New Testament · Gospel

Luke 10:25

The Good Samaritan

One day an expert in the law stood up to test Him. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Luke 10:25 · Berean Standard Bible
What It Means

Luke 10:25, in plain English

One day a legal expert stood up to test Jesus with a question: 'Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?' He was trying to trap Jesus, but he was about to get the greatest lesson of his life.

Why it's here

The man was not genuinely seeking; he was setting a trap. But Jesus had a way of turning traps into teaching moments. The expert was about to be the student.

Who's speaking

A legal expert challenges Jesus with a theological question.

Where it sits in the story

A religious expert thought he could test Jesus with a trick question about eternal life. He stood up with confidence and asked his question. He had no idea Jesus was about to turn the tables.

A Closer Look

The scholarly reading

A nomikos ('expert in the law/lawyer') stands to ekpeirazōn ('test/tempt') Jesus with the question ti poiēsas zōēn aiōnion klēronomēsō ('what must I do to inherit eternal life?'). The verb ekpeirazō implies hostile intent, not genuine inquiry.

Language and setting

This episode introduces the Good Samaritan parable. The lawyer's question about inheriting eternal life was a standard rabbinic discussion topic. His testing motive sets up a dialogue where Jesus turns the expert's own expertise back on him.

Voice

A legal expert stands and addresses Jesus with a testing question.

Significance

A legal expert stood up to test Jesus with the ultimate theological question: what must I do to inherit eternal life? His motive was hostile, but Jesus would turn the exchange into one of His greatest teachings.

In context

Luke 10:23–27

23Then Jesus turned to the disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.

24For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

25One day an expert in the law stood up to test Him. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26“What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?”

27He 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.’”

Read all of Luke 10 — A lawyer asks how to inherit eternal life and gets an answer he doesn't expect. The hero of the story is the one everyone despises.

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