Luke 10:27 Meaning and Explanation
“And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The whole law gathers into two loves: God with everything we are, and our neighbor as ourselves.
The Context of Luke 10:27
A lawyer has stood up to test Jesus, asking what he must do to inherit eternal life (verse 25). Jesus turns the question back to the Scriptures the man already knows, and the lawyer himself gives this answer. The parable of the good Samaritan follows, drawn out by his next question, And who is my neighbour?
What Does Luke 10:27 Mean?
The lawyer answers his own question by reaching for two lines every faithful Israelite knew by heart. The first is the great command to love God with the whole of oneself, heart and soul and strength and mind, holding nothing back. The second sits right beside it: love your neighbor as yourself. He has stitched two scattered commands into a single fabric, and Jesus tells him he has answered rightly (verse 28). The entire law hangs on these two threads.
It is one thing to recite this, another to live it, and the lawyer's next question shows he already feels the weight. Jesus does not soften the command; He embodies it. He loved the Father wholly and loved His neighbors to the end, even the neighbor who could give nothing back. In Him the two loves are perfectly kept, and from Him we receive the love we are asked to spend.
Luke 10:27 in the Original Language
plesion (πλησίον), 'neighbour' -- the one near at hand, anyone close enough to need us.
How to Apply Luke 10:27 Today
These two loves still measure a whole life. We are not asked to love God in theory and our neighbor at a distance, but with everything we are and toward whoever is near. Where we fall short, the love we need to give is first the love Christ gives us.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 10:27
What does Luke 10:27 mean?
The whole law gathers into two loves: God with everything we are, and our neighbor as ourselves.
What is the context of Luke 10:27?
A lawyer has stood up to test Jesus, asking what he must do to inherit eternal life (verse 25). Jesus turns the question back to the Scriptures the man already knows, and the lawyer himself gives this answer. The parable of the good Samaritan follows, drawn out by his next question, And who is my neighbour?
How can I apply Luke 10:27 today?
These two loves still measure a whole life. We are not asked to love God in theory and our neighbor at a distance, but with everything we are and toward whoever is near. Where we fall short, the love we need to give is first the love Christ gives us.