This parable was probably suggested by the journey up to Jerusalem. It may be founded on an actual occurrence. Notice how the Master answered the inquiry, Who is my neighbor? He said in effect: The question is not, Who will "neighbor" you? but, Whom will you "neighbor?" You ought to ask, Who wants my help? Neighborhood consists, not in what you receive, but in what you give. It is independent of race, creed and the ordinary sentiment of pity. Love overleaps all these distinctions and risks its very life in order to render help. In fact, this parable is a very poem of Love. It is to be compared with 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.
Notice those two clauses, He took care of him and Take care of him, Luke 10:34-35. It is thus that our Lord deals with us. When we are too far gone to ask for His help, He comes to our side and restores our ebbing life; and He raises up others to do the same. At the best, we are pilgrims and refresh ourselves in inns, but the home awaits us yonder! Begin by loving with your "strength" and you will end with the "heart!" [source]
Chapter Summary: Luke 10
1Jesus sends out at once seventy disciples to work miracles, and to preach; 13pronounces a woe against certain cities 17The seventy return with joy; 18he shows them wherein to rejoice, 21and thanks his Father for his grace; 23magnifies the happy estate of his church; 25teaches the lawyer how to attain eternal life, 30and tells the parable of the good Samaritan; 38reprimands Martha, and commends Mary her sister
Greek Commentary for Luke 10:28
Thou hast answered right [ορτως απεκριτης] First aorist passive indicative second singular with the adverb ορτως orthōs The answer was correct so far as the words went. In Mark 12:34 Jesus commends the scribe for agreeing to his interpretation of the first and the second commandments. That scribe was “not far from the kingdom of God,” but this lawyer was “tempting” Jesus. [source]
Do this and thou shalt live [τουτο ποιει και ζησηι] Present imperative (keep on doing this forever) and the future indicative middle as a natural result. There was only one trouble with the lawyer‘s answer. No one ever did or ever can “do” what the law lays down towards God and man always. To slip once is to fail. So Jesus put the problem squarely up to the lawyer who wanted to know by doing what. Of course, if he kept the law perfectly always, he would inherit eternal life. [source]
by doing what [] . Of course, if he kept the law perfectly always, he would inherit eternal life. [source]
perfectly always [] , he would inherit eternal life. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 10:28
James 2:8If ye fulfil [ει τελειτε] Condition of first class, assumed as true with ει ei and present active indicative of τελεω teleō old verb, to bring to completion, occurring in Romans 2:27 also with νομος nomos (law). Jesus used πληροω plēroō in Matthew 4:17. James has τηρεω tēreō in James 2:10.The royal law (νομον βασιλικον nomon basilikon). Old adjective for royal, regal (from βασιλευς basileus king), as of an officer (John 4:46). But why applied to νομος nomos The Romans had a phrase, lex regia, which came from the king when they had kings. The absence of the article is common with νομος nomos (James 4:11). It can mean a law fit to guide a king, or such as a king would choose, or even the king of laws. Jesus had said that on the law of love hang all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22:40), and he had given the Golden Rule as the substance of the Law and the prophets (Matthew 7:12). This is probably the royal law which is violated by partiality (James 2:3). It is in accord with the Scripture quoted here (Leviticus 19:18) and ratified by Jesus (Luke 10:28). [source]
James 2:8The royal law [νομον βασιλικον] Old adjective for royal, regal (from βασιλευς basileus king), as of an officer (John 4:46). But why applied to νομος nomos The Romans had a phrase, lex regia, which came from the king when they had kings. The absence of the article is common with νομος nomos (James 4:11). It can mean a law fit to guide a king, or such as a king would choose, or even the king of laws. Jesus had said that on the law of love hang all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22:40), and he had given the Golden Rule as the substance of the Law and the prophets (Matthew 7:12). This is probably the royal law which is violated by partiality (James 2:3). It is in accord with the Scripture quoted here (Leviticus 19:18) and ratified by Jesus (Luke 10:28). [source]
What do the individual words in Luke 10:28 mean?
He saidthento himCorrectlyyou have answeredThisdoandyou will live
Greek Commentary for Luke 10:28
First aorist passive indicative second singular with the adverb ορτως orthōs The answer was correct so far as the words went. In Mark 12:34 Jesus commends the scribe for agreeing to his interpretation of the first and the second commandments. That scribe was “not far from the kingdom of God,” but this lawyer was “tempting” Jesus. [source]
Present imperative (keep on doing this forever) and the future indicative middle as a natural result. There was only one trouble with the lawyer‘s answer. No one ever did or ever can “do” what the law lays down towards God and man always. To slip once is to fail. So Jesus put the problem squarely up to the lawyer who wanted to know by doing what. Of course, if he kept the law perfectly always, he would inherit eternal life. [source]
. Of course, if he kept the law perfectly always, he would inherit eternal life. [source]
, he would inherit eternal life. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 10:28
Condition of first class, assumed as true with ει ei and present active indicative of τελεω teleō old verb, to bring to completion, occurring in Romans 2:27 also with νομος nomos (law). Jesus used πληροω plēroō in Matthew 4:17. James has τηρεω tēreō in James 2:10.The royal law (νομον βασιλικον nomon basilikon). Old adjective for royal, regal (from βασιλευς basileus king), as of an officer (John 4:46). But why applied to νομος nomos The Romans had a phrase, lex regia, which came from the king when they had kings. The absence of the article is common with νομος nomos (James 4:11). It can mean a law fit to guide a king, or such as a king would choose, or even the king of laws. Jesus had said that on the law of love hang all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22:40), and he had given the Golden Rule as the substance of the Law and the prophets (Matthew 7:12). This is probably the royal law which is violated by partiality (James 2:3). It is in accord with the Scripture quoted here (Leviticus 19:18) and ratified by Jesus (Luke 10:28). [source]
Old adjective for royal, regal (from βασιλευς basileus king), as of an officer (John 4:46). But why applied to νομος nomos The Romans had a phrase, lex regia, which came from the king when they had kings. The absence of the article is common with νομος nomos (James 4:11). It can mean a law fit to guide a king, or such as a king would choose, or even the king of laws. Jesus had said that on the law of love hang all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22:40), and he had given the Golden Rule as the substance of the Law and the prophets (Matthew 7:12). This is probably the royal law which is violated by partiality (James 2:3). It is in accord with the Scripture quoted here (Leviticus 19:18) and ratified by Jesus (Luke 10:28). [source]