Luke 10:28

28 "You are right," Jesus replied; "do this and you will live." ¹

Luke 10:28 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 10:28

And he said unto him, thou hast answered right
It is so written, and read; and this, as if he should say, is the sum and substance of the law, and what that requires men should do; wherefore,

do this, and thou shalt live;
for the bare reading of it was not sufficient; though these men placed great confidence in reading this passage, or in reciting their phylacteries, of which this was a part, morning and night. Our Lord intimates by this, that, according to the tenor of the law, eternal life was not to be had without a complete and perfect performance of the duties of love to God, and to the neighbour, contained in these words; and this he suggests, in order to convict him of the impossibility of obtaining life by the works of the law, since such a performance cannot be made by man.

Luke 10:28 In-Context

26 Jesus answered him, "What do the Scriptures say? How do you interpret them?"

27 The man answered, " "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind'; and "Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' "

28 "You are right," Jesus replied; "do this and you will live."

29 But the teacher of the Law wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?"

30 Jesus answered, "There was once a man who was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when robbers attacked him, stripped him, and beat him up, leaving him half dead.

Cross References

• 1. 10.28Leviticus 18.5.