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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 10:26 mean?

Explanation

Luke 10:26 captures a conversation between Jesus and an expert in Jewish law, typically identified as a lawyer.

In this verse, Jesus responds to a question posed by the lawyer, who has asked Him to explain how to inherit eternal life.

Instead of directly providing the answer, Jesus turns the question back on the lawyer, asking him to interpret the Scriptures according to his understanding.

By doing so, Jesus not only emphasizes the importance of personal engagement with the law of God but also encourages the lawyer to articulate his comprehension of the Scriptures.

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Historical Context

Luke 10:26 takes place within the Gospel of Luke during the period of Jesus' itinerant ministry.

This Gospel was written for a Gentile-Christian audience and is dated to around 80-110 AD.

Its author, traditionally believed to be Luke the physician, wrote it as the first part of a two-volume work, which includes the Acts of the Apostles.

At the time when Jesus spoke these words, Jewish religious life centered around the Torah, and religious leaders like the lawyer mentioned in the verse were professionals in interpreting and applying the law.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints are able to draw various insights from this verse.

From a Christian perspective, this interaction illuminates Jesus' recognition of the authority of Scripture and invites individuals to engage with it personally.

The question also highlights the concept that knowledge of Scripture alone is not sufficient for salvation; rather, application and obedience to God's commands are necessary.

Some scholars suggest that Jesus' response demonstrates His teaching method of allowing individuals to arrive at understanding through personal reflection and dialogue.

Practical Applications

The practical application of Luke 10:26 encourages believers to actively engage with religious texts, to seek understanding, and to reflect on their meanings in life.

This verse can serve as a reminder that close examination and personal interpretation of sacred writings are vital for spiritual growth and moral direction.

Additionally, it promotes the idea that discussions about spiritual matters, when approached respectfully and thoughtfully, can lead to deeper insights.

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 6:5 - "And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."
Leviticus 19:18 - "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD."
Matthew 22:37-40 - Jesus said unto him, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

This is the first and great commandment.

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

Language Study

The key phrase in this verse is "What is written in the law?" where the word "law" translates to the Greek "nomos," which could mean both the Hebrew Torah and the wider body of Jewish legal teaching.

"How readest thou?" includes the Greek word "anaginosko," which means "to recognize or understand what one reads." By analyzing these words, we understand that Jesus is asking about the lawyer's personal interpretation, not just his reading of the text.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Luke 10:26 can be compared to the tradition of religious scholars and interpreters across various cultures and religions who grapple with sacred texts.

For instance, in Judaism, there is a long tradition of rabbinic commentary and debate over the Torah's meaning, called Midrash.

In Islamic tradition, scholars engage in Tafsir which is the exegesis or commentary of the Quran.

Although the practices and texts are different, these traditions reflect a similar reverence for and engagement with holy scriptures.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, this verse does not directly touch on any scientific concepts.

However, the process of reflective thinking and questioning, as demonstrated by Jesus' response, is consistent with scientific inquiry's emphasis on critical thinking and engaging with information through questioning and discourse.

Commentaries

In the opinion of many biblical scholars, Luke 10:26 reveals Jesus' Socratic method in teaching, where He prompts the lawyer to think critically about the Scriptures.

Commentators might point out that such dialogical encounters are typical of Jesus' approach to teaching, often pushing individuals to derive their own understanding rather than providing them with explicit answers.

It is also often noted that this encounter sets the stage for the Parable of the Good Samaritan, which directly follows this exchange and illustrates the essence of the law's demand for love and compassion.

Luke 10

Luke 10

What does Luke 10:26 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 10:26 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?