Luke 10:28
And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
Luke 10:28 (KJV)
Context
In Luke 10:25-37, a lawyer stands up to test Jesus, asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus directs him to the law, and the lawyer answers by quoting two commandments: to love the Lord with all one’s heart, soul, strength, and mind, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself. Jesus affirms this answer in Luke 10:28, telling him, “this do, and thou shalt live.” The lawyer then seeks to justify himself by asking, “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29), which leads Jesus to tell the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
Meaning
Jesus commends the lawyer’s answer as correct, acknowledging that he has rightly understood the law’s foundational principles. The command “this do, and thou shalt live” echoes Leviticus 18:5, where God promises life to those who obey His statutes. Jesus is not merely approving intellectual knowledge; He is calling the lawyer to put the commandments into practice. The verse emphasizes that knowing the law is insufficient—obedience is required. True life, both in this world and the world to come, is found in actively loving God and loving one’s neighbor.
The instruction highlights the significance of actions aligning with faith. Jesus emphasizes that genuine faith is not just lip service or mental assent but is demonstrated through a life transformed by love and obedience. The lawyer’s question about eternal life is not directly answered here; instead, Jesus points him back to the law’s demand for wholehearted love, which the parable of the Good Samaritan then illustrates in practical terms.
Biblical connections
The lawyer’s answer draws directly from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18, which Jesus elsewhere identifies as the greatest commandments. The phrase “thou shalt live” also alludes to Leviticus 18:5, grounding Jesus’ statement in the Old Testament promise of life for obedience. The immediate context moves to the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37), which demonstrates that true neighbor-love is active and compassionate, transcending ethnic and religious boundaries.
Application
This verse challenges us to examine whether we are truly living out the commandments to love God and love our neighbors. We are called to actively express our love for God through worship, obedience, and devotion, and to extend compassion and care to those around us without setting limits on who counts as our neighbor. The path to life involves wholeheartedly loving God and demonstrating that love through concrete actions toward others.
Reflection
Jesus’ words “this do, and thou shalt live” invite us to move from knowing the right answers to living them out daily. The lawyer knew the commandments but sought to justify himself by narrowing their scope. Jesus closes that escape route, calling us to a love that is practical, costly, and without boundaries. As we consider this verse, we may ask ourselves whether our love for God and neighbor is merely a correct belief or a lived reality that shapes our choices and relationships.
