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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 10:27 mean?

Explanation

Luke 10:27 is a verse that captures the essence of Jesus' teachings on the greatest commandments.

In it, a lawyer or teacher of the law is seeking to test Jesus, asking him what he must do to inherit eternal life.

Jesus turns the question back to the lawyer, who then quotes from the Jewish Torah, combining Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18.

The command to love God involves a comprehensive devotion, heart, soul, strength, and mind, indicating that love for God is to pervade every aspect of our being: emotion, will, effort, and intellect.

Following this, the command to love one's neighbor as oneself demands a selfless concern for others, reflecting God's love in human relationships.

This verse emphasizes that genuine faith is not merely about adherence to religious laws or practices but about a deep, transformative love that shapes both our relationship with God and with other people.

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Historical Context

The context of Luke 10:27 is set in the broader narrative of the Gospel of Luke, a book in the New Testament that describes the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This encounter occurs during Jesus' travels and public ministry, a period where he often engaged with religious leaders of the Jewish community.

The verse reflects a first-century Jewish religious setting, where the Pharisees, scribes, and other teachers of the law had rigorous debates about the interpretation and application of the Torah.

The commandments to love God and love one's neighbor were central to Jewish ethical teaching, and by affirming these, Jesus aligns himself with mainstream Jewish thought, yet places an unparalleled emphasis on love as the fulfillment of all the law.

Theological Insights

Theologically, different traditions have emphasized various aspects of this verse.

In Christian theology, this command is often seen as a summary of the Ten Commandments, with the first part about loving God summarizing the first four commandments and the second part about loving one's neighbor summarizing the last six.

Some theologians argue that the love of God and neighbor are inseparable, in that one cannot truly love God without loving one's neighbor.

Moreover, there is an implication that the love for one's neighbor should be of the same quality and intensity as the love one has for oneself.

This dual commandment is also seen as an echo of the Shema, a traditional Jewish prayer from Deuteronomy 6:4-5, which emphasizes the unity and uniqueness of God and the need for wholehearted devotion to Him.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse provides a foundational ethic for Christians, one that informs how they should engage with both the divine and the human.

It implies that relationships should be governed by selfless love and care rather than self-interest.

It can guide decisions and behavior, encouraging individuals to act with compassion, kindness, and justice in every sphere of life.

Practically, it calls for an inclusive love that extends beyond one's immediate community to all peoples, transcending boundaries of ethnicity, nationality, and creed.

It suggests that love is an active force that should be demonstrated through service, generosity, and grace.

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 22:37-39: "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."

Mark 12:30-31: "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

There is none other commandment greater than these."

Language Study

In the original Greek language, the verse uses several key words:

"Heart" (kardia) often signifies the center of physical and spiritual life, encompassing thoughts, passions, desires, and appetites.
"Soul" (psyche) can mean the vital breath or life essence but also represents the individual self, subjective identity, and life in its totality.
"Strength" (ischys) implies power, might, or force, referring to one's physical capability or resources.
"Mind" (dianoia) points to one's intellect, understanding, or capacity for reflective thinking.

By using these different terms, the original text illustrates a love for God that is all-encompassing and engages the believer in every facet of their existence.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The command to love God and love one's neighbor was not unique to Judaism or Christianity.

Similar ethical imperatives can be found in various ancient cultures.

For example, the concept of "reciprocity" is echoed in the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", which is present in some form in many world religions and philosophies.

However, the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures link these commands explicitly and make them central not only to ethics but also to worship, emphasizing a relationship with God as the basis for moral action.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the practice of love and compassion as dictated in this verse has been observed to have positive psychological and physiological effects.

Studies in psychology suggest that altruistic behavior can lead to increased emotional well-being.

In neuroscience, acts of kindness and love are associated with the release of neurotransmitters like oxytocin, which can foster bonding and trust.

While science cannot measure love for God in empirical terms, the expression of love through compassionate actions can be seen to contribute to individual and societal well-being.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have provided various interpretations of Luke 10:27. For instance, the New Testament scholar N. T. Wright emphasizes that this verse shows how love for God and neighbor is central to Jesus' message and mission.

In contrast, reformed theologian John Calvin focused on the impossibility of humans to fully keep this commandment, pointing to the need for divine grace.

Commentators often point out that Jesus' response to the lawyer in this passage is both an affirmation of the lawyer's knowledge of the law and a challenge to live it out.

They suggest that the twin commands to love are comprehensive and radical, calling believers to a counter-cultural lifestyle that values love above legalism or ritual observance.

Luke 10

Luke 10

What does Luke 10:27 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 10:27 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?