Luke 10:26 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”

NIV: What is written in the Law?' he replied. 'How do you read it?'

NASB: And He said to him, 'What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?'

CSB: "What is written in the law? " he asked him. "How do you read it? "

NLT: Jesus replied, 'What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?'

KJV: He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

NKJV: He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”

A lawyer has asked Jesus how he can "inherit eternal life" (Luke 10:25). Jesus in turn asks the lawyer about the Mosaic law; He likely does so for a couple of reasons. First, Jesus proves He is also a devout Jew who honors the Mosaic law. He's not trying to turn Judaism into anything God didn't intend.

Second, this lawyer is a Pharisee, as shown by his question about eternal life, which the Sadducees did not believe in. While Sadducees followed only the written Mosaic law—the Pentateuch—Pharisees included the "Oral Law," which is extra regulations they claimed God gave to Moses to supplement the written law. The Pharisees try to force the Jews to follow the Oral Law as well. Jesus says, "They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger" (Matthew 23:4).

The Oral Law wasn't written down until about AD 200 when the Jewish teachers wanted a standard for the Jews in the Diaspora. By asking what is written in the Law and how does the lawyer read it, Jesus is turning the lawyer back to the written Mosaic law and away from any extra-scriptural teachings (1 Corinthians 4:6).

Luke 10:25–28 is an example proving that God reveals the blessings of His kingdom to those who are humble and repentant, not necessarily the religiously educated or culturally sophisticated. A religious lawyer wants the qualifications for eternal life explained precisely. In the Passion Week, Jesus has a similar but different conversation with a scribe about loving God and others (Matthew 22:34–40; Mark 12:28–34).

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.