Luke 10:28

KJV

And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} he said {G2036} unto him {G846}, Thou hast answered {G611} right {G3723}: this {G5124} do {G4160}, and {G2532} thou shalt live {G2198}.

Complete Jewish Bible

“That’s the right answer,” Yeshua said. “Do this, and you will have life.”

Berean Standard Bible

“You have answered correctly,” Jesus said. “Do this and you will live.”

American Standard Version

And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 10:28 captures Jesus's direct affirmation of a lawyer's correct theological understanding regarding the path to eternal life, as summarized by the Law's greatest commands. In response to the lawyer's astute recitation of loving God and neighbor, Jesus validates his answer and issues a profound imperative: "this do, and thou shalt live." This pivotal statement sets the stage for the subsequent Parable of the Good Samaritan, revealing the practical, and ultimately humanly unattainable, demands of perfect obedience to the divine standard.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the climax of an immediate exchange between Jesus and an unnamed lawyer. The dialogue begins with the lawyer's provocative question, "[What shall I do to inherit eternal life?](/luke/10-25 "Luke 10:25 - The Lawyer's Question")" Jesus, in characteristic fashion, turns the inquiry back to the lawyer, asking, "[What is written in the law? how readest thou?](/luke/10-26 "Luke 10:26 - Jesus's Counter-Question")" The lawyer responds by masterfully synthesizing the Law's essence, quoting from Deuteronomy 6:5 (love for God) and Leviticus 19:18 (love for neighbor) in [Luke 10:27](/luke/10-27 "Luke 10:27 - The Lawyer's Summary of the Law"). Jesus's affirmation in [Luke 10:28](/luke/10-28 "Luke 10:28 - Jesus's Affirmation and Imperative") directly follows this summary, validating the lawyer's intellectual grasp of the Law. However, the added imperative, "this do," immediately prompts the lawyer's self-justifying follow-up, "[And who is my neighbour?](/luke/10-29 "Luke 10:29 - The Lawyer's Follow-up Question")," which then occasions the famous [Parable of the Good Samaritan](/luke/10-30-37 "Luke 10:30-37 - The Parable of the Good Samaritan").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In first-century Judaism, lawyers (nomikoi) were experts in Mosaic Law, often associated with the Pharisees, though distinct. Their role involved interpreting and teaching the intricacies of the Torah. Debates about the "greatest commandment" were common among rabbinic schools, with various interpretations of how to fulfill the Law's numerous precepts. The lawyer's question, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?", was a standard theological inquiry of the time, reflecting a widespread concern for righteousness and the afterlife. Jesus's method of engaging the lawyer—by asking him to consult the Law himself—was a common rabbinic teaching technique. The emphasis on "doing" (poiéō) was central to Jewish understanding of righteousness, where intellectual knowledge was expected to translate into practical obedience. The subsequent parable, set on the dangerous road from Jerusalem to Jericho, would have resonated deeply with a Jewish audience familiar with the social and religious tensions between Jews and Samaritans.
* **Key Themes:** [Luke 10:28](/luke/10-28 "Luke 10:28 - Jesus's Affirmation and Imperative") contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Luke's Gospel and biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights **The Standard of the Law**, affirming that perfect obedience to God's commands, particularly the dual command to love God and neighbor, is indeed the divine pathway to life. This underscores God's righteous and unchangeable standard. Secondly, the verse addresses **The Nature of "Life,"** clarifying that the "life" (Gk. _záō_) in question, especially in the context of "eternal life" (Gk. _zōēn aiōnion_) from [Luke 10:25](/luke/10-25 "Luke 10:25 - The Lawyer's Question"), refers to spiritual vitality, true flourishing, and eternal fellowship with God, not merely physical existence. Thirdly, it subtly introduces the theme of **Human Inability**, as the subsequent parable and the broader New Testament narrative reveal that fallen humanity cannot perfectly fulfill this demanding standard, thus exposing our desperate need for grace. Finally, the imperative "this do" emphasizes **Action Over Mere Knowledge**, asserting that intellectual understanding of God's commands is insufficient; true righteousness demands active, perfect obedience.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **answered (Greek, _apokrínomai'_):** This verb means "to conclude for oneself, to respond." While often translated simply as "answer," it can also carry the nuance of "to begin to speak where an address is expected." In this context, it highlights the lawyer's confident and correct response to Jesus's question, indicating his authoritative grasp of the Law.
* **right (Greek, _orthōs'_):** An adverb derived from _orthos_ (straight), meaning "in a straight manner," and figuratively, "correctly" or "morally right." Jesus's use of this word is a direct validation of the lawyer's theological accuracy. It signifies that the lawyer's summary of the Law was precisely accurate according to God's standard.
* **live (Greek, _záō'_):** A primary verb meaning "to live, to be alive, to have life." In the context of the lawyer's initial question about "eternal life" (_zōēn aiōnion_), this term transcends mere physical existence. It refers to a profound spiritual vitality, a state of true flourishing, and an enduring, blessed relationship with God. It implies experiencing the fullness of God's intended life for humanity, a state of being fully alive both now and eternally.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he said unto him":** This phrase serves as a direct transition, indicating Jesus's immediate and authoritative response to the lawyer's summary of the Law. It underscores the directness of their theological exchange.
* **"Thou hast answered right":** Jesus here unequivocally affirms the lawyer's intellectual and theological accuracy. The lawyer's synthesis of the Law's greatest commands—loving God with all one's being and one's neighbor as oneself—is declared to be perfectly correct. This validates the lawyer's knowledge and the truth of the Law's essence.
* **"this do":** This is a crucial imperative. Jesus moves beyond mere intellectual assent to demand active obedience. The word "this" refers directly to the lawyer's preceding summary of the Law. It highlights that knowing the Law is insufficient; it must be perfectly performed. This command sets the bar for inheriting eternal life according to the Law's demands.
* **"and thou shalt live":** This clause presents the consequence of fulfilling the imperative. "Live" here, as discussed in the key word analysis, refers to spiritual and eternal life. It is the promise of inheriting eternal life, but it is contingent upon perfectly "doing" what the Law demands. This statement, while true in principle, implicitly exposes the human inability to meet such a perfect standard, thereby setting the stage for the subsequent revelation of grace.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Dialogue** is central, as Jesus directly engages the lawyer in a back-and-forth exchange, which is a common teaching method in the Gospels. Jesus's response includes an **Affirmation** ("Thou hast answered right"), validating the lawyer's knowledge, followed immediately by an **Imperative** ("this do"), which is a direct command. This imperative creates a **Conditional Statement** ("this do, and thou shalt live"), establishing a clear cause-and-effect relationship based on perfect obedience to the Law. There is also a subtle layer of **Dramatic Irony** at play; while Jesus states the truth about the Law's demands, the subsequent narrative (the Parable of the Good Samaritan) reveals the profound difficulty, if not impossibility, for any human to perfectly fulfill the "do" aspect, thereby highlighting humanity's need for a different path to life.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 10:28 stands as a profound theological statement, affirming the Law's perfect standard for righteousness and life. Jesus's declaration that perfect obedience to the command to love God and neighbor is the path to "live" underscores the divine ideal. However, this affirmation simultaneously serves to highlight humanity's inherent inability to meet such a demanding standard. The Law, in this context, functions not as a means by which fallen humanity can earn salvation, but rather as a mirror reflecting our sinfulness and desperate need for a Savior. It sets the stage for the New Testament's revelation of salvation by grace through faith, demonstrating that while the Law reveals God's perfect will, it cannot impart the power to perfectly fulfill it. Thus, the verse implicitly points to the necessity of a righteousness that comes from God, rather than from human effort.

* [Romans 3:20](/romans/3-20 "Romans 3:20 - The Law and Justification"): "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."
* [Galatians 3:11-12](/galatians/3-11-12 "Galatians 3:11-12 - Righteousness by Faith, Not Law"): "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them."
* [James 2:10](/james/2-10 "James 2:10 - Breaking One Commandment"): "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 10:28 presents a profound challenge and a crucial theological truth for every believer. While Jesus affirms the principle that perfect obedience to the law of love would indeed grant eternal life, the consistent message of Scripture is that fallen humanity is utterly incapable of such perfection. This verse, therefore, serves not as a pathway to salvation by works, but as a divine mirror reflecting our inability to meet God's perfect standard, thereby highlighting our desperate need for grace and a Savior. It points us to the fact that only Christ perfectly fulfilled the law on our behalf. For believers today, it reminds us that while we are saved by grace through faith, the command to love God with all our being and our neighbor as ourselves remains the fundamental ethical framework for a life transformed by the Holy Spirit. It calls us to actively pursue genuine love, not just intellectually assent to its importance, recognizing that our ability to do so flows from God's empowering grace, enabling us to live out the Law's spirit, not to earn salvation, but as a grateful response to it.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways do I, like the lawyer, sometimes rely on my own understanding or performance rather than on God's grace for my spiritual standing?**
* **How does Jesus's statement, "this do, and thou shalt live," expose the depth of God's righteous standard and my own inability to perfectly meet it?**
* **Considering the subsequent Parable of the Good Samaritan, what does "loving my neighbor" truly entail in my daily life, beyond mere intellectual agreement?**
* **How does the realization of my inability to perfectly "do" the Law lead me to a deeper appreciation for Christ's work on my behalf?**

### FAQ
**Does Luke 10:28 teach that salvation is earned by works?**

Answer: No, Luke 10:28 does not teach salvation by works in the sense that fallen humanity can earn eternal life through perfect obedience. Instead, it affirms the *principle* that if someone *could* perfectly fulfill the Law's demands—loving God with all their heart, soul, strength, and mind, and their neighbor as themselves—they would indeed "live" (inherit eternal life). However, the subsequent narrative, particularly the [Parable of the Good Samaritan](/luke/10-30-37 "Luke 10:30-37 - The Parable of the Good Samaritan"), and the broader New Testament teaching, reveal that no human being, apart from Christ, can perfectly keep the Law. The verse serves to highlight the Law's unyielding standard and, by extension, humanity's inherent inability to meet it, thereby underscoring the universal need for God's grace and the righteousness provided through faith in Jesus Christ, as articulated in passages like [Romans 3:23-24](/romans/3-23-24 "Romans 3:23-24 - All Have Sinned and Are Justified by Grace").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 10:28, while seemingly a straightforward affirmation of the Law's demands, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment not in human ability to "do" but in Christ's perfect fulfillment of the Law on our behalf. The lawyer's correct summary of the Law, affirmed by Jesus, sets forth God's righteous standard—a standard no fallen human can perfectly meet. Jesus himself, however, is the only one who truly "did" this, perfectly loving God and neighbor without blemish ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our Sinless High Priest")). Therefore, the "life" promised in [Luke 10:28](/luke/10-28 "Luke 10:28 - Jesus's Affirmation and Imperative") is not attained by our own doing, but by faith in the One who did it all. Christ's life, death, and resurrection provide the perfect righteousness that the Law demands, making it available to all who believe ([Romans 10:4](/romans/10-4 "Romans 10:4 - Christ is the End of the Law for Righteousness")). Through Him, we are not only declared righteous but also empowered by the Holy Spirit to genuinely love God and neighbor, not to earn life, but as a grateful response to the life already given ([Galatians 5:22-23](/galatians/5-22-23 "Galatians 5:22-23 - The Fruit of the Spirit")). Thus, this verse ultimately points to Jesus as the embodiment of the Law's fulfillment and the sole source of eternal life.

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

Ezekiel 20:11

And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which [if] a man do, he shall even live in them.

Leviticus 18:5

Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I [am] the LORD.

Matthew 19:17

And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

Nehemiah 9:29

And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.

Galatians 3:12

And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

Luke 7:43

Simon answered and said, I suppose that [he], to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

Romans 10:4

For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.