And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
Parallel translations
- WEB By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
- BSB Now by chance a priest was going down the same road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
- NKJV Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
- NASB And by coincidence a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
- NLT “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A priest sees the wounded man and deliberately avoids him. Religious standing without mercy fails the law's true demand.
Overview
The priest, a representative of Israel's worship, crosses to the other side rather than help. Whatever his reasons, his avoidance shows that ceremonial religion can coexist with a loveless heart. Jesus exposes a piety that honors God in form while neglecting the neighbor God commands us to love.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Ps 69:20Reproach 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.
- 1 Jn 3:16–18Hereby 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.
- Hos 6:9And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness.
- Prov 21:13Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
- Jer 5:31The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
- Eccl 9:11I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
- Hos 5:1Hear ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment is toward you, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor.
- Ps 142:4I 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.
- Mal 1:10Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
- Ruth 2:3And 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.
- Job 6:14–21To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
- 2 Sam 1:6And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
- Prov 24:11–12If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;
- Ps 38:10–11My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.
- Jas 2:13–16For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 10:31 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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