What does Luke 10:35 teach about responsibility towards others? Text And Immediate Context “‘The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Take care of him,’ he said, ‘and on my return I will reimburse you for any additional expense.’ ” (Luke 10:35) This sentence crowns Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37), spoken in response to the question, “Who is my neighbor?” (10:29). It expands the command to love one’s neighbor (10:27) into concrete, costly action. Historical And Cultural Background 1. Inns in first-century Judea were rudimentary shelters, often dangerous and lacking formal staff. The Samaritan’s confidence in the innkeeper implies a deliberate choice to entrust resources. 2. Two denarii equaled roughly two days’ wages for a laborer (cf. Matthew 20:2). In many inns that would cover several weeks of lodging and food, indicating substantial generosity. 3. Jews and Samaritans held deep-seated hostility (John 4:9). That Jesus chose a Samaritan—as opposed to the priest and Levite—to embody mercy stresses love that crosses ethnic, religious, and social barriers. Key Terms In The Greek Text • ἐπιμελήθητι αὐτοῦ (epimelēthēti autou) — “take care of him”: an imperative demanding ongoing, attentive service, not a one-time gesture. • προσδανάριον δύο (pros dēnaria duo) — “two denarii”: a tangible, quantifiable pledge. • ἐγὼ ἐν τῷ ἐπανέρχεσθαί με (apodōsō) — “I will reimburse”: promise of future accountability; a covenantal undertone. Compassion That Transcends Boundaries Luke 10:35 highlights that true neighbor-love is measured not by proximity or affinity but by need. Leviticus 19:34 had already required Israel to treat the sojourner “as the native among you.” Jesus universalizes the mandate: the Samaritan cares for a Jew; followers of Christ must care for any image-bearer of God (Genesis 1:27). Forward-Looking Stewardship The Samaritan plans for ongoing costs: “on my return I will reimburse you.” Responsibility does not end at initial aid; it anticipates future burdens. Proverbs 3:27—“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act”—finds literal practice here. Christians are to budget compassion (1 Corinthians 16:2), integrating mercy into long-term stewardship. Tangible Sacrifice The giving of hard currency refutes tokenism. James 2:15-16 warns against empty sympathy; Luke 10:35 models material involvement. Second-century believers founded xenodochia (guest houses) financed by offerings, echoing this verse. Accountability And Trust The Samaritan entrusts the innkeeper while pledging oversight. Biblical responsibility holds two poles: delegation (Exodus 18:21-23) and personal follow-through (Galatians 6:5). Believers should empower reliable partners yet remain answerable before God (Romans 14:12). Love As Fulfillment Of The Law Jesus ends the parable: “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37). By citing Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18, He teaches that covenant obedience must manifest in mercy. Luke 10:35 exemplifies how ethical imperatives of Torah converge in practical charity. Christological Dimension The Samaritan mirrors Christ, who “while we were still sinners” rescued us (Romans 5:8) and paid in full (John 19:30). The pledge to return recalls Jesus’ promise to come again (John 14:3), settling every remaining “expense” (Revelation 21:4). Believers, united with Christ, replicate His self-giving pattern (Ephesians 5:1-2). Integration With Old Testament Foundations • Deuteronomy 15:7-11—openhanded generosity toward the poor. • Isaiah 58:6-7—true fasting is sheltering the homeless. • 2 Chronicles 28:15—Samaritans of an earlier era clothed and healed Judean captives, a historical precursor of the parable. Ecclesial And Missional Expression Early church apologists testified that pagans marveled, “See how they love one another.” Hospitals, orphanages, and rescue missions sprang from Christian reading of texts like Luke 10:35. Today, disaster-relief teams, foster-care ministries, and medical missions trace their charter to this verse. Eschatological Motivation Matthew 25:34-40 links acts of mercy with final commendation. Luke 10:35 foreshadows the accounting; the Samaritan’s promise to return and settle debts parallels Christ rewarding servants who stewarded talents for others’ good (Matthew 25:20-23). Summary Of Responsibility Taught 1. Initiate compassionate action beyond social boundaries. 2. Provide substantive, material support. 3. Plan for ongoing needs and future costs. 4. Delegate wisely yet remain personally accountable. 5. Mirror Christ’s redemptive love until His return. Luke 10:35, therefore, defines responsibility toward others as proactive, costly, continuous care rooted in the love of God and expressed through concrete stewardship for any neighbor in need. |
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