That word ‘neighbour’, therefore, on which the parable is centred is uncomfortably comprehensive in its scope; and when the need arises, the duty to love one’s neighbour must override all personal inconvenience. It is a duty that is strictly non-transferable.

For Christ will have none of the excuse, “So and so can help” with the implication, “and that lets me out” – because that is the attitude of the priest and Levite who passed by on the other side, and so ever after became bywords for inhumanity.