The Gospels, four books ascribed to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, are written in the New Testament to describe the life, death, and the resurrection of Jesus and record his teachings. These books are written at different times and slightly vary in their contents. The Gospel of Luke shows more interest in people who are on the bottom of the society, such as women and poor. John, on the other hand, is mainly concerned with whom Jesus is and it is also the most anti-Semitic gospel. The parable of the Good Samaritan is unique to the Gospel of Luke. The story talks about a man who is robbed and left on the road half dead. A priest and a Levite who are Jews pass him without helping him, while a Samaritan not only treats his wounds and carries him to a hotel, but also pays for his hotel fees. This parable not only shows the recurring theme of universal love in Luke's Gospel, but it is also anti-Semitic. Therefore, this parable fits in equally as well in John's Gospel because anti-Semitism in is a main theme Luke's Gospel is a main theme.
In order to understand the reason this parable of the Good Samaritan would fit into John's Gospel, we must first take a closer look at the parable and its meanings. In this parable, the priest and the Levite are the Jewish religious elite. The priest has the authority to perform religious rites and the Levite is chosen to assist the priest. Although the priest and the Levite are highly religious, they are also racist toward people who are not pure Jews, such as the Samaritans. The Samaritans are people who also believe in Judaism, the monotheistic religion of the Jews, but they are half breeds genetically. By comparing the priest and the Levite who are the religious elite to a Samaritan, Jesus demonstrates that one does not just preach about what he believes in or chooses who he wants to help but he should help anyone who is in need. The Samaritan, though not a pure Jew, has the compassion to help the stranger from whom he does not expect a payback and therefore this Samaritan is closer to God than the priest and the Levite.
