The Scribe in this passage was interested, as we all are, in obtaining eternal life.  The man wants to portray himself as being righteous and able to keep the Law in loving God with all his heart and loving his neighbor.  The Lord then illustrates to the man that he is not what he thinks he is by weaving a pointed story about a Samaritan that shows love for a Jewish traveler that was mugged.  The devout priest and Levite fail to show love for their neighbor by ignoring the poor battered man, but the hated Samaritan shows himself as the loving neighbor by caring for him.  The point is that none of us can love God or our neighbor as we ought and that Jesus taught this man his need for eternal life would fail except in the Lord Jesus Himself. 

Primary Scripture: Luke 10:29-37