Luke 10:26

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

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

Complete Jewish Bible

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

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In Jesus responds to a lawyer's inquiry about inheriting eternal life by redirecting the question back to the very foundation of the lawyer's expertise: the written Law of God. This pivotal verse encapsulates Jesus' profound pedagogical approach, His unwavering affirmation of the Scriptures' ultimate authority, and His challenge for individuals to not only know the divine text but also to personally engage with and comprehend its deep implications for life and salvation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the lawyer's direct question in [Luke 10:25](/luke/10-25 "Luke 10:25 - The Lawyer's Question About Eternal Life"), "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus' response is a classic example of His teaching method, often answering a question with a question to prompt self-reflection and deeper understanding. Rather than providing a direct answer, Jesus challenges the lawyer to consult his own knowledge of the Scriptures, which were the bedrock of his profession and the very fabric of Jewish life and theology. This approach not only affirms the Law's divine origin but also places the onus of understanding and application squarely on the inquirer, setting the stage for the lawyer's correct summary of the Law in [Luke 10:27](/luke/10-27 "Luke 10:27 - The Lawyer's Summary of the Law") and the subsequent Parable of the Good Samaritan.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The individual addressing Jesus is identified as a "lawyer" (νομικός, _nomikos_), a highly respected expert in the Mosaic Law, its interpretation, and its application within Jewish society. These legal scholars, often associated with the scribes, dedicated their lives to studying the Torah and the vast body of oral traditions that had developed around it. For such an individual, the "Law" (Torah) was the supreme guide for life, faith, and righteousness. Jesus' question, "What is written in the law?", directly appeals to the lawyer's professional domain and the ultimate authority recognized by all devout Jews. The setting is likely during Jesus' final journey towards Jerusalem, a period marked by intense teaching, challenges from religious authorities, and revelations about the nature of the Kingdom of God.

* **Key Themes:** [Luke 10:26](/luke/10-26 "Luke 10:26 - Jesus' Challenge to the Lawyer") contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Luke's Gospel and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it underscores the **Authority and Sufficiency of Scripture**. Jesus consistently defers to the written Word of God as the definitive source of truth, demonstrating its preeminence in matters of faith and practice. Secondly, the phrase "how readest thou?" highlights the theme of **Personal Engagement and Interpretation**. It moves beyond mere intellectual knowledge or rote memorization, challenging the lawyer to demonstrate his personal understanding, interpretation, and application of the Law. This implies that true comprehension comes from thoughtful, prayerful engagement with the text, not just academic study, echoing the call for diligent study seen in [Joshua 1:8](/joshua/1-8 "Joshua 1:8 - Meditating on the Book of the Law"). Finally, Jesus' method exemplifies His **Wisdom in Teaching**. By answering a question with a question, He skillfully exposes the inquirer's heart, challenges their assumptions, and leads them to discover truth for themselves, fostering genuine self-reflection rather than passive reception of information.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **written (Greek, _gráphō'_):** This verb (G1125) means "to grave," especially to write, and figuratively, to describe. In this context, it emphasizes the fixed, authoritative, and enduring nature of the Law. What is "written" is established, unchangeable, and carries divine weight, serving as the ultimate standard for truth and conduct.
* **law (Greek, _nómos'_):** Derived from a primary root meaning "to parcel out," this noun (G3551) refers to law, specifically the Torah—the first five books of the Old Testament (Pentateuch). It encompasses God's commandments given through Moses and represents the core of the Jewish legal, moral, and spiritual system, embodying God's revealed will.
* **readest thou (Greek, _anaginṓskō'_):** This verb (G314), formed from _aná_ ("again" or "up") and _ginṓskō_ ("to know"), means "to know again" or "to read." Crucially, it often carries the nuance of "to read and understand," "to comprehend," or "to discern the meaning." Jesus is not merely asking if the lawyer can vocalize the words, but if he truly grasps their profound implications and internalizes their message.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He said unto him":** This phrase establishes Jesus' direct and intentional engagement with the lawyer. It signifies a personal challenge and a pedagogical moment where Jesus takes control of the conversation, shifting the burden of the answer back to the questioner.
* **"What is written in the law?":** This is the first part of Jesus' two-fold question. It immediately directs the lawyer to the authoritative source of truth—the Mosaic Law. Jesus implicitly affirms the Law's divine origin and its sufficiency as a guide for life, including the path to eternal life. It challenges the lawyer to recall and articulate the explicit commands and principles contained within the sacred texts he claims to master.
* **"how readest thou?":** This second, crucial part of the question moves beyond mere recall to personal interpretation and application. It probes the lawyer's understanding, discernment, and the way he processes and internalizes the written Word. Jesus is asking not just "What does it say?" but "How do you understand and apply what it says to your life and the question of eternal life?" This implies a call to active, thoughtful, and perhaps even spiritually enlightened reading.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 10:26 powerfully employs **Rhetorical Question** as its primary literary device. Jesus' questions are not posed out of ignorance, but strategically to provoke thought, expose the inquirer's heart, and guide them toward self-discovery of truth. This specific form of rhetorical questioning, often termed **Interrogatio**, serves a didactic purpose, compelling the lawyer to actively participate in the learning process rather than passively receiving an answer. The structure of the two questions, "What is written...?" and "how readest thou?", also demonstrates a form of **Climactic Parallelism**, moving from objective knowledge of the text to subjective understanding and application, thereby intensifying the challenge presented to the lawyer. This skillful use of questioning highlights Jesus' mastery as a teacher and His commitment to fostering genuine spiritual insight.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 10:26 is deeply theological, asserting the foundational role of divine revelation in human understanding of God's will and the path to salvation. Jesus' immediate appeal to "what is written" underscores the **sufficiency and authority of Scripture** as the ultimate guide for life. It implies that the answers to humanity's deepest questions, including the pursuit of eternal life, are not to be found in human philosophy or tradition alone, but in the inspired Word of God. Furthermore, the follow-up question, "how readest thou?", introduces the critical theological concept of **human responsibility in discerning and applying divine truth**. It's not enough to possess the text; one must actively engage with it, allowing its principles to shape one's understanding and actions. This interaction between divine revelation and human response is central to biblical theology, emphasizing that true knowledge of God leads to transformative obedience.

* [Luke 10:27](/luke/10-27 "Luke 10:27 - The Lawyer's Summary of the Law")
* [Joshua 1:8](/joshua/1-8 "Joshua 1:8 - Meditating on the Book of the Law")
* [Psalm 1:2](/psalms/1-2 "Psalm 1:2 - Delight in God's Law")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 10:26 serves as an enduring challenge and invitation for every believer today. It calls us to move beyond superficial engagement with Scripture and to cultivate a deep, personal, and transformative relationship with God's Word. In a world saturated with information, it's easy to outsource our spiritual understanding to others, relying solely on sermons, commentaries, or social media snippets. However, Jesus' question compels us to take personal responsibility for our spiritual growth, urging us to diligently read, study, and meditate on the Bible ourselves. The emphasis on "how readest thou?" reminds us that mere intellectual assent or rote memorization is insufficient; true spiritual understanding comes from allowing the Holy Spirit to illuminate the text, enabling us to comprehend its profound implications for our lives and to apply its truths practically. This verse encourages us to approach the Bible not just as an ancient text, but as the living, active Word of God, capable of guiding us into all truth and leading us to eternal life.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How consistently and deeply do I personally engage with the written Word of God in my daily life?**
* **Beyond simply reading, am I actively seeking to understand, interpret, and apply the Scriptures to my specific circumstances and questions about life and faith?**
* **In what ways might I be relying on others' interpretations rather than developing my own Spirit-led understanding of the Bible?**
* **Do I truly see the Bible as the authoritative and sufficient guide for answering life's most profound questions, including how to live a life pleasing to God and inherit eternal life?**

### FAQ
**Why did Jesus respond to the lawyer's question with a question?**

Answer: Jesus frequently employed rhetorical questions as a pedagogical tool, particularly when dealing with religious leaders or those seeking to test Him. His purpose was not to gain information, but to expose the inquirer's true motives, challenge their assumptions, and lead them to discover the truth for themselves. In this instance, by asking "What is written in the law? how readest thou?", Jesus skillfully turned the lawyer's own expertise against him, compelling him to articulate the very principles he claimed to master. This method fostered self-reflection and demonstrated Jesus' wisdom, affirming the Law's authority while also probing the lawyer's personal understanding and application of it, as seen in the subsequent exchange in [Luke 10:27-28](/luke/10-27-28 "Luke 10:27-28 - The Lawyer's Answer and Jesus' Affirmation").

**What is the significance of Jesus asking "how readest thou?"**

Answer: The phrase "how readest thou?" goes beyond a simple inquiry about literacy. The Greek verb _anaginṓskō_ (G314), translated "readest," implies not just vocalizing words but comprehending, discerning, and internalizing their meaning. Jesus was challenging the lawyer's personal interpretation and application of the Law. It suggests that merely knowing what the Law says intellectually is insufficient; true understanding involves a personal, thoughtful engagement that leads to practical obedience. This question probes the depth of the lawyer's spiritual insight and whether his reading of the Law had led him to the true path of eternal life, foreshadowing the parable that follows.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While [Luke 10:26](/luke/10-26 "Luke 10:26 - Jesus Directs to the Law") directs the lawyer back to the Old Testament Law, its ultimate fulfillment and the answer to the lawyer's question about eternal life are found in Jesus Christ Himself. The Law, when "read" correctly and with spiritual discernment, reveals humanity's inability to perfectly keep God's commands and thus points to the desperate need for a Savior. Jesus did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it ([Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law and the Prophets")), perfectly embodying its righteous demands and bearing its curse on our behalf ([Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse of the Law")). The "eternal life" the lawyer sought is not earned through perfect adherence to the Law, which is impossible for fallen humanity, but is a gift freely offered through faith in Christ Jesus ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")). Thus, when we "read" the Law today, we do so through the lens of Christ, understanding that He is the ultimate revelation of God's character and the only means by which we can truly inherit the eternal life the lawyer so earnestly desired ([John 17:3](/john/17-3 "John 17:3 - Eternal Life is Knowing God and Jesus Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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,