Luke 10:29 Meaning and Explanation
“But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Wanting to justify himself, the lawyer asks Jesus to define the term: and who is my neighbour?
What Does Luke 10:29 Mean?
The command has landed too close, so the scholar reaches for a boundary. If neighbour can be defined narrowly enough — kinsman, countryman, the deserving — then perhaps he has already kept the command. The question seeks a fence around love, a list short enough to finish.
Self-justification always argues for smaller definitions. The heart that wants to be right without being changed will litigate terms rather than love people. Jesus answers with a story that refuses the fence entirely, turning the question from who qualifies as my neighbour into whether I will be one. Love defined down is love escaped; love lived has no perimeter.
Luke 10:29 in the Original Language
dikaioo (δικαιόω), 'justify' -- to declare righteous, here to vindicate oneself.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 10:29
What does Luke 10:29 mean?
Wanting to justify himself, the lawyer asks Jesus to define the term: and who is my neighbour?