Luke 10:28 kjv
And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
Luke 10:28 nkjv
And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live."
Luke 10:28 niv
"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
Luke 10:28 esv
And he said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live."
Luke 10:28 nlt
"Right!" Jesus told him. "Do this and you will live!"
Luke 10 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 18:5 | You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the LORD. | Obedience brings life (OT foundational). |
| Deut 6:5 | You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. | The first and greatest commandment. |
| Deut 10:12-13 | ...to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways... to love him... and to keep the commandments... that it may go well with you. | Connects obedience with well-being/life. |
| Mt 19:16-19 | ...“Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ...“If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” | Parallel question about inheriting life. |
| Mt 22:37-40 | You shall love the Lord your God... You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets. | Jesus' summary of the greatest commandments. |
| Mk 12:29-31 | The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel...’ ...You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. | Mark's parallel to the greatest commands. |
| Rom 2:13 | For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. | Emphasis on doing the Law, not just hearing. |
| Rom 10:5 | For Moses writes about the righteousness that comes from the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. | Echoes Lev 18:5, showing the Law's principle. |
| Gal 3:12 | But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” | Contrasts law with faith, quoting Lev 18:5. |
| Jas 1:22 | But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. | Against hearing without doing. |
| Jas 1:25 | But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, this person will be blessed in his doing. | Blessings for those who do the law. |
| 1 Jn 2:3-6 | And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. ...Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. | Knowledge of God tied to obedience. |
| Lk 6:46 | “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? | Warning against professing faith without action. |
| Lk 11:28 | But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” | Blessedness through hearing and obeying. |
| Jn 13:17 | If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. | Blessing for acting on knowledge. |
| Rev 22:14 | Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. | Final blessedness tied to righteousness. |
| Heb 5:9 | And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, | Christ as source of salvation through obedience. |
| 1 Jn 3:23-24 | And this is his commandment: to believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and to love one another... Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God. | New Covenant obedience: faith and love. |
| Jn 14:15 | “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. | Love for Christ expressed through obedience. |
| Ps 119:1-2 | Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies. | Blessing for keeping God's law. |
| Prov 4:4 | Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. | Direct command to obey for life. |
| Mt 7:21 | Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. | Action over mere profession for kingdom entry. |
Luke 10 verses
Luke 10 28 Meaning
Luke 10:28 is a pivotal statement by Jesus affirming the path to eternal life as understood by a lawyer, based on Old Testament Law. It means that truly inheriting everlasting life, or spiritual life in fellowship with God, is directly contingent upon the diligent and complete practice of the two great commandments: to love God with one's whole being and to love one's neighbor as oneself. This verse highlights the inseparable link between knowledge of God's command and its practical application.
Luke 10 28 Context
Luke 10:28 is Jesus' direct answer to the question "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" posed by a lawyer (Lk 10:25). Before Jesus directly answers, He turns the question back to the lawyer, asking, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?" (Lk 10:26). The lawyer correctly synthesizes the Old Testament commandments into the two greatest: loving God with all one's being and loving one's neighbor as oneself (Lk 10:27), drawing from Deut 6:5 and Lev 19:18. Jesus' response in Lk 10:28 ("You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live") serves as an affirmation of the lawyer's understanding. However, the immediate follow-up by the lawyer, "And who is my neighbor?" (Lk 10:29), reveals his attempt to justify himself and narrow the scope of the second commandment, prompting Jesus to tell the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:30-37), which powerfully illustrates the breadth and demand of neighborly love. Historically, "inheriting eternal life" was a common rabbinic question concerning the means to enter the "world to come" or God's eternal blessing, and the standard answer typically revolved around adherence to the Torah. Jesus confirms the lawyer's understanding but immediately challenges its practical, all-encompassing application.
Luke 10 28 Word analysis
- And (kai): Greek conjunction connecting this affirmation directly to the lawyer's previous answer. It implies a direct continuation or consequence.
- He said (Eipen): Aorist indicative of legō, meaning "he said" or "he spoke." It marks Jesus' immediate and direct reply.
- to him (autō): Dative pronoun, referring to the lawyer. The recipient of Jesus' clear statement.
- You have answered (Apokekrisai): From apokrinomai, "to answer, reply." Perfect tense indicating a completed action with ongoing results; the answer is given and stands.
- correctly (Orthōs): Adverb meaning "straightly," "rightly," "truly," "properly." Jesus affirms that the lawyer's summary of the Law is absolutely accurate and sound, not partially so. This is a commendation of the lawyer's insight into the essence of the Law.
- Do this (Poiei touto):
- Poiei: Present active imperative of poieō, "to do," "to make," "to perform." The imperative mood signifies a direct command, demanding action and continuous application. It is not an invitation but an instruction.
- Touto: Demonstrative pronoun, "this." It refers specifically to the two great commandments summarized by the lawyer in verse 27: to love God and to love one's neighbor.
- This phrase emphasizes the crucial gap between intellectual understanding (knowing) and practical obedience (doing). Knowing the truth is insufficient; one must live it out.
- and you will live (kai zēsē):
- Kai: "And," indicating a direct result or consequence.
- Zēsē: Future active indicative of zaō, "to live," "to have life." Here, it refers to spiritual and eternal life, life in fullness with God, life in the age to come. It echoes the promises of the Old Testament that promised "life" (e.g., Lev 18:5) to those who obey God's commands. It's a statement of assured outcome based on the stated action.
Luke 10 28 Bonus section
The principle articulated in Luke 10:28, while seemingly simple, represents a profound challenge that none can perfectly meet in their own fallen state. The lawyer, a man deeply familiar with the Mosaic Law, correctly identified its heart, yet struggled with its practical implications, leading him to try and limit the definition of "neighbor" in the subsequent verse (Lk 10:29). This dynamic highlights the Law's role not just as a guide for living but also as a mirror (Jas 1:23-25) revealing human imperfection and sin (Rom 3:20). It demonstrates that simply knowing God's will is insufficient; consistently doing it, particularly loving one's neighbor without reservation, is the ultimate requirement. Thus, while theoretically "doing this" brings life, the consistent failure of humanity to meet this perfect standard ultimately points to the necessity of grace and the atoning work of Jesus Christ as the means to righteousness and eternal life.
Luke 10 28 Commentary
Luke 10:28 distills the essence of the path to eternal life into an affirmation of complete obedience to God's ultimate commands: love for God and love for neighbor. Jesus doesn't introduce a new truth but validates the lawyer's insightful summary of the Torah, proving that even within the framework of the Old Covenant, the core demand was active love, not mere ritual or knowledge. The phrase "Do this, and you will live" directly echoes Old Testament stipulations where life was promised for obedience to the covenant, but it simultaneously exposes the human inability to perfectly fulfill this requirement. By placing the imperative "do this," Jesus implicitly challenges the lawyer's (and humanity's) capacity to live up to this perfect standard. The lawyer's subsequent question about defining "neighbor" reveals the common human inclination to rationalize or limit the demands of God's perfect law, rather than embrace its full, inconvenient scope. This verse, therefore, acts as a foundational truth about God's standard of righteousness—perfect love and obedience—and, within the broader New Testament narrative, sets the stage for demonstrating humanity's need for divine grace through Christ, as no one can truly fulfill this perfect command in their own strength. It's a truth meant to illuminate both God's righteous expectations and man's intrinsic need for a Savior.
- Example 1: A person meticulously studies the Bible for years, memorizing verses and understanding theology (knowing). This verse challenges them: do they actively apply the love for God and neighbor in their daily interactions, forgiving enemies, and serving the needy (doing)?
- Example 2: A Christian acknowledges that gossiping is wrong (knowing). This verse prompts them: do they actively choose to speak words that build up and edify, practicing love in speech (doing)?
- Example 3: Someone believes that God requires wholehearted devotion (knowing). The challenge is: do they practically prioritize God in their time, finances, and decisions above worldly pursuits (doing)?