The Levite repeated the priest"s act. He was a less likely person to offer help since his duty, assuming he fulfilled it, involved just assisting the priests in the mundane affairs involved in worship. By omitting his motives Jesus again focused attention on the man"s unloving act. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
Luke 10:25-37 - The Man Who Loved His Neighbor
This parable was probably suggested by the journey up to Jerusalem. It may be founded on an actual occurrence. Notice how the Master answered the inquiry, Who is my neighbor? He said in effect: The question is not, Who will "neighbor" you? but, Whom will you "neighbor?" You ought to ask, Who wants my help? Neighborhood consists, not in what you receive, but in what you give. It is independent of race, creed and the ordinary sentiment of pity. Love overleaps all these distinctions and risks its very life in order to render help. In fact, this parable is a very poem of Love. It is to be compared with 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.
Notice those two clauses, He took care of him and Take care of him, Luke 10:34-35. It is thus that our Lord deals with us. When we are too far gone to ask for His help, He comes to our side and restores our ebbing life; and He raises up others to do the same. At the best, we are pilgrims and refresh ourselves in inns, but the home awaits us yonder! Begin by loving with your "strength" and you will end with the "heart!" [source]
Chapter Summary: Luke 10
1Jesus sends out at once seventy disciples to work miracles, and to preach; 13pronounces a woe against certain cities 17The seventy return with joy; 18he shows them wherein to rejoice, 21and thanks his Father for his grace; 23magnifies the happy estate of his church; 25teaches the lawyer how to attain eternal life, 30and tells the parable of the good Samaritan; 38reprimands Martha, and commends Mary her sister
Greek Commentary for Luke 10:32
Came and looked [] Rev., saw. Seeming to imply that the Levite went farther than the priest in coming near to the wounded man, and, having observed his condition, passed on. [source]
Luke 10:31Was going down [katebainen)] Imperfect active as in Luke 10:30. Passed by on the other side Second aorist active indicative of antiparerchomai a late double compound here (Luke 10:31,Luke 10:32) only in the N.T., but in the papyri and late writers. It is the ingressive aorist (ēlthen), came alongside (para), and then he stepped over to the opposite side (anti) of the road to avoid ceremonial contamination with a stranger. A vivid and powerful picture of the vice of Jewish ceremonial cleanliness at the cost of moral principle and duty. The Levite in Luke 10:32 behaved precisely as the priest had done and for the same reason. [source]
What do the individual words in Luke 10:32 mean?
Likewisenowalsoa Levitehaving cometothespothaving comeandhaving seen [him]passed by on the opposite side
Greek Commentary for Luke 10:32
Rev., saw. Seeming to imply that the Levite went farther than the priest in coming near to the wounded man, and, having observed his condition, passed on. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 10:32
The verb occurs only here and Luke 10:32. [source]
Imperfect active as in Luke 10:30. Passed by on the other side Second aorist active indicative of antiparerchomai a late double compound here (Luke 10:31, Luke 10:32) only in the N.T., but in the papyri and late writers. It is the ingressive aorist (ēlthen), came alongside (para), and then he stepped over to the opposite side (anti) of the road to avoid ceremonial contamination with a stranger. A vivid and powerful picture of the vice of Jewish ceremonial cleanliness at the cost of moral principle and duty. The Levite in Luke 10:32 behaved precisely as the priest had done and for the same reason. [source]