Luke 10:27

Context of Luke 10:27

The commentary on Luke 10:27 comes in response to a lawyer's challenging question to Jesus: "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luke 10:25). Rather than immediately providing an answer, Jesus turns the question back to the expert in the Mosaic Law, asking, "What is written in the law? how readest thou?" The lawyer's reply in verse 27 is a profound summary of the Old Testament commandments, demonstrating his knowledge of the scriptures. This foundational principle then leads directly into the lawyer's follow-up question, "And who is my neighbour?" which prompts Jesus' famous Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37).

Key Themes and Messages

• The Two Greatest Commandments: Luke 10:27 presents what Jesus elsewhere confirms as the two greatest commandments, encapsulating the entire Law and the Prophets. The first part focuses on our vertical relationship with God, and the second on our horizontal relationship with humanity.
• Holistic Love for God: The command to "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind" emphasizes a comprehensive, undivided devotion. This echoes the ancient Jewish confession of faith, the Shema, found in Deuteronomy 6:5.
  • Heart (kardia): Represents the core of one's being, emotions, and will.
  • Soul (psyche): Pertains to one's life, inner self, and vitality.
  • Strength (ischys): Implies all one's physical and mental energy, resources, and capabilities.
  • Mind (dianoia): Highlights the intellectual aspect of devotion, understanding, and reason. This specific addition of "mind" in the New Testament accounts, while implied in the Old Testament's comprehensive terms, underscores the importance of intellectual engagement in faith.
• Love for Neighbor as Self: The second part, "and thy neighbour as thyself," quoted from Leviticus 19:18, establishes the outward expression of true love. It implies that genuine love for God naturally extends to sincere care and benevolence towards others. It is not an inferior command but an inseparable companion to the first, reflecting God's own character. As Jesus teaches in Matthew 22:37-40, "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "heart, soul, strength" comes directly from the Hebrew of Deuteronomy 6:5, which was central to Jewish identity and daily life. The inclusion of "mind" (Greek: dianoia) in this New Testament rendition by Jesus (and the lawyer) adds a specific emphasis on intellectual understanding and thought as part of holistic love for God. It means loving God not just with emotion and action, but with deliberate thought and understanding.

Practical Application

Luke 10:27 provides a timeless blueprint for Christian living. It challenges believers to cultivate a love for God that is all-encompassing, affecting every facet of their being—their emotions, will, physical efforts, and intellectual pursuits. Furthermore, it mandates that this profound love for God must manifest in tangible, selfless love for others. This means treating our neighbors—whether friends, family, or strangers—with the same care, respect, and consideration we desire for ourselves. True spirituality, according to this verse, is not merely intellectual assent or ritualistic observance, but an active, passionate, and comprehensive love for God that overflows into genuine love for humanity.