Luke 10:25 kjv
And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
Luke 10:25 nkjv
And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
Luke 10:25 niv
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Luke 10:25 esv
And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
Luke 10:25 nlt
One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: "Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?"
Luke 10 25 Cross References
Verse | Text | Reference |
---|---|---|
Eternal Life & Salvation's Nature (Gift vs. Works) | ||
Jn 3:16 | "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son... should not perish, but have everlasting life." | Eternal life is God's gift through His Son. |
Jn 17:3 | "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." | Eternal life is knowing God and Jesus. |
Rom 6:23 | "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." | Eternal life is a gift, not earned wages. |
Eph 2:8-9 | "For by grace are ye saved through faith... not of works, lest any man should boast." | Salvation (and eternal life) is by grace. |
Gal 3:18 | "For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise..." | Inheritance is by promise, not law/works. |
Ti 3:5 | "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us..." | Salvation is by mercy, not works. |
1 Tim 6:12 | "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life..." | Pursuing eternal life involves faith. |
The Greatest Commandment & Love (Summary of Law) | ||
Deut 6:5 | "And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." | The fundamental command: love God wholly. |
Lev 19:18 | "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against... but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." | The fundamental command: love neighbor. |
Mt 22:37-40 | "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God... This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like... neighbour." | Jesus summarizes the Law with these two. |
Mk 12:29-31 | "And Jesus answered... Thou shalt love the Lord thy God... The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour." | Parallel passage confirming the two greatest commandments. |
Rom 13:8-10 | "Owe no man anything, but to love one another... for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law." | Love fulfills the entire Law. |
Gal 5:14 | "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." | Love for neighbor encapsulates the Law. |
Jas 2:8 | "If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well." | Loving neighbor is the "royal law." |
Testing / Questioning Jesus | ||
Mt 22:35 | "Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him..." | Similar account of a lawyer testing Jesus. |
Mk 8:11 | "And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him." | Others sought to test Jesus. |
Mt 16:1 | "The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting him, desired that he would shew them a sign from heaven." | Religious leaders frequently tested Jesus. |
"Do to inherit" / Human Effort vs. Divine Grace | ||
Mt 19:16-30 | "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" | Rich young ruler asks a similar question. |
Acts 16:30-31 | "Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." | The apostolic answer to "what must I do". |
Php 3:9 | "And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith..." | Righteousness is by faith, not law. |
Lawyers / Scribes and their Understanding of Law | ||
Lk 11:45-52 | "Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye laden men with burdens grievous to be borne..." | Jesus rebukes lawyers for their practices. |
Mk 12:38-40 | "And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing..." | Jesus warns against the pride of scribes/lawyers. |
Inheritance in God's Kingdom | ||
Rom 8:17 | "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ..." | Believers are heirs of God. |
Heb 9:15 | "And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death... they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance." | Inheritance is eternal through Christ's death. |
1 Pet 1:4 | "To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you." | Believers have an imperishable inheritance. |
Luke 10 verses
Luke 10 25 Meaning
Luke 10:25 introduces a pivotal encounter where a "lawyer," an expert in the Jewish Law, approaches Jesus with a direct question: "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" This question, posed with an intent to test Jesus' teachings, reveals a prevailing focus on human effort and legalistic performance as the means to achieve spiritual blessedness. It sets the stage for Jesus to guide the lawyer, and implicitly His listeners, beyond mere outward observance to the profound truth that eternal life is a divinely granted inheritance, received through a heart transformed by radical love for God and for one's neighbor, an inner disposition which authenticates true obedience to the Law.
Luke 10 25 Context
Luke 10:25 immediately follows Jesus' rejoicing and prayer of thanks to the Father (Lk 10:21-22) for revealing profound truths to "babes" (the simple, humble) rather than to the "wise and prudent" (the educated, often self-reliant). This contrast sets the stage for the lawyer's entrance. The lawyer, an exemplar of the "wise," questions Jesus just after Jesus blesses those who see and hear what His disciples have witnessed (Lk 10:23-24). The lawyer's inquiry implicitly tests whether Jesus' teaching aligns with, or deviates from, the accepted legal traditions. This interaction then directly leads to Jesus' profound exposition on the essence of the Law and the renowned Parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:29-37), demonstrating the practical, radical application of loving one's neighbor, an area where legalistic interpretations often fell short. Historically, Jewish society at the time greatly revered scholars of the Law, who diligently debated questions of righteousness and the path to divine favor, making the lawyer's query a highly typical and critical theological discourse.
Luke 10 25 Word analysis
And, behold (kai idou): "And" serves as a narrative conjunction, smoothly transitioning to a new event. "Behold" is a strong interjection (Greek: idou), frequently used in the Gospels to draw the audience's attention to something sudden, important, or noteworthy, creating a sense of drama or anticipation.
a certain lawyer (nomikos tis): A nomikos was not merely a legal professional but an expert, a scholar, or an interpreter of the Mosaic Law (Torah). Often synonymous with "scribe," these individuals meticulously studied, taught, and preserved the Jewish religious laws and traditions. "Certain" indicates that his specific identity is not central to the narrative, rather his profession and its typical approach to religion.
stood up (anastas): From the Greek anistēmi, meaning to stand up, rise. This verb implies a deliberate and often formal posture. In this context, it suggests that the lawyer was intentionally and publicly taking a stand, likely to engage in a formal disputation or a challenging inquiry.
and tempted him (kai ekpeirazōn auton): The Greek word ekpeirazō (a stronger form of peirazō) means to test thoroughly, to try to examine or to prove, often with the intent to entrap, challenge, or find fault. It implies that the lawyer was not necessarily seeking genuine instruction but aiming to assess Jesus' doctrinal soundness or to elicit a response that could be used against Him within the framework of Jewish legal thought.
saying (legōn): Indicating his direct address to Jesus.
Master (Didaskale): The Greek word Didaskalos literally means "Teacher." It was a common and respectful address for a Rabbi or a recognized instructor of the Law. While deferential, it doesn't necessarily signify recognition of Jesus' unique divine authority but rather acknowledges His popular standing as a learned figure.
what shall I do (ti poiēsas): The question emphasizes action, performance, and human merit. From poieō (to do, to make), it highlights the prevailing Jewish emphasis on fulfilling commandments and works as the means to righteousness and favor with God. This question reflects a common approach to spirituality at the time – what action must I perform?
to inherit (klēronomēsō): From the Greek verb klēronomeō, meaning "to receive by inheritance," to obtain by right of heirship. This word subtly introduces a tension with "what shall I do." Inheritance is typically received as a gift or entitlement, not strictly earned by labor or specific actions. This paradox is central to the upcoming theological lesson, suggesting that true eternal life is a divine bequest.
eternal life (zōēn aiōnion): The Greek term zōē aiōnios denotes life that is both unending in duration and, crucially, distinct in quality—life imbued with God's very nature and character. It signifies blessedness, full communion with God, and true existence both in the present spiritual sense and in the coming age, the ultimate goal of devout Jewish individuals.
Words-group Analysis:
- "a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him": This phrase immediately establishes the nature of the encounter not as a sincere seeker's inquiry, but as a deliberate challenge from a representative of the religious establishment. It signals a test of Jesus' understanding and authority within the context of prevailing legalistic interpretations.
- "what shall I do to inherit eternal life?": This complete question forms the core of the verse. It juxtaposes the human desire to earn ("what shall I do?") with the divine concept of receiving a gift ("to inherit"). This tension reveals a fundamental misunderstanding about the nature of eternal life – viewing it as something achievable through works rather than a gift bestowed by God's grace and accessed through true, loving obedience. This specific question encapsulates the central human spiritual dilemma addressed throughout Jesus' ministry.
Luke 10 25 Bonus section
- The lawyer's question is parallel to that of the rich young ruler in Mt 19:16 and Mk 10:17, both asking what they must "do" to obtain or inherit eternal life, showcasing a prevalent query among those seeking divine favor.
- Jesus, instead of offering a new command, challenges the lawyer to consult his own expertise in the Law ("What is written in the law? how readest thou?"). This not only acknowledges the lawyer's standing but also forces him to self-reflect and state the truth of the Law himself.
- The Jewish understanding of "eternal life" (or the "life of the age to come," olam ha-ba) was deeply debated, ranging from resurrection and spiritual immortality to a transformed existence in God's presence, all connected to righteous living. The lawyer's question points to this core spiritual longing.
Luke 10 25 Commentary
Luke 10:25 introduces a loaded question from a lawyer, intended to challenge Jesus' interpretation of the Law and ascertain His teaching on the path to eternal life. The lawyer's query, "what shall I do to inherit eternal life?", immediately exposes a common but problematic mindset: that salvation is attained through a formulaic list of actions or earned merit. The very word "inherit" suggests something given or bequeathed, yet the lawyer asks what he must do, revealing a widespread legalistic misunderstanding of divine favor. Jesus does not dismiss the question but skillfully redirects the lawyer to the very Law he claims to master, allowing him to state the Law's essence—love for God and neighbor. This strategic move highlights that true understanding lies not in intricate interpretations of myriad rules, but in embracing the simple, yet profoundly demanding, command of selfless love, which encompasses all righteous action. The passage therefore subtly contrasts the pursuit of self-righteousness through "doing" with the life received as an "inheritance" from God, implying that a transformed heart yielding love is the path to, and manifestation of, eternal life.