Luke 10:31

And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

And {G1161} by {G2596} chance {G4795} there came down {G2597} a certain {G5100} priest {G2409} that {G1722}{G1565} way {G3598}: and {G2532} when he saw {G1492} him {G846}, he passed by on the other side {G492}.

By coincidence, a cohen was going down on that road; but when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

Now by chance a priest was going down the same road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

And by chance a certain priest was going down that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

Luke 10:31 is a pivotal moment within Jesus' famous Parable of the Good Samaritan, illustrating the initial failure of those expected to show compassion.

Context of Luke 10:31

This verse is part of Jesus' response to a lawyer who asked, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" and then, "Who is my neighbour?" The parable describes a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho, a notoriously dangerous road prone to banditry. After being robbed, beaten, and left half dead, the man is in desperate need of help. Verse 31 introduces the first character to encounter him: a priest.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Failure of Religious Duty: The priest was a spiritual leader, responsible for upholding God's law and serving as an example of piety. His role would have included ministering to the sick and needy. His decision to "pass by on the other side" reveals a profound disconnect between his religious office and practical compassion. This challenges the notion that religious status automatically equates to righteousness or genuine love for others.
  • Indifference and Apathy: The priest's action demonstrates a deliberate choice to ignore suffering. Whether motivated by fear, ritual purity laws (touching a potentially dead body could make him ceremonially unclean, preventing him from performing Temple duties, as seen in Numbers 19:11), or simple inconvenience, his indifference stands in stark contrast to the urgent need before him.
  • Proximity Without Compassion: The priest was physically close to the suffering man, yet emotionally and spiritually distant. This highlights that mere presence or awareness of a problem does not equate to active care or responsibility.

Linguistic Insight

The KJV phrase "by chance" translates the Greek kata synkyrian, which signifies a coincidental or accidental occurrence. However, in the context of divine providence and Jesus' teaching, this "chance" encounter serves a crucial purpose in exposing the true nature of neighborliness and challenging societal expectations.

Practical Application

Luke 10:31 serves as a powerful cautionary tale for believers today. It compels us to examine our own responses to suffering and need in our communities. Are we, like the priest, allowing our busy schedules, social status, fear of inconvenience, or even misinterpretations of religious obligations to prevent us from extending help? Jesus' parable, culminating in the command to "Go, and do thou likewise," challenges us to embody active, sacrificial love, regardless of who is in need or what our perceived obstacles might be. True faith is demonstrated not just in ritual, but in compassionate action.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 John 3:16

    Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren.

  • 1 John 3:18

    My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

  • Psalms 69:20

    Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked [for some] to take pity, but [there was] none; and for comforters, but I found none.

  • Psalms 142:4

    ¶ I looked on [my] right hand, and beheld, but [there was] no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

  • Ruth 2:3

    And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field [belonging] unto Boaz, who [was] of the kindred of Elimelech.

  • Proverbs 21:13

    ¶ Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

  • Hosea 6:9

    And as troops of robbers wait for a man, [so] the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness.

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