Luke 10:25-28

Context

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

10:25 Now¹ an expert in religious law² stood up to test Jesus,³ saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”⁴ 10:26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you understand it?”⁵ 10:27 The expert⁶ answered, “Love⁷ the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,⁸ and love your neighbor as yourself.”⁹ 10:28 Jesus¹⁰ said to him, “You have answered correctly;¹¹ do this, and you will live.”

[10:25] ¹tn Grk “And behold.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic. The Greek word ἰδού (idou) at the beginning of this statement has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).

[10:25] ²tn Traditionally, “a lawyer.” This was an expert in the interpretation of the Mosaic law (see also Luke 7:30, where the same term occurs).

[10:25] ³tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[10:25] ⁴sn The combination of inherit with eternal life asks, in effect, “What must I do to be saved?”

[10:26] ⁵tn Grk “How do you read?” The pronoun “it” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.

[10:27] ⁶tn Grk “And he”; the referent (the expert in religious law, shortened here to “the expert”) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[10:27] ⁷tn Grk “You will love.” The future indicative is used here with imperatival force (see ExSyn 452 and 569).

[10:27] ⁸sn A quotation from Deut 6:5. The fourfold reference to different parts of the person says, in effect, that one should love God with all one’s being.

[10:27] ⁹tn This portion of the reply is a quotation from Lev 19:18. The verb is repeated in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[10:28] ¹⁰tn Grk “And he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[10:28] ¹¹sn Jesus commends the reply (you have answered correctly). What is assumed here, given the previous context, is that he will respond to Jesus’ message, as to love God is to respond to his Son; see v. 22.