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Text -- Luke 10:29 (NET)

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Context
10:29 But the expert, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Parallel   Cross Reference (TSK)   ITL  
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Robertson , Vincent , Wesley , JFB , Clarke , Calvin , Defender , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Lightfoot , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes , Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Barclay , Constable , College , McGarvey , Lapide

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Robertson: Luk 10:29 - -- Desiring to justify himself ( thelōn dikaiōsai heauton ). The lawyer saw at once that he had convicted himself of asking a question that he alrea...

Desiring to justify himself ( thelōn dikaiōsai 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:

Robertson: Luk 10:29 - -- And who is my neighbour? ( kai tis estin mou plēsioṉ ). The Jews split hairs over this question and excluded from "neighbour"Gentiles and especia...

And who is my neighbour? ( kai tis estin mou plēsioṉ ).

The Jews split hairs over this question and excluded from "neighbour"Gentiles and especially Samaritans. So 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 plēsion here is an adverb (neuter of the adjective plēsios ) meaning ho plēsion ōn (the one who is near), but ōn was usually not expressed and the adverb is here used as if a substantive.

Vincent: Luk 10:29 - -- Willing ( θέλων ) Rev., desiring . See on Mat 1:19. I think this is stronger than desiring ; rather, determined.

Willing ( θέλων )

Rev., desiring . See on Mat 1:19. I think this is stronger than desiring ; rather, determined.

Vincent: Luk 10:29 - -- Neighbor ( πλησίον ) See on Mat 5:43.

Neighbor ( πλησίον )

See on Mat 5:43.

Wesley: Luk 10:29 - -- That is, to show he had done this. Lev 18:5.

That is, to show he had done this. Lev 18:5.

JFB: Luk 10:29 - -- "wishing," to get himself out of the difficulty, by throwing on Jesus the definition of "neighbor," which the Jews interpreted very narrowly and techn...

"wishing," to get himself out of the difficulty, by throwing on Jesus the definition of "neighbor," which the Jews interpreted very narrowly and technically, as excluding Samaritans and Gentiles [ALFORD].

Clarke: Luk 10:29 - -- Willing to justify himself - Wishing to make it appear that he was a righteous man, and that consequently he was in the straight road to the kingdom...

Willing to justify himself - Wishing to make it appear that he was a righteous man, and that consequently he was in the straight road to the kingdom of God, said, Who is my neighbor? supposing our Lord would have at once answered, "Every Jew is to be considered as such, and the Jews only."Now as he imagined he had never been deficient in his conduct to any person of his own nation, he thought he had amply fulfilled the law. This is the sense in which the Jews understood the word neighbor, as may be seen from Lev 19:15-18. But our Lord shows here, that the acts of kindness which a man is bound to perform to his neighbor when in distress, he should perform to any person, of whatever nation, religion, or kindred, whom he finds in necessity. As the word πλησιον signifies one who is near, Anglo Saxon, he that is next, this very circumstance makes any person our neighbor whom we know; and, if in distress, an object of our most compassionate regards. If a man came from the most distant part of the earth, the moment he is near you he has a claim upon your mercy and kindness, as you would have on his, were your dwelling-place transferred to his native country. It is evident that our Lord uses the word πλησιον (very properly translated neighbor, from nae or naer , near, and buer , to dwell) in its plain, literal sense. Any person whom you know, who dwells hard by, or who passes near you, is your neighbor while within your reach.

Calvin: Luk 10:29 - -- 29.But he wishing to justify himself This question might appear to be of no importance for justifying a man. But if we recollect what was formerly ...

29.But he wishing to justify himself This question might appear to be of no importance for justifying a man. But if we recollect what was formerly stated, that the hypocrisy of men is elderly detected by means of the second table—for, while they pretend to be eminent worshippers of God, they openly violate charity towards their neighbors—it will be easy to infer from this, that the Pharisee practiced this evasion, in order that, concealed under the false mask of holiness, he might not be brought forth to light. So then, aware that the test of charity would prove unfavorable to him, he seeks concealment under the word neighbor, that he may not be discovered to be a transgressor of the Law. But we have already seen, that on this subject the Law was corrupted by the scribes, because they reckoned none to be their neighbors but those who were worthy of it. Hence, too, this principle was received among them, that we have a right to hate our enemies, (Mat 5:43.) For the only method to which hypocrites can resort for avoiding the condemnation of themselves, is to turn away as far as they are able, that their life may not be tried by the judgment of the Law.

Defender: Luk 10:29 - -- The famous parable of the good Samaritan, given in response to this question, yields the following answer: my "neighbor" is anyone who has a special n...

The famous parable of the good Samaritan, given in response to this question, yields the following answer: my "neighbor" is anyone who has a special need that I am able to meet and who is brought to my particular attention by crossing my path."

TSK: Luk 10:29 - -- willing : Luk 16:15, Luk 18:9-11; Lev 19:34; Job 32:2; Rom 4:2, Rom 10:3; Gal 3:11; Jam 2:24 And : Luk 10:36; Mat 5:43, Mat 5:44

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Luk 10:29 - -- To justify himself - Desirous to appear blameless, or to vindicate himself, and show that he had kept the law. Jesus wished to lead him to a pr...

To justify himself - Desirous to appear blameless, or to vindicate himself, and show that he had kept the law. Jesus wished to lead him to a proper view of his own sinfulness, and his real departure from the law. The man was desirous of showing that he had kept the law; or perhaps he was desirous of justifying himself for asking the question; of showing that it could not be so easily settled; that a mere reference to the "words"of the law did not determine it. It was still a question what was meant by "neighbor."The Pharisees held that the "Jews"only were to be regarded as such, and that the obligation did not extend at all to the Gentiles. The lawyer was probably ready to affirm that he had discharged faithfully his duty to his countrymen, and had thus kept the law, and could justify himself. Every sinner is desirous of "justifying himself."He seeks to do it by his own works. For this purpose he perverts the meaning of the law, destroys its spirituality, and brings "down"the law to "his"standard, rather than attempt to frame his life by "its"requirements.

Poole: Luk 10:29 - -- This lawyer’ s desire to justify himself spake him a hypocrite. The reason of that question, Who is my neighbour? was the notion of the neigh...

This lawyer’ s desire to justify himself spake him a hypocrite. The reason of that question,

Who is my neighbour? was the notion of the neighbour (mentioned in the law) which the scribes and Pharisees had, who counted none their neighbours but their friends and benefactors, at least none but those that were of their own nation or particular sect; and had taught their people, that they might hate their enemies. Our Saviour (this being but a captious question, considering the received interpretation amongst them of the law of God) doth not think fit to answer his question directly, but telling him a story, maketh him answer himself.

Lightfoot: Luk 10:29 - -- But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?   [And who is my neighbour?] this doubt and form of questi...

But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?   

[And who is my neighbour?] this doubt and form of questioning he had learned out of the common school, where it is thus taught in Aruch. He excepts all Gentiles when he saith, His neighbour.   

"An Israelite killing a stranger inhabitant; he doth not die for it by the Sanhedrim; because it is said, If any one lift up himself against his neighbour. And it is not necessary to say, He does not die upon the account of a Gentile: for they are not esteemed by them for their neighbour."  

"The Gentiles, amongst whom and us there is no war, and so those that are keepers of sheep amongst the Israelites, and the like, we are not to contrive their death: but if they be in any danger of death, we are not bound to deliver them: e.g. If any of them fall into the sea, you shall not need to take him out: for it is said, Thou shalt not rise up against the blood of thy neighbour; but such a one is not thy neighbour."

Haydock: Luk 10:29 - -- Neighbour? It appears this was a celebrated controversy among the doctors of the law; some probably affirming, that the Jews only were so; while oth...

Neighbour? It appears this was a celebrated controversy among the doctors of the law; some probably affirming, that the Jews only were so; while others maintained that their friends alone were their neighbours. (Maldonatus)

Gill: Luk 10:29 - -- But he willing to justify himself,.... Upon the foot of his own righteousness, and to make himself appear to be righteous to others; for this the Jews...

But he willing to justify himself,.... Upon the foot of his own righteousness, and to make himself appear to be righteous to others; for this the Jews thought themselves able to do, both to justify themselves before God by their own works, and make it out to men, that they were truly righteous persons; and it is a maxim with them, that

"every one המצדיק את עצמו that justifies himself, below (on earth), they justify him above (or in heaven) k.''

No wonder then that this man was desirous of justifying himself; and in order to which

he said, and who is my neighbour? he takes no notice of God, and love to him, as coming into the account of his justification, only of his neighbour; thinking when this question was answered, he should be very able to make it out, that he was not wanting neither in doing justice between himself and his neighbour, nor in showing kindness and beneficence to him; for by his neighbour he meant only an Israelite; one of the same nation and religion with him. So the Jews commonly interpret the word neighbour, either of one that is related to them in nature, קרובו, that is, near akin to them in blood l; or that professes the same religion as they do, and whom they call a neighbour in the law; and so they explain the passage now cited, "and thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself", שהוא רעך בתורה; "that is, who is thy neighbour in the law" m: for they will not allow a Gentile, no, not even a proselyte of the gate to be a neighbour: for thus they say n,

"an Israelite that slays a proselyte of the gate, or the stranger that dwells with him, is not slain for him by the sanhedrim; for it is said, Exo 21:14 but if a man comes presumptuously upon his neighbour to slay him, &c. and there is no need to say he is not slain for a Gentile.''

And again o,

"when a man sees one of them (the Gentiles) fall into the sea, he need not take him up; as it is said, Lev 19:16 "neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour", ואין זה רעך "but this is not thy neighbour."''

This notion Christ opposes and disproves in the following parable, which is an answer to the lawyer's question.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Luk 10:29 The expert in religious law picked up on the remark about the neighbor and sought to limit his responsibility for loving. Some believed this obligatio...

Geneva Bible: Luk 10:29 ( 9 ) But he, willing ( k ) to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? ( 9 ) The law defines our neighbour as anyone at all that w...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Luk 10:1-42 - --1 Christ sends out at once seventy disciples to work miracles, and to preach;13 pronounces a woe against certain cities.17 The seventy return with joy...

MHCC: Luk 10:25-37 - --If we speak of eternal life, and the way to it, in a careless manner, we take the name of God in vain. No one will ever love God and his neighbour wit...

Matthew Henry: Luk 10:25-37 - -- We have here Christ's discourse with a lawyer about some points of conscience, which we are all concerned to be rightly informed in and are so here ...

Barclay: Luk 10:25-37 - --First, let us look at the scene of this story. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was a notoriously dangerous road. Jerusalem is 2,300 feet above s...

Constable: Luk 9:51--19:28 - --V. Jesus' ministry on the way to Jerusalem 9:51--19:27 This large section of the Book of Luke has no counterpart...

Constable: Luk 10:25--11:14 - --B. The relationships of disciples 10:25-11:13 The three incidents that compose this section all concern ...

Constable: Luk 10:25-37 - --1. The relation of disciples to their neighbors 10:25-37 The question that a lawyer put to Jesus...

Constable: Luk 10:25-29 - --The lawyer's question and Jesus' answer 10:25-29 The incident that Mark recorded in Mark 12:28-34 is quite similar to this one, but the differences in...

College: Luk 10:1-42 - --LUKE 10 3. Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two (10:1-24) 1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two a others and sent them two by two ahead of him to e...

McGarvey: Luk 10:25-37 - -- LXXXIV. PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN. (Probably Judæa.) cLUKE X. 25-37.    c25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and made trial...

Lapide: Luk 10:1-42 - --CHAPTER 10 Ver. 1.— After these things the Lord also. Seventy-two. Vulgate. Dorotheus and others profess to give their names, but Eusebius declare...

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Introduction / Outline

Robertson: Luke (Book Introduction) THE GOSPEL OF LUKE By Way of Introduction There is not room here for a full discussion of all the interesting problems raised by Luke as the autho...

JFB: Luke (Book Introduction) THE writer of this Gospel is universally allowed to have been Lucas (an abbreviated form of Lucanus, as Silas of Silvanus), though he is not expressly...

JFB: Luke (Outline) ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE FORERUNNER. (Luke 1:5-25) ANNUNCIATION OF CHRIST. (Luk 1:26-38) VISIT OF MARY TO ELISABETH. (Luke 1:39-56) BIRTH AND CIRCUMCISION...

TSK: Luke (Book Introduction) Luke, to whom this Gospel has been uniformly attributed from the earliest ages of the Christian church, is generally allowed to have been " the belove...

TSK: Luke 10 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Luk 10:1, Christ sends out at once seventy disciples to work miracles, and to preach; Luk 10:13, pronounces a woe against certain cities;...

Poole: Luke 10 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 10

MHCC: Luke (Book Introduction) This evangelist is generally supposed to have been a physician, and a companion of the apostle Paul. The style of his writings, and his acquaintance w...

MHCC: Luke 10 (Chapter Introduction) (v. 1-16) Seventy disciples sent forth. (Luk 10:17-24) The blessedness of Christ's disciples. (Luk 10:25-37) The good Samaritan. (Luk 10:38-42) Jes...

Matthew Henry: Luke (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Gospel According to St. Luke We are now entering into the labours of another evangelist; his name ...

Matthew Henry: Luke 10 (Chapter Introduction) In this chapter we have, I. The ample commission which Christ gave to the seventy disciples to preach the gospel, and to confirm it by miracles; a...

Barclay: Luke (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SAINT LUKE A Lovely Book And Its Author The gospel according to St. Luke has been called the loveliest book ...

Barclay: Luke 10 (Chapter Introduction) Labourers For The Harvest (Luk_10:1-16) A Man's True Glory (Luk_10:17-20) The Unsurpassable Claim (Luk_10:21-24) Who Is My Neighbour? (Luk_10:25-...

Constable: Luke (Book Introduction) Introduction Writer Several factors indicate that the writer of this Gospel was the sa...

Constable: Luke (Outline) Outline I. Introduction 1:1-4 II. The birth and childhood of Jesus 1:5-2:52 ...

Constable: Luke Luke Bibliography Alford, Henry. The Greek Testament. New ed. 4 vols. London: Rivingtons, 1880. ...

Haydock: Luke (Book Introduction) THE HOLY GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. INTRODUCTION St. Luke was a physician, a native of Antioch, the metropolis of Syria, a...

Gill: Luke (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO LUKE The writer of this Gospel, Luke, has been, by some, thought, as Origen a relates, to be the same with Lucius, mentioned in Ro...

College: Luke (Book Introduction) FOREWORD "Many have undertaken" to write commentaries on the Gospel of Luke, and a large number of these are very good. "It seemed good also to me" t...

College: Luke (Outline) OUTLINE There is general agreement among serious students of Luke's Gospel regarding its structure. I. Prologue Luke 1:1-4 II. Infancy Narrative...

Lapide: Luke (Book Introduction) S. LUKE'S GOSPEL Third Edition JOHN HODGES, AGAR STREET, CHARING CROSS, LONDON. 1892. INTRODUCTION. ——o—— THE Holy Gospel of Jesus Ch...

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