Jesus knew the influence of benevolence upon the heart and life of the benefactor, and He sought to impress upon the minds of His disciples the benefits to be derived from the exercise of this virtue. He says: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” He illustrates the spirit of cheerful benevolence, which should be exercised toward friends, neighbors, and strangers, by the parable of the man who journeyed from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, “which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.” Notwithstanding the exalted profession of piety made by the priest and the Levite, their hearts were not stirred with pitying tenderness for the sufferer. A Samaritan who made no such lofty pretensions to righteousness passed that way, and when he saw the stranger’s need he did not regard him with mere idle curiosity, but he saw a human being in distress, and his compassion was excited. He immediately “went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.” And on the morrow he left him in charge of the host, with the assurance that he would pay all charges on his return. Christ asks: “Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.” {4T 56.3}

Jesus kendte godgørenhedens indflydelse på hjerte og på velgørens liv og han forsøgte at gøre det klart for sine disciple, fordelen at (57) udøve denne dyd. Han siger: "Det er en større velsignelse end at modtage" Han illustrerer den venlige godgørenhed, som burde udøves mod venner, naboer og fremmede, ved lignelsen om manden, der gik ned fra Jerusalem til Jeriko og han faldt i hænderne på røvere. De tog hans klæder fra ham og slog ham fordærvet; så gik de bort og lod ham ligge halvdød. Desuagtet den høje fromhedsbekendelse præsten og levitten havde gjort, blev deres hjerter ikke rørte af medfølende ynk for den lidende. En samaritaner som ikke havde gjort så meget krav på retfærdighed gik forbi og da han så den fremmedes behov, betragtede han ham ikke blot med tilfældig nysgerrighed, men så et menneske i nød og hans medfølelse kom i bevægelse. Han gik hen til ham, forbandt hans sår og hældte olie og vin på dem, løftede ham op på sit eget ridedyr og førte ham til et herberg og sørgede for ham. Og den næste dag forlod han ham og gav ham i værtens varetægt, men forsikring om at han ville betale alle omkostninger, når han kom tilbage. Kristus spørger: »Hvem af de tre synes du nu har vist sig at være den mands næste, der faldt iblandt røvere?« Han svarede: »Den, som øvede barmhjertighed imod ham.« Da sagde Jesus til ham: »Gå du hen og gør ligeså!"