Luke 18 20

Luke 18:20 kjv

Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

Luke 18:20 nkjv

You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Honor your father and your mother.' "

Luke 18:20 niv

You know the commandments: 'You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'"

Luke 18:20 esv

You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.'"

Luke 18:20 nlt

But to answer your question, you know the commandments: 'You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.' "

Luke 18 verses

Luke 18 20 Meaning

Luke 18:20 states core ethical commandments, echoing the Decalogue given to Moses. Jesus presents these not as a pathway to salvation in themselves, but as a test of the rich official's understanding of righteousness and his true heart condition, exposing the inadequacy of outward observance apart from radical obedience and trust in God.

Luke 18 20 Context

Luke 18:20 is spoken by Jesus to a rich ruler who asks how to inherit eternal life. This encounter follows Jesus' teaching on humility and dependence, seen in the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector and the blessing of the children. The ruler represents a man seeking to attain righteousness through his own efforts, assuming that meticulous adherence to the Mosaic Law would grant him eternal life. Jesus' initial response, including this verse, probes the ruler's understanding of God's demands, not just for ethical conduct but for a complete heart-commitment. Historically, Jewish society esteemed those who outwardly kept the Law, believing such obedience earned favor with God. Jesus' interaction with the rich ruler subtly challenges this conventional wisdom, especially regarding the sufficiency of mere outward observance and the specific spiritual obstacle posed by wealth.

Luke 18 20 Word analysis

• Thou knowest (Οἶδας, Oidas): From the verb oida, meaning "to know" by acquaintance, experience, or settled conviction. Present tense suggests "you already know" or "you are well aware." It implies the ruler's assumed familiarity and expertise in the Law due to his Jewish upbringing and social standing. Jesus is not informing him, but rather leading him to acknowledge what he purports to know.

• the commandments (τὰς ἐντολάς, tas entolas): Refers to divine precepts or ordinances. Here, it specifically denotes the Mosaic Law, particularly the Ten Commandments. This word highlights that Jesus is referencing established divine law, not merely ethical advice.

• Do not commit adultery (Μὴ μοιχεύσῃς, Mē moicheusēs): The 7th Commandment (Ex 20:14; Deut 5:18). This prohibits sexual immorality, signifying the importance of purity and fidelity.

• Do not kill (Μὴ φονεύσῃς, Mē phoneusēs): The 6th Commandment (Ex 20:13; Deut 5:17). Prohibition against taking human life, emphasizing the sanctity of life.

• Do not steal (Μὴ κλέψῃς, Mē klepsēs): The 8th Commandment (Ex 20:15; Deut 5:19). Prohibits taking another's property unjustly, underscoring respect for ownership and livelihood.

• Do not bear false witness (Μὴ ψευδομαρτυρήσῃς, Mē pseudomartyresēs): The 9th Commandment (Ex 20:16; Deut 5:20). This prohibits perjury or dishonest testimony, upholding truth and justice in community.

• Honour thy father and thy mother (Τίμα τὸν πατέρα σου καὶ τὴν μητέρα σου, Tima ton patera sou kai tēn mētera sou): The 5th Commandment (Ex 20:12; Deut 5:16). This positive command requires respect, obedience, and provision for parents, signifying the importance of family and generational responsibility.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Thou knowest the commandments": This opening phrase sets the stage by affirming the ruler's knowledge of Jewish law, establishing a common ground before Jesus moves to expose the limits of such knowledge. It also implies that theoretical knowledge is insufficient.
  • "Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness": These are four negative prohibitions, dealing with offenses against one's neighbor. Jesus primarily lists commands concerning human relationships, underscoring the horizontal dimension of the Law.
  • "Honour thy father and thy mother": This is a unique positive command in the list Jesus gives. It transitions from prohibitions to an active responsibility within the family, also connecting to one's relationship with others. Notably, Jesus omits the Tenth Commandment, "Do not covet," which becomes crucially relevant later as the ruler's attachment to his possessions proves to be his undoing, highlighting an internal, spiritual failing the Law meant to reveal.

Luke 18 20 Bonus section

The omission of "Do not covet" by Jesus is highly significant. Coveting addresses inner desire and motive, unlike the other prohibitions which deal with outward actions. This particular sin is where the rich ruler fails; his love for his vast possessions reveals an inner covetousness that violates the spirit of the Law and prioritizes material wealth over God's ultimate command to surrender everything and follow Christ. The sequence from specific ethical rules to the radical command to sell all possessions shows that keeping external laws, even diligently, cannot earn eternal life if one's heart remains bound by idolizing wealth or other things, ultimately revealing a failure to love God above all else (the 'first table' of the Law). Thus, the Law serves as a mirror, exposing the sin that ultimately reveals the need for a savior.

Luke 18 20 Commentary

In Luke 18:20, Jesus quotes five specific commandments from the Decalogue: those against adultery, murder, theft, false witness, and the positive command to honor parents. These primarily address interpersonal ethical conduct. Jesus' choice of these commandments is not random; they represent the 'second table' of the Law, dealing with one's relationship to others. By listing these, Jesus initiates a test of the rich ruler's self-righteousness. The ruler confidently claims he has kept all these from his youth, revealing a focus on outward conformity and a belief that such obedience merits eternal life.

However, Jesus’ list is not exhaustive, and the subsequent interaction shows why. He omits "You shall not covet" (Ex 20:17), which deals with internal desires—the very issue the rich ruler faces with his vast possessions. The Law's true function is not merely to provide a checklist for salvation but to reveal sin and to point humanity to its need for divine grace. Jesus, by selecting these commands, prompts the ruler to examine his life through the lens of divine righteousness, subtly leading him to the more profound, internal demands of God's will which true love entails and outward keeping cannot perfectly satisfy.