Luke 10 · Verse 25

Luke 10:25

And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
Luke 10:25, King James Version

Luke 10:25 in other translations

BSBOne day an expert in the law stood up to test Him. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
WEBBehold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
ASVAnd behold, a certain lawyer stood up and made trial of him, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
YLTAnd lo, a certain lawyer stood up, trying him, and saying, ‘Teacher, what having done, life age-during shall I inherit?'
DARBYAnd behold, a certain lawyer stood up tempting him, and saying, Teacher, having done what, shall I inherit life eternal?
BBEAnd a certain teacher of the law got up and put him to the test, saying, Master, what have I to do so that I may have eternal life?
WebsterAnd behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

What does Luke 10:25 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Lu 10:25-37. Question of a Lawyer and Parable of the Good Samaritan.

25. tempted him--"tested him"; in no hostile spirit, yet with no tender anxiety for light on that question of questions, but just to see what insight this great Galilean teacher had.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 25. A certain lawyer. One who professed to be well skilled in the laws of Moses; and whose business it was to explain them.

Stood up. Rose--came forward to address him.

Tempted him. Feigned a desire to be instructed, but did it to perplex him, or to lead him, if possible, to contradict some of the maxims of the law.

Inherit eternal life. Be saved. This was the common inquiry among the Jews. They had said that man must keep the commandments--the written and oral law.

(a) "what shall I do" Acts 16:30,31 (b) "to inherit eternal" Gal 3:18

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 25 A certain lawyer - See on Mat 22:35 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 10:25-37
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 neighbour with any measure of pure, spiritual love, who is not made a partaker of converting grace. But the proud heart of man strives hard against these convictions. Christ gave an instance of a poor Jew in distress, relieved by a good Samaritan. This poor man fell among thieves, who left him about to die of his wounds. He was slighted by those who should have been his friends, and was cared for by a stranger, a Samaritan, of the nation which the Jews most despised and detested, and would have no dealings with. It is lamentable to observe how selfishness governs all ranks; how many excuses men will make to avoid trouble or expense in relieving others. But the true Christian has the law of love written in his heart. The Spirit of Christ dwells in him; Christ's image is renewed in his soul. The parable is a beautiful explanation of the law of loving our neighbour as ourselves, without regard to nation, party, or any other distinction. It also sets forth the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward sinful, miserable men. We were like this poor, distressed traveller. Satan, our enemy, has robbed us, and wounded us: such is the mischief sin has done us. The blessed Jesus had compassion on us. The believer considers that Jesus loved him, and gave his life for him, when an enemy and a rebel; and having shown him mercy, he bids him go and do likewise. It is the duty of us all , in our places, and according to our ability, to succour, help, and relieve all that are in distress and necessity.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Luke 10:25 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΚαὶKaiAndG2532
ἰδοὺidoubeholdG2400
νομικόςnomikosa lawyerG3544
τιςtiscertainG5100
ἀνέστηanestēstood upG450
ἐκπειράζωνekpeirazōntestingG1598
αὐτὸνautonHimG846
λέγων·legōnsaying;G3004
διδάσκαλε,didaskaleTeacher,G1320
τίtiwhatG5101
ποιήσαςpoiēsashaving doneG4160
ζωὴνzōēnlifeG2222
αἰώνιονaiōnioneternalG166
κληρονομήσω;klēronomēsōwill I inherit?G2816

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 10:25

  • Matthew 22:34-39

    But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. …

  • Luke 18:18

    And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

  • Acts 16:30-31

    And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

  • Matthew 19:16-19

    And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

  • Galatians 3:18

    For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

  • Luke 11:45-46

    Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also. And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
a certain.
7:30; 11:45,46; Mt 22:35
Master.
18:18; Mt 19:16; Ac 16:30,31
to.
Ga 3:18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 10:24

    For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

  • Luke 10:25

    And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

  • Luke 10:26

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

Read all of Luke 10

Luke 10:25 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y he aquí, un doctor de la ley se levantó, tentándole y diciendo: Maestro, ¿haciendo qué cosa poseeré la vida eterna?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et voici, un docteur de la loi se leva pour l’éprouver, et dit: Maître, que faut-il que j’aie fait pour hériter de la vie éternelle?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und siehe, ein gewisser Gesetzgelehrter stand auf und versuchte ihn und sprach: Lehrer, was muß ich getan haben, um ewiges Leben zu ererben?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et ecce quidam legisperitus surrexit tentans illum, et dicens: Magister, quid faciendo vitam æternam possidebo?