Luke 10:27 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."

NIV: He answered, " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ ; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ "

NASB: And he answered, 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE Lord YOUR God WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'

CSB: He answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind;" and "your neighbor as yourself."

NLT: The man answered, '‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’'

KJV: And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

NKJV: So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

An expert in the Mosaic and Oral Laws in the tradition of the Pharisees has asked Jesus how to attain eternal life (Luke 10:25). Jesus and the Pharisees have an antagonistic relationship, and the lawyer is putting Jesus "to the test." It was common for teachers and students to debate about theology, so the lawyer isn't necessarily attacking Jesus.

Jesus turns the question around on the lawyer (Luke 10:26), asking him "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?" By doing so, Jesus challenges the lawyer to find the answer in the written Mosaic law, not the Oral Law that the Pharisees try to force the people to follow. This echoes the biblical principle that God's written Word is the ultimate guideline for faith (1 Corinthians 4:6).

The lawyer answers with the introduction of the Mosaic law. Deuteronomy 6:4 is the call to listen. Deuteronomy 6:5, which the lawyer quotes, is the first command. As is tradition, the lawyer combines Deuteronomy 6:5, which is the commandment to love God, with Leviticus 19:18, which says to love one's neighbor. Jesus responds that if the lawyer does this, he will attain eternal life (Luke 10:28).

The lawyer mentions heart, soul, strength, and mind; Deuteronomy 6:5 only mentions heart, soul, and might. While the phrasing varies, the meanings are the same. The point isn't to identify specific aspects of a human or even recite the wording perfectly, but to represent the whole being. It is interesting that a lawyer adds "mind"—it shows how he values his own intellect.

Days before Jesus' death, the Pharisees and their lawyers will challenge Jesus by asking about the greatest commandment. Jesus will start with the shema (Deuteronomy 6:4). He replies to their question: "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lᴏʀᴅ our God, the Lᴏʀᴅ is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these" (Mark 12:29–31). Matthew's account includes Jesus saying, "On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 22:40). The lawyer will respond that these commandments are "much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices" (Mark 12:33). Jesus will say, "You are not far from the kingdom of God" (Mark 12:34).

Jesus commissions seventy-two of His followers for a unique mission. They are sent into towns and villages, preparing people for Jesus' ministry. Those who accept the message will be blessed; those who reject it will be left behind. The disciples return celebrating what they have seen and accomplished. Jesus reminds them that salvation is the real victory. The parable of the good Samaritan explains that the obligation to love extends to anyone and everyone. A visit to the home of Martha and Mary offers a contrast between good things and the best things.

Luke 10 provides the bulk of the first section of what some refer to as Jesus' travelogue (Luke 9:51—19:27). In this extended description of travels and events, Jesus draws away from public ministry and theological debates. His focus is preparing His disciples for what will happen in Jerusalem, by teaching them about the kingdom of God. In Luke 9:51—11:13, the disciples gradually learn how to properly follow Jesus. Next, the Pharisees will reject Jesus (Luke 11:14–54) and Jesus will teach more about the kingdom (Luke 12:1—19:27). After the travelogue, Jesus will enter Jerusalem and face crucifixion.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.