Luke 10:31Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

It is narrated that a priest encountered a man along the road, and upon seeing him, he chose to pass by without offering assistance. The priest symbolizes the esteemed figures of Moses and Aaron, as supported by David’s declaration: "Moses and Aaron among the priests, and Samuel among them that call upon His name" (Psalms 98:6). This remarkable Moses, who delivered the Egyptians to judgment through ten plagues, parted the Red Sea and guided his people safely across, healed the bitter waters at Marah, and conversed with God through the cloud, encountered a wounded man during his journey through life yet did not lend aid.

The priest and the Levite can be seen as representing the Law and the prophets, as their intention was to justify humanity, yet they ultimately found themselves unable to do so. The apostle Paul states, “It is impossible” (Heb. 10:4), noting that the blood of animals does not take away sins. They felt pity for the wounded man and considered how to help him, but ultimately, overwhelmed by the severity of his injuries, they retreated. This illustrates the concept of ‘passing by.’ The Law approached the man in need but, lacking the power to heal, moved away again. This reflects what it means to ‘pass by.’ It is important to understand that the phrase ‘by occasion’ bears significant meaning.

The priest and the Levite disregarded him, lacking any sense of compassion or pouring out the oil of empathy. Instead, their hearts were cold and unkind towards his plight.

On that occasion, a priest journeyed along that road. The priest represents the law as given by Moses, which predominantly addresses sacrifices. However, upon witnessing the man, he chose to pass by without offering assistance, ignoring the plight of one who was in such a dire condition.

The term "priest" represents the Mosaic covenant, which encompasses everything relevant to the priestly office. In contrast, Leviticus symbolizes the Prophets, who serve as God’s anointed servants and heralds of the revelation concerning the advent of His only begotten Son into the world. With the arrival of grace, the law has become obsolete. Although the law originated in heaven and was bestowed at Sinai by God, and though the Prophets delivered their messages, neither the law nor the Prophets had the power to eradicate sin or to restore humanity from its profound fall. “It is not possible for the blood of young men and goats to put away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). The Law and the Prophets also journeyed through this realm and witnessed the tragic plight of mankind; however, they could only observe and ultimately departed, unable to heal his wounds.

As the Lord entered the cities where His disciples proclaimed the message, He once again engaged with the Pharisees, fielding their inquiries and providing answers while denouncing their deceitfulness, hypocrisy, pride, and self-serving ways. A lawyer approached Him with the question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” The Lord responded, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” The lawyer replied by summarizing the commandments: love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself. This succinct summary encompassed the essence of the law, and the Lord encouraged him to observe these commandments diligently.

The Parable of the Compassionate Samaritan illustrates a profound truth conveyed by Jesus. As a priest journeyed along the way, he observed a man on the ground, barely clinging to life, stripped of clothing, battered and bleeding; yet, the servant of God chose to ignore the suffering man and continued on his path. Following him, a Levite came upon the same scene, glanced at the victim out of mere curiosity, and then proceeded on his way. A Samaritan, too, traveled that route and noticed the afflicted individual. Despite being looked down upon by the Jews (refer to John 4 for context), the Samaritan recognized that no Jew would lend him assistance in his plight.

As the priest made his way back to his town, he noticed the man but chose to cross to the other side of the road, avoiding him completely. Similarly, a Levite came along and, exhibiting even greater indifference, merely glanced at the man before continuing on his way. In contrast, a Samaritan approached, and the sight of him would have typically elicited feelings of hostility in the afflicted man, a reaction stemming from deeply entrenched animosities. Yet, this Samaritan embodied the essence of compassion, resembling that divine Teacher. He was marginalized and scorned by humanity, yet He came to tend to the wounds of a broken world, offering healing that neither the ceremonial practices nor the moral codes could provide.

"Priest and Levite" refers to members of the tribe of Levi, who were designated by divine law to serve in the temple. These individuals resided in designated Levitical cities in Judea and came to Jerusalem in shifts to fulfill their temple duties before returning home at the week's end. The primary responsibilities of the priests included offering sacrifices, burning incense, leading morning and evening prayers, blessing the congregation, and executing other sacred rituals within the temple. The Levites were tasked with assisting the priests, participating in the holy ceremonies. During the Israelites' sojourn in the wilderness and until the construction of the temple, the Levites were responsible for transporting and safeguarding the tabernacle and its furnishings.