Explore the Bible Online

Luke 10:25-37

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

25. And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26. He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27. And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? 30. And Jesus answering said, A certain [man] went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded [him], and departed, leaving [him] half dead. 31. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked [on him], and passed by on the other side. 33. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion [on him], 34. And went to [him], and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave [them] to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37. And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Luke 10:25-37 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Luke 10:25

Theological / Devotional

A certain lawyer. [The Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-37. On parables see pp. 203-207.] Jesus was on His last journey from Galilee to Jerusalem (see on Matt. 19:1). The narrative implies that the event took place in Jericho. The incident involving the Samaritan and the victim of robbery had but recently occurred (see DA 499).

Immediately following the encounter with the lawyer and the narration of the story of the good Samaritan, Jesus was at Bethany, having just made the journey up from Jericho (see DA 525). It is possible that He was on His way to attend the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem (see on Matt. 19:1; cf. John 10:22-38), after which He returned to Peraea (see John 10:39, 40). Immediately following Christ’s retirement to Peraea (vs. 39, 40), John gives an account of the raising of Lazarus from the dead (ch. 11:1-46).

Tempted him. The question the lawyer asked Jesus had been carefully framed by the religious leaders (see DA 497).

Master. Literally, “Teacher.” A professional teacher of the law himself, the lawyer confronts Jesus with a problem concerning which the scribes themselves spent much time in discussion.

What shall I do? The lawyer’s question reveals the fact that his concept of righteousness was entirely wrong. To him, as to most Jews of the day, gaining salvation was essentially a matter of doing those things that were prescribed by the scribes. Thus he considered that one could earn salvation by works. In the Greek, emphasis is placed on the word “do.”

Eternal. Gr. aionios (see on Matt. 13:39).

By SdaBc