The parable of the good Samaritan was called forth by a question put to Christ by a doctor of the law. As the Saviour was teaching, "a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted Him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" The Pharisees had suggested this question to the lawyer in the hope that they might entrap Christ in His words, and they listened eagerly for His answer. But the Saviour entered into no controversy. He required the answer from the questioner himself. "What is written in the law?" He asked, "How readest thou?" The Jews still accused Jesus of lightly regarding the law given from Sinai, but He turned the question of salvation upon the keeping of God's commandments.

Lignelsen om den barmhjertige samaritaner blev fremsat som svar på et spørgsmål, en lovkyndig stillede Jesus. Medens Frelseren underviste, stod en lovkyndig op og stillede fælde for ham, idet han spurgte Mester! hvad skal jeg gøre, for at jeg kan arve evigt liv?" Farisæerne havde bedt den lovkyndige om at stille dette spørgsmål i håb om, at de kunne fange Jesus i ord, og de lyttede ivrigt til hans svar Men Frelseren ville ikke tage del i en ordstrid. Han ønskede, at den spørgende selv skulle give svaret. "Hvad står der skrevet i loven, hvordan læser du?" spurgte han. Jøderne anklagede stadig Jesus for at ringeagte loven, der var blevet givet på Sinaj, men han lod spørgsmålet om frelse afhænge af overholdelse af Guds bud.