Context and Audience
The framework of Chapter 10

• Luke 10:1-12 - Jesus sends out the seventy-two
  
  
• Luke 10:13-16 - Judgment that will come on those who don’t repent
  
  
• Luke 10:17-20 - The return of the seventy-two
  
  
• Luke 10:21-24 - Jesus rejoices in the work of the Father
  
  

The greater context of Luke 10 is evangelism and salvation.

The audience includes a crowd, the disciples, and within the crowd there is a lawyer who is an expert and teacher of the Mosaic law.


The First Question
Luke 10:25 “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

• This parable is about salvation. Specifically, this parable is Jesus personally witnessing to this man to help him understand his need to be saved.

Luke 10:27 quotes Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Leviticus 19:18 which, put together, perfectly sums up the entire law.

• The great commandment teaches us that love is the basis for life.

The question now becomes, “How far down the right path is the lawyer willing to go?”


The Second Question
Luke 10:29 “And desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, ’And who is my neighbor?’”

The Parable
Luke 10:30

Luke 10:31-32

• Priest - Family of Aaron, offered sacrifices, mediator between God and the people
  
  
• Levite - Same tribe of the priests, performed supportive duties in the temple
  
  
• Both passed by on the other side

Luke 10:33

• Samaritan - they were a hated half-breed
  
  
• The Samaritan “came to where he was.”

Luke 10:34-35

• Love demands sacrifice.

The Final Question
Luke 10:36“Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man?”


The Answer to the Question
Luke 10:37“The one who showed him mercy.”

• Our “neighboring” of people - any and every type of person - is not a feeling of pity, but an action of compassion.

Jesus’ response of “go and do likewise” is the real answer to the lawyer’s initial question “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”