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Luke 10

After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.

And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.

And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.

And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.

And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:

And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,

Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.

Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.

And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.

He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.

And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:

For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

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.

And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

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.

And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

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.

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.

Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

What does Luke 10:25 mean?

Explanation

Luke 10:25 presents a dialogue between Jesus and a lawyer who is testing Jesus' understanding of Jewish law as it pertains to eternal life.

The lawyer asks Jesus, "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" This question addresses a fundamental concern of Judaism and Christianity: the criteria for salvation or eternal life.

On a literal level, the verse shows the lawyer addressing Jesus with a degree of respect ("Master"), but also indicates a more skeptical, possibly confrontational intent as he was "tempting" Jesus.

On a deeper level, this interaction serves as a prelude to the Parable of the Good Samaritan, which Jesus utilises to teach about the love and compassion that should be shown to all people, irrespective of societal boundaries.

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Historical Context

The conversation in Luke 10:25 occurs within the broader context of Jesus' ministry in Judea around the first century.

The lawyer mentioned is likely an expert in the Mosaic Law, which makes his question not just a matter of personal enlightenment but also a test of Jesus' orthodoxy and understanding of the Jewish law.

This period was marked by various Jewish sects, each with their understanding of the law and expectations of the Messiah.

The tension between Jesus and the religious leaders often arose from such testing and debates over interpretations of the scriptures.

Theological Insights

The verse engenders several theological insights across different traditions:

Evangelical View: The belief that salvation is not achieved through works but through faith in Jesus Christ.

The lawyer's question could be viewed as works-based, but Jesus' subsequent teachings point to faith and love as the path to eternal life.

Catholic View: While also acknowledging the primacy of faith, the Catholic tradition emphasizes that faith must be active through love and good works, which is presented as the message in Jesus' subsequent parable.
Jewish View: From a contemporary Jewish perspective, this could be seen as a discussion about the interpretation of the Torah and the actions necessary to live a righteous life, aligning oneself with God's will.
Interfaith Dialogue: This teaching can be used to foster understanding among different faiths about the common values of love, compassion, and kindness toward one's neighbor as requisite for a moral life.

Practical Applications

In everyday life, Luke 10:25 challenges individuals to consider what their beliefs suggest about obtaining eternal life or leading a morally sound life.

It suggests introspection on whether one's actions align with their faith's teachings about compassion and love, going beyond mere religious observance to substantive acts of kindness and understanding amongst one's community and beyond.

Cross-References

Matthew 22:35-40: "Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law?"
Luke 18:18: "And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
Romans 2:13: "(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified."

Language Study

"Lawyer" (Greek: νομικός, nomikos): This refers to an expert in the Mosaic Law, not a lawyer in the modern sense.
"Tempted" (Greek: ἐκπειράζω, ekpeirazo): This can mean to test, try, or entice to do wrong.

In this context, it implies a testing of Jesus' knowledge or authenticity.

"Inherit" (Greek: κληρονομέω, kleronomeo): This term is often used to describe receiving a possession or coming into a promised possession, typically used for what one receives from their ancestors.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing Luke 10:25 with other ancient myths and religious interpretations, one sees a common thread of tests or trials posed by figures of authority or deities.

For instance, in Greek mythology, heroes often face challenges posed by the gods to prove their worthiness.

Similarly, in the Hindu tradition, texts like the 'Bhagavad Gita' also engage in dialogues about duty, righteousness, and the path to spiritual liberation, much like the dialogue between Jesus and the lawyer.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific understandings of human behavior and psychology do not typically address the concept of eternal life as it is a metaphysical or spiritual matter.

However, the ethics implied by discussions of eternal life, such as the moral imperative to care for others, align with psychological studies that highlight the benefits of altruism and empathy for both individuals and societies.

Commentaries

There is a diversity of commentary on Luke 10:25.

Traditional commentators like Matthew Henry highlight the encounter as an illustration of the inability of the law to provide eternal life without grace.

Contemporary Biblical scholars like N.T.

Wright focus on the social and political implications of Jesus' teaching, noting how Jesus deconstructs the cultural barriers present in his society.

Other commentaries offer practical reflections, suggesting that the heart of the teaching is about embodying love as a daily practice.

Luke 10

Luke 10

What does Luke 10:25 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 10:25 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?