The Good Samaritan by Rembrandt (1630) shows the Good Samaritan making arrangements with the innkeeper. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
What person, you mean Jesus told lots of stories? I like to tell stories. Does that make me like Jesus?
He told what? Para what? Parables? What would Jesus want two bulls for? At least he’s telling stories about animals.
A parable is a what? A story that teaches something? What would it teach?
Okay, I’ll listen.
My person says one of Jesus’ most famous parables is about the Good Samaritan. Jesus told this story because he was discussing the most important commandments and the second most important is to love your neighbor as yourself.
Hey person, I love my neighbor. I love everyone who gives me loves.
I’m listening, person.
Someone asked Jesus who his neighbor was, so Jesus told this story. But my person says he told stories about things that the people of his day could relate to that we might not know about today. She promised she would explain them to me. You better, person.
My person says a man was traveling when robbers attacked and beat him and left him on the side of the road half dead.
A priest came by and saw the man and passed by on the other side of the road.
Then a Levite came by, saw the man and passed by on the other side as well.
Hey person, what’s a Levite?
It is? My person said that Levites were people that worked for God in the temple. I thought people like that would want to stop and help.
Okay, I’m listening – but I don’t get that priest and that Levite, leaving that poor man there. What’s going to happen to him?
He did? A Samaritan came by? What’s a Samaritan?
The Jewish people that Jesus was telling the story to hated Samaritans? They wouldn’t have anything to do with them? Oh no, that poor man is really in trouble. If the priest and Levite won’t stop I bet that Samaritan is going to go running by?
He did? That Samaritan stopped to help? And he even took the poor man to an inn and paid for him to stay there until he was better?
So I guess that Samaritan was the best neighbor, wasn’t he?
But person, if Jesus told a story that people of his time would understand, maybe we should change the story so people today will understand it better.
Okay, here goes.
A dog was walking along a trail and coyotes came and attacked it and left it half dead.
A guide dog came by, sniffed at the dog and walked on.
Then a service dog came by and did the same thing.
But a pit bull came by, licked the dog’s wounds, and found the dog’s collar that had ended up in the bushes. The pit bull got his person to take the dog to the vet, and gave the collar to the vet so they could contact the hurt dog’s person.
Do you think that story will make more sense? I even put a pit bull in with the pair a bulls.
bongodogblog 
marina kanavaki
June 10, 2012 at 10:53 am
I know of another Good Samaritan, the Bongo Samaritan! By the way I really enjoyed your version where your Samaritan is a pit bull! Poor pits have been falsly [in my opinion] accused for being “mean” dogs! Great story teller you are Bongo!
Bongo
June 10, 2012 at 3:49 pm
Thanks Marina. I’m starting to blush now.
misswhiplash
June 10, 2012 at 10:54 am
You are one awesome dog Bongo…you and your person have such an interesting way of discussing things..thank you both and let us all pray that God will help us all to be Good Samaritans
Bongo
June 10, 2012 at 3:51 pm
Patreciau, it would be good if God helped all of us stop and help people and dogs in need.
misswhiplash
June 11, 2012 at 5:46 am
Oh how I agree with that 100%..this morning in the supermarket carpark there was a light coloured dog laying not only in the full sun but also in the exit. So I managed after a while to get her to move to a shady bit by my car ..then I bought some doggie treats for her
Bongo
June 11, 2012 at 12:00 pm
Patreciau, you are awesome. I hope you find me if I ever need help. Mmmm – doggie treats.
rumpydog
June 10, 2012 at 2:10 pm
I like how you updated that pair a bull. I can dig it with the pit bull.
Bongo
June 10, 2012 at 3:52 pm
Rumpy, people think of pit bulls kind of like the Jews thought of Samaritans so I thought it was very fitting.
Bassas Blog
June 10, 2012 at 11:56 pm
The hardest thing Bongo is to love people who don’t give you loves.
Bongo
June 11, 2012 at 11:55 am
Bassa, there are people who don’t give you loves?
angelswhisper2011
June 11, 2012 at 12:10 am
O, Bongo, you sweet adorable dog. You made a fantastic comparison of the good Samatrian 🙂
Bongo
June 11, 2012 at 11:56 am
Thanks Angels Whisper.
eripanwkevin
June 11, 2012 at 6:49 am
Great story, Bongo! Although it was the first time to hear the name ” Good Samaritan” to me, We understood what Jesus wanted to tell because your person kindly gave us another example! Thanks Bongo and your person! 🙂
Bongo
June 11, 2012 at 12:02 pm
Kevin, it makes a lot more sense when dogs are in the story, doesn’t it?
snoopys@snoopysdogblog
June 11, 2012 at 7:14 am
Hey Bongo,
That is a clever version of the good samaritan story buddy!! 🙂
Wags to all,
Your pal Snoopy 🙂
Bongo
June 11, 2012 at 12:03 pm
I’m glad you enjoyed it Snoopy. I like stories a lot better when there are dogs in them.
philosophermouseofthehedge
June 11, 2012 at 2:07 pm
Bongo you grabbed that tale and shed the extra fluff leaving some solid thought to chew on! Great job.
Bongo
June 11, 2012 at 9:09 pm
Thanks Karen. I guess us dogs get right to the point.
colliesofthemeadow
June 11, 2012 at 2:44 pm
Bongo!!! You retold this story wonderfully! THat Pit Bull turned out to be the one who lived most like what God wants us to live like. You Bongo, you are that Samaritan in your heart and soul and so is your person. We know you both would stop and help and that in a nutshell is what being a believer is all about. Great job, grat story and…
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR HUMAN!
with a big thumbs up,
the impressed collies and chuck 🙂
Bongo
June 11, 2012 at 9:12 pm
Thanks so much Collies and Chuck. We think all of you are the Samaritans (or pit bulls) too. God Bless You.