Luke 10:36 Meaning and Explanation
“Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus turns the question back: which of the three proved neighbour to the man who fell among thieves?
What Does Luke 10:36 Mean?
The lawyer had asked, who is my neighbour — seeking the boundary of obligation. Jesus answers with a different question entirely: which one became a neighbour? The category has moved from the person lying in the road to the people walking past it.
Neighbour, in the end, is not a status others must prove before they deserve love; it is a role a person steps into wherever need lies. The question of who qualifies dies on this verse, replaced by the only living question: will I draw near? Jesus does not define the neighbour; he makes one — and invites every hearer to be made one too.
Luke 10:36 in the Original Language
plesion (πλησίον), 'neighbour' -- literally the one near, whoever is at hand.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 10:36
What does Luke 10:36 mean?
Jesus turns the question back: which of the three proved neighbour to the man who fell among thieves?