Chapter

Luke 10:30

ESV Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.
NIV In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.
NASB Jesus replied and said, 'A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he encountered robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead.
CSB Jesus took up the question and said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead.
NLT Jesus replied with a story: 'A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.
KJV 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.
NKJV Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

What does Luke 10:30 mean?

As an expert in the law, the lawyer to whom Jesus is speaking knows that loving God and loving one's neighbor is the heart of the Mosaic law. But he wants specifics. Who is his neighbor (Luke 10:25–29)? Jesus tells a story that turns the question around. An unidentified man is assaulted and left for dead. Two religious leaders—a priest and a Levite—devout and educated in the Mosaic law, ignore the man. A Samaritan, however, goes out of his way to rescue him and pays for his recovery (Luke 10:31–35¬¬).

The lawyer is an expert in the written law which God gave Moses. He also knows much about the Oral Law, which scribes added later in an attempt to protect God's law. Jesus teaches this scholar that the Law doesn't cause someone to love one's neighbor. Nor does it define one's neighbor. The Law merely provides examples of how to act; love reveals that a neighbor can be anyone.

The road from Jerusalem to Jericho can be dangerous, especially for a single traveler. It is long with a large drop in elevation, rocky and lined with caves in which robbers can hide and ambush victims. The term "robber" can mean bandit, but it can also refer to an insurrectionist or guerrilla. Either would be willing to harm someone for their money. A modern parallel might be to speak of someone walking through a dark city alley in the middle of the night.
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