Luke:10:25-37
rwp@Luke:10:25 @{And tempted him} (\ekpeirazn auton\). Present active participle, conative idea, trying to tempt him. There is no "and" in the Greek. He "stood up (\anest\, ingressive second aorist active) trying to tempt him." \Peiraz\ is a late form of \peira\ and \ekpeiraz\ apparently only in the LXX, and N.T. (quoted by Jesus from strkjv@Deuteronomy:6:16| in strkjv@Matthew:4:7; strkjv@Luke:4:12| against Satan). Here and strkjv@1Corinthians:10:9|. The spirit of this lawyer was evil. He wanted to entrap Jesus if possible. {What shall I do to inherit eternal life?} (\Ti poisas zn ainiou klronoms;\). Literally, "By doing what shall I inherit eternal life?" Note the emphasis on "doing" (\poisas\). The form of his question shows a wrong idea as to how to get it. {Eternal life} (\zn ainion\) is endless life as in John's Gospel (John:16:9; strkjv@18:18,30|) and in strkjv@Matthew:25:46|, which see.
rwp@Luke:10:26 @{How readest thou?} (\ps anaginskeis;\). As a lawyer it was his business to know the facts in the law and the proper interpretation of the law. See on ¯Luke:7:30| about \nomikos\ (lawyer). The rabbis had a formula, "What readest thou?"
rwp@Luke:10:27 @{And he answering} (\ho de apokritheis\). First aorist participle, no longer passive in idea. The lawyer's answer is first from the _Shema_ (Deuteronomy:6:3; strkjv@11:13|) which was written on the phylacteries. The second part is from strkjv@Leviticus:19:18| and shows that the lawyer knew the law. At a later time Jesus himself in the temple gives a like summary of the law to a lawyer (Mark:12:28-34; strkjv@Matthew:22:34-40|) who wanted to catch Jesus by his question. There is no difficulty in the two incidents. God is to be loved with all of man's four powers (heart, soul, strength, mind) here as in strkjv@Mark:12:30|.
rwp@Luke:10:28 @{Thou hast answered right} (\orths apekriths\). First aorist passive indicative second singular with the adverb \orths\. The answer was correct so far as the words went. In strkjv@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. {Do this and thou shalt live} (\touto poiei kai zsi\). 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. Songs: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.
rwp@Luke:10:29 @{Desiring to justify himself} (\theln dikaisai heauton\). The lawyer saw at once that he had convicted himself of asking a question that he already knew. In his embarrassment he asks another question to show that he did have some point at first: {And who is my neighbour?} (\kai tis estin mou plsion;\). The Jews split hairs over this question and excluded from "neighbour" Gentiles and especially Samaritans. Songs:here was his loop-hole. A neighbour is a nigh dweller to one, but the Jews made racial exceptions as many, alas, do today. The word \plsion\ here is an adverb (neuter of the adjective \plsios\) meaning \ho plsion n\ (the one who is near), but \n\ was usually not expressed and the adverb is here used as if a substantive.
rwp@Luke:10:30 @{Made answer} (\hupolabn\). Second aorist active participle of \hupolamban\ (see strkjv@7:43|), to take up literally, and then in thought and speech, old verb, but in this sense of interrupting in talk only in the N.T. {Was going down} (\katebainen\). Imperfect active describing the journey. {Fell among robbers} (\listais periepesen\). Second aorist ingressive active indicative of \peripipt\, old verb with associative instrumental case, to fall among and to be encompassed by (\peri\, around), to be surrounded by robbers. A common experience to this day on the road to Jericho. The Romans placed a fort on this "red and bloody way." These were bandits, not petty thieves. {Stripped} (\ekdusantes\). Of his clothing as well as of his money, the meanest sort of robbers. {Beat him} (\plgas epithentes\). Second aorist active participle of \epitithmi\, a common verb. Literally, "placing strokes or blows" (\plgas\, plagues) upon him. See strkjv@Luke:12:48; strkjv@Acts:16:23; strkjv@Revelation:15:1,6,8| for "plagues." {Half-dead} (\hmithan\). Late word from \hmi\, half, and \thnsk\, to die. Only here in the N.T. Vivid picture of the robbery.
rwp@Luke:10:31 @{By chance} (\kata sugkurian\). Here only in the N.T., meaning rather, "by way of coincidence." It is a rare word elsewhere and in late writers like Hippocrates. It is from the verb \sugkure\, though \sugkursis\ is more common. {Was going down} (\katebainen\). Imperfect active as in verse 30|. Passed by on the other side (\antiparlthen\). Second aorist active indicative of \antiparerchomai\, a late double compound here (verses 31,32|) only in the N.T., but in the papyri and late writers. It is the ingressive aorist (\lthen\), came alongside (\para\), and then he stepped over to the opposite side (\anti\) of the road to avoid ceremonial contamination with a stranger. A vivid and powerful picture of the vice of Jewish ceremonial cleanliness at the cost of moral principle and duty. The Levite in verse 32| behaved precisely as the priest had done and for the same reason.
rwp@Luke:10:33 @{A certain Samaritan} (\Samareits de tis\). Of all men in the world to do a neighbourly act! {As he journeyed} (\hodeun\). Making his way. {Came where he was} (\lthen kat' auton\). Literally, "came down upon him." He did not sidestep or dodge him, but had compassion on him.
rwp@Luke:10:34 @{Bound up his wounds} (\katedsen ta traumata\). First aorist active indicative of \katade\, old verb, but here only in the N.T. The verb means "bound down." We say "bind up." Medical detail that interested Luke. The word for "wounds" (\traumata\) here only in the N.T. {Pouring on them oil and wine} (\epichen elaion kai oinon\). Old verb again, but here only in the N.T. Oil and wine were household remedies even for wounds (soothing oil, antiseptic alcohol). Hippocrates prescribed for ulcers: "Bind with soft wool, and sprinkle with wine and oil." {Set him} (\epibibasas\). An old verb \epibibaz\ (\epi\, \bibaz\), to cause to mount. In the N.T. only here and strkjv@Acts:19:35; strkjv@23:24|, common in LXX. {Beast} (\ktnos\). Old word from \ktaomai\, to acquire, and so property (\ktma\) especially cattle or any beast of burden. {An inn} (\pandocheion\). The old Attic form was \pandokeion\ (from \pan\, all, and \dechomai\, to receive). A public place for receiving all comers and a more pretentious caravanserai than a \kataluma\ like that in strkjv@Luke:2:7|. Here only in the N.T. There are ruins of two inns about halfway between Bethany and Jericho.
rwp@Luke:10:35 @{On the morrow} (\epi tn aurion\). Towards the morrow as in strkjv@Acts:4:5|. (Cf. also strkjv@Acts:3:1|). Syriac Sinaitic has it "at dawn of the day." An unusual use of \epi\. {Took out} (\ekbaln\). Second aorist active participle of \ekball\. It could mean, "fling out," but probably only means "drew out." Common verb. {Two pence} (\duo dnaria\). About thirty-five cents, but worth more in purchasing power. {To the host} (\ti pandochei\). The innkeeper. Here only in the N.T. {Whatsoever thou spendest more} (\hoti an prosdapansis\). Indefinite relative clause with \an\ and the aorist active subjunctive of \prosdapana\, to spend besides (\pros\), a late verb for the common \prosanalisk\ and here only in the N.T. {I will repay} (\ego apods\). Emphatic. What he had paid was merely by way of pledge. He was a man of his word and known to the innkeeper as reliable. {When I come back again} (\en ti epanerchesthai me\). Luke's favourite idiom of \en\ and the articular infinitive with accusative of general reference. Double compound verb \epanerchomai\.
rwp@Luke:10:36 @{Proved neighbour to him that fell} (\plsion gegonenai tou empesontos\). Second perfect infinitive of \ginomai\ and second aorist active participle of \empipt\. Objective genitive, became neighbour to the one, etc. Jesus has changed the lawyer's standpoint and has put it up to him to decide which of "these three" (\toutn tn trin\, priest, Levite, Samaritan) acted like a neighbour to the wounded man.
rwp@Luke:10:37 @{On him} (\met' autou\). With him, more exactly. The lawyer saw the point and gave the correct answer, but he gulped at the word "Samaritan" and refused to say that. {Do thou} (\su poiei\). Emphasis on "thou." Would this Jewish lawyer act the neighbour to a Samaritan? This parable of the Good Samaritan has built the world's hospitals and, if understood and practised, will remove race prejudice, national hatred and war, class jealousy.
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