Luke 10:26

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

{G1161} He said {G2036} unto {G4314} him {G846}, What {G5101} is written {G1125} in {G1722} the law {G3551}? how {G4459} readest thou {G314}?

But Yeshua said to him, “What is written in the Torah? How do you read it?”

“What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?”

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

In Luke 10:26, Jesus responds to a lawyer's crucial question about inheriting eternal life by turning the inquiry back to the very source of the lawyer's expertise: the written Law of God. This verse encapsulates Jesus' profound teaching method and His unwavering affirmation of Scripture's authority.

Context

This verse immediately follows the lawyer's question in Luke 10:25, "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" The questioner was a "lawyer" or "scribe," an expert in the Mosaic Law and Jewish tradition. Instead of providing a direct answer, Jesus challenges the lawyer to consult his own knowledge of the Scriptures, which were the foundation of his profession and the very fabric of Jewish life. This approach highlights Jesus' wisdom, affirming the Law's divine origin and the lawyer's responsibility to understand it.

Key Themes

  • Authority of Scripture: Jesus' immediate directive, "What is written in the law?", underscores the ultimate authority and sufficiency of God's revealed Word. For Jesus, the Law was the definitive source of truth regarding spiritual matters and eternal life.
  • Personal Engagement and Interpretation: The follow-up question, "how readest thou?", is crucial. It goes beyond mere intellectual knowledge or rote memorization. Jesus challenges the lawyer to demonstrate his personal understanding, interpretation, and application of the Law. It implies that true comprehension comes from thoughtful, prayerful engagement with the text, not just academic study.
  • Wisdom in Teaching: Jesus' method of answering a question with a question often served to expose the inquirer's heart, challenge their assumptions, and lead them to discover truth for themselves. This approach encouraged self-reflection and demonstrated Jesus' mastery as a teacher.

Linguistic Insights

  • The term "law" in this context refers to the Greek word nomos (νόμος), which specifically denotes the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament (Pentateuch), containing God's commandments given through Moses. This was the core of the Jewish legal and spiritual system.
  • The phrase "how readest thou?" translates the Greek pos anaginoskeis? (πῶς ἀναγινώσκεις;). The verb anaginosko means "to read," but it often carries the nuance of "to read and understand," "to comprehend," or "to discern the meaning." It's not just about vocalizing words but grasping their profound implications.

Related Scriptures

This pivotal question directly leads to the lawyer's correct summary of the Law in Luke 10:27, which Jesus affirms in Luke 10:28, saying, "thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live." The emphasis on what is "written" and the importance of meditating on God's Word is a consistent theme throughout Scripture, as seen in Psalm 1:2 and Joshua 1:8. Jesus Himself frequently appealed to the Old Testament, affirming its validity and His fulfillment of it, as stated in Matthew 5:17.

Practical Application

Luke 10:26 holds enduring relevance for believers today. It challenges us to:

  • Engage Personally with Scripture: It's not enough to rely on others' interpretations or simply hear sermons. We must actively read, study, and meditate on God's Word ourselves, seeking to understand its meaning for our lives.
  • Seek Understanding and Application: The question "how readest thou?" prompts us to move beyond mere intellectual assent to practical application. Are we truly comprehending the Bible's message, and are we living in accordance with what we read?
  • Recognize the Bible as Our Guide: For answers to life's most profound questions, including how to live a life pleasing to God and inherit eternal life, the Bible remains our authoritative and sufficient guide.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Romans 3:19

    ¶ Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

  • Galatians 3:21

    [Is] the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

  • Galatians 3:22

    But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

  • Isaiah 8:20

    To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, [it is] because [there is] no light in them.

  • Romans 10:5

    For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

  • Romans 4:14

    For if they which are of the law [be] heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

  • Romans 4:16

    Therefore [it is] of faith, that [it might be] by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

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