“What to make of it” is that this parable and other teachings of Jesus emphasize that we are to help those in need. We might even say that an eagerness to help those in need is a characteristic of the Kingdom of God. Prudent judgment is to be employed in determining, as far as possible, which means are genuinely helpful and beneficial.
“Prudent judgment is to be employed in determining,”
Exactly. Use prudent judgment, don’t be a judging prude.
I have a personal aversion to giving money/cash to panhandlers on the street. That is because I assume, rightly or wrongly, that s/he will take that cash to buy booze or drugs. What I do instead is to take the person to the nearest fast food place and buy them a meal. At worst, a halfway decent meal can’t hurt them, whereas the booze and drugs certainly can.