more than resting places; they were sanctuaries of kindness amid a harsh world. The keeper’s charge was sacred—he welcomed the wayfarer, offered bread and water, and guarded those in need, reflecting the heart of the Almighty who cares for all His children.

Thus, the parable speaks not only of the Samaritan’s compassion but also of the keeper’s faithful service. Together, they reveal the divine law of love in action—mercy given, refuge offered, burdens shared.

May we, like the Good Samaritan and the keeper of the inn, open our hands and hearts to those who journey through life’s trials. For in doing so, we honor the eternal commandment: “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).