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Exegetical Considerations
6th Sunday after Pentecost—July 11, 2004
Luke 10:25-37

1. What is the literary context of this passage?

a. How does that literary context impact a reading of this passage?

b. How does 10:21 help set up theological categories that will be played out in 10:25-37?

2. How does the lawyer’s motive (ekpeirazon) recall 4:12?

3. How do the two parts of this text (vv. 25-28 and vv. 29-37) have a parallel structure?

a. What is the significance of the fact that in each case Jesus has the final word on correct praxis?

4. What is the significance about the fourfold use of poieo in this text (10:25,28,37a,37b)?

5. What scripture is being put forth by the lawyer in 10:27?

a. What links those scriptural passages together?

6. What does it mean that the lawyer was seeking to “justify himself”?

a. How does that recall 7:29,33?

7. How does the use of splagchnisthe in v. 33 recall its uses in 1:78; 7:13; 15:20?

8. What is the significance of the use of the perfect gegonenai in v. 36?

9. In v. 29, how does the lawyer regard neighbor (plesion) as object of love?

a. In vv. 36-37, how does Jesus regard neighbor (plesion) as source of love?

10. From a 1st century Judaic perspective,

a. How would the actions of the Levite and priest have been evaluated?

b. How would the character of the Samaritan been evaluated?

c. How would the actions of the Samaritan been evaluated?

d. What are the surprises of this text?

11. From a 21st century westernized Christian perspective,

a. How would the actions of the Levite and priest have been evaluated?

b. How would the character of the Samaritan been evaluated?

c. How would the actions of the Samaritan been evaluated?

d. What are the surprises of this text?

12. How is this more a story about compassion praxis than about a good Samaritan?