Chapter

Luke 10:34

ESV He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.
NIV He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.
NASB and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn and took care of him.
CSB He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
NLT Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.
KJV 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.
NKJV So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

What does Luke 10:34 mean?

A Jewish lawyer knows he needs to love God and love his neighbor to inherit the gift of eternal life. These two commands encompass the spirit of the Mosaic law. Ever ready to debate, the lawyer wants to know who he is supposed to show his love to. Who is his neighbor (Luke 10:25–29)?

Jesus turns the question around. Israelites of that era despised Samaritans for their mixed heritage, corrupted religion, and centuries of political strife. By making the Samaritan the one who shows love—surpassing that of Jewish religious leaders—Jesus explains that showing love is not merely a task. It should be a natural expression of one's character. God expects us to be people of love, not merely people who love.

The Samaritan's initial ministrations are selfless. He shares his own supply of oil and wine and may have had to tear his own clothes to make bandages. Oil keeps the skin soft so it won't dry out; wine is the first medication and prevents infection. Jesus does not include in His story whether the Samaritan was riding the animal, and now must walk, or if he was using it as a pack animal and now needs to carry his cargo. The point Jesus is making is that the Samaritan freely shares his own supplies, and goes out of his way, to care for the wounded man. The Samaritan pays for a room and tends to the victim all night. When he leaves the next morning, he pays two days' wages. That likely would have covered more than three weeks of room and board. When he leaves, he promises to return and compensate the innkeeper for any other expenses (Luke 10:35).
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