Luke 10:25 Meaning and Explanation
“And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →A man asks the deepest question of all, though he asks it to test rather than to learn.
The Context of Luke 10:25
The questioner is a lawyer, an expert in the law of Moses, and he stands up to test Jesus in front of others. His question opens the exchange that leads into the parable of the good Samaritan (verses 29-37). The same question, what to do to inherit eternal life, will return on the lips of a rich young ruler later (Luke 18:18).
What Does Luke 10:25 Mean?
The lawyer rises with the right words and the wrong motive. His question is the great one, the question under all our questions: how does a person come into eternal life? Yet Luke tells us he asked it to tempt Jesus, to put Him on the spot, to see whether this teacher would stumble. He frames it as a matter of doing, something he might achieve and check off, as if eternal life were a task to complete.
It is striking that Jesus does not brush off a question asked in bad faith. He takes it seriously and draws the man toward the heart of the law, and then beyond what the man can simply do. The deepest question we can ask is here met by the One who is Himself the answer. Eternal life, it turns out, is found not in a finished task but in knowing Him.
Luke 10:25 in the Original Language
kleronomeo (κληρονομέω), 'inherit' -- to receive as an heir, to come into a gift, not to earn a wage.
How to Apply Luke 10:25 Today
The lawyer's question is one we all carry, however we first ask it. It is worth noticing that the word he uses is inherit, the language of a gift received, not a wage earned. Eternal life is found in drawing near to Christ, who welcomes even the question asked with a doubting heart.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 10:25
What does Luke 10:25 mean?
A man asks the deepest question of all, though he asks it to test rather than to learn.
What is the context of Luke 10:25?
The questioner is a lawyer, an expert in the law of Moses, and he stands up to test Jesus in front of others. His question opens the exchange that leads into the parable of the good Samaritan (verses 29-37). The same question, what to do to inherit eternal life, will return on the lips of a rich young ruler later (Luke 18:18).
How can I apply Luke 10:25 today?
The lawyer's question is one we all carry, however we first ask it. It is worth noticing that the word he uses is inherit, the language of a gift received, not a wage earned. Eternal life is found in drawing near to Christ, who welcomes even the question asked with a doubting heart.