Albert Barnes Commentary Luke 10:36

"Which of these three, thinkest thou, proved neighbor unto him that fell among the robbers?" — Luke 10:36 (ASV)

Was neighbour. This means he showed the kindness of a neighbor, or demonstrated the proper feelings of a neighbor. The lawyer had asked him who his neighbor was. Jesus, in this beautiful narrative, showed him who and what a neighbor was. He did this in a way that disarmed the lawyer's prejudice, deeply affected him regarding his own duty, and displayed the beauty of religion.

If Jesus had told him at first that a Samaritan might be a neighbor to a Jew and deserve his kindness, the lawyer would have been immediately revolted by it. But when, through a beautiful and affecting narrative, he brought the man himself to see that it might be, he was compelled to admit it.

Here we see the beauty of a parable and its use. It disarmed prejudice, fixed the attention, captivated the mind gently yet irresistibly, and prevented the possibility of quibbling or objection. Compare this also to the address of Nathan to David in 2 Samuel 12:1–7.