Luke 6:2

6:2 But some of the Pharisees ¹  said, “Why are you ²  doing what is against the law ³  on the Sabbath?”

Luke 10:37

10:37 The expert in religious law ⁴  said, “The one who showed mercy ⁵  to him.” So ⁶  Jesus said to him, “Go and do ⁷  the same.”

Luke 23:56

23:56 Then ⁸  they returned and prepared aromatic spices ⁹  and perfumes. ¹⁰ 

On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. ¹¹ 

[6:2]  ¹ sn See the note on Pharisees in 5:17.

[6:2]  ² tn Note that the verb is second person plural (with an understood plural pronominal subject in Greek). The charge is again indirectly made against Jesus by charging the disciples.

[6:2]  ³ sn The alleged violation expressed by the phrase what is against the law is performing work on the Sabbath. That the disciples ate from such a field is no problem given Deut 23:25, but Sabbath activity is another matter in the leaders’ view (Exod 20:8-11 and Mishnah, m. Shabbat 7.2). The supposed violation involved reaping, threshing, winnowing, and preparing food. This probably explains why the clause describing the disciples “rubbing” the heads of grain in their hands is mentioned last, in emphatic position. This was preparation of food.

[10:37]  ⁴ tn Grk “And he”; the referent (the expert in religious law) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[10:37]  ⁵ sn The neighbor did not do what was required (that is why his response is called mercy) but had compassion and out of kindness went the extra step that shows love. See Mic 6:8. Note how the expert in religious law could not bring himself to admit that the example was a Samaritan, someone who would have been seen as a racial half-breed and one not worthy of respect. So Jesus makes a second point that neighbors may appear in surprising places.

[10:37]  ⁶ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate the concluding summary.

[10:37]  ⁷ tn This recalls the verb of the earlier reply in v. 28.

[23:56]  ⁷ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[23:56]  ⁸ tn On this term see BDAG 140-41 s.v. ἄρωμα. The Jews did not practice embalming, so these preparations were used to cover the stench of decay and slow decomposition. The women planned to return and anoint the body. But that would have to wait until after the Sabbath.

[23:56]  ⁹ tn Or “ointments.” This was another type of perfumed oil.

[23:56]  ¹⁰ sn According to the commandment. These women are portrayed as pious, faithful to the law in observing the Sabbath.