Luke 10:31

10:31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, but when he saw the injured man he passed by on the other side.

Luke 13:2

13:2 He answered them, “Do you think these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered these things?

Luke 14:32

14:32 If he cannot succeed, he will send a representative while the other is still a long way off and ask for terms of peace. 10 

Luke 17:24

17:24 For just like the lightning flashes 11  and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. 12 

Luke 17:34

17:34 I tell you, in that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 13 

Luke 23:40

23:40 But the other rebuked him, saying, 14  “Don’t 15  you fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 16 

Luke 24:10

24:10 Now it was Mary Magdalene, 17  Joanna, 18  Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles.

sn The phrase by chance adds an initial note of hope and fortune to the expectation in the story.

tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context between the priest’s expected action (helping the victim) and what he really did.

tn Grk “him”; the referent (the injured man) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

sn It is not said why the priest passed by and refused to help. It is not relevant to the point of the parable that no help was given in the emergency situation.

sn The text suggests that the priest went out of his way (on the other side) not to get too close to the scene.

tn Grk “And he.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

sn Jesus did not want his hearers to think that tragedy was necessarily a judgment on these people because they were worse sinners.

tn Grk “And if not.” Here δέ (de) has not been translated; “succeed” is implied and has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

tn Grk “a messenger.”

10 sn This image is slightly different from the former one about the tower (vv. 28-30). The first part of the illustration (sit down first and determine) deals with preparation. The second part of the illustration (ask for terms of peace) has to do with recognizing who is stronger. This could well suggest thinking about what refusing the “stronger one” (God) might mean, and thus constitutes a warning. Achieving peace with God, the more powerful king, is the point of the illustration.

11 sn The Son of Man’s coming in power will be sudden and obvious like lightning. No one will need to point it out.

12 tc Some very important mss (Ì75 B D it sa) lack the words ἐν τῇ ἡμέρα αὐτοῦ (en th Jhmera autou, “in his day”), but the words are included in א A L W Θ Ψ Ë1,13 Ï lat sy bo. On the one hand, the shorter reading is impressive because it has some of the best Alexandrian and Western witnesses in support; on the other hand, the expression ἐν τῇ ἡμέρα αὐτοῦ is unusual (found nowhere else in the NT), and may be considered the harder reading. A decision is difficult, but it is probably best to retain the words. NA27 rightly has the words in brackets, expressing doubt as to their authenticity.

13 sn There is debate among commentators and scholars over the phrase one will be taken and the other left about whether one is taken for judgment or for salvation. If the imagery is patterned after the rescue of Noah from the flood and Lot from Sodom, as some suggest, the ones taken are the saved (as Noah and Lot were) andthose left behind are judged. The imagery, however, is not directly tied to theidentification of the two groups. Its primary purposein context is topicture the sudden, surprisingseparation of the righteous and the judged (i.e., condemned) at the return of the Son of Man.

14 tn Grk “But answering, the other rebuking him, said.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation.

15 tn The particle used here (οὐδέ, oude), which expects a positive reply, makes this a rebuke – “You should fear God and not speak!”

16 tn The words “of condemnation” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.

17 sn Mary Magdalene is always noted first in the appearance lists in the gospels. It is unusual that the first appearance would involve women as in this culture their role as witnesses would not be well accepted. It is a sign of the veracity of the account, because if an ancient were to create such a story he would never have it start with women.

18 sn On Joanna see Luke 8:1-3.