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Verse Takeaways
1
The Trap of Self-Justification
Commentators unanimously agree that the lawyer's question was not from a place of genuine curiosity, but from a desire "to justify himself." Feeling convicted by Jesus's simple, powerful summary of the law, the lawyer tried to find a loophole to prove his own righteousness. Scholars note this is a universal human tendency: when confronted with God's perfect standard, we often try to lower the standard to fit our lives, rather than change our lives to meet the standard.
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Luke
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Commentaries
9
Albert Barnes
On Luke 10:29
18th Century
Theologian
To justify himself. He was desiring to appear blameless, or to vindicate himself, and show that he had kept the law.
Jesus wished t…
AT Robertson
On Luke 10:29
Desiring to justify himself (θελων δικαιωσα εαυτον). The lawyer saw at once that he had convicted himself of asking a question tha…
Charles Ellicott
On Luke 10:29
19th Century
Bishop
But he, willing to justify himself . . .—The question implied a conscience half-awakened and uneasy. It is characteristic…
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Charles Spurgeon
On Luke 10:29
19th Century
Preacher
But he, willing to justify himself, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor?
The Saviour then related this incident, which I have no d…
Expositor's Bible Commentary
On Luke 10:29
The only way to justify oneself is to limit the extent of the law’s demand and consequently limit one’s own responsibility (see comment on Mk 12:31…
John Calvin
On Luke 10:29
16th Century
Theologian
But he wanting to justify himself. This question might appear to be of no importance for justifying a man. But if we recall what …
John Gill
On Luke 10:29
17th Century
Pastor
But he willing to justify himself
Upon the foot of his own righteousness, and to make himself appear to be righteous…
Matthew Henry
On Luke 10:25–37
17th Century
Minister
If we speak of eternal life, and the way to it, in a careless manner, we take the name of God in vain. No one will ever love God and his neighbor w…