25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. (Luke 10:25-28 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Here we have a lawyer, that is, an interpreter and expounder of the law of Moses, tempting our Saviour; that is, making a trial of him, whether he would deliver any doctrine contrary to the law of Moses; he propounds, therefore, a question, What he should do to inherit eternal life?
Where note, he believed in the certainty of a future state.
1. He professes his desire of eternal happiness in that state.
2. He declares his readiness to do something in order to the obtaining of that happiness.
Hence learn, that all religion, both natural and revealed, teaches men that good works are necessary to salvation, or that something must be done by those who desire to enter into life: What shall I do to inherit eternal life? It is not talking well and professing well, but doing well, that entitles us to heaven and eternal salvation; and this the very light of nature teaches.
Observe, 2. Our Saviour’s answer: What is written in the law? How readest thou? Intimating to us, that the word and law of God is the rule and measure of our duty; our guide to direct us in the way to eternal life.
The man replies, that the law of God requires that we love God with all our heart, soul, and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves.
Where note, 1. That the fervor of all our affections, and particularly the supremacy of our love, is required by God as his right and due. Love must pass through and possess all the powers and faculties of our souls. The mind must meditate upon God, the will must choose and embrace him, the affections must take complacency and delight in him, the measure of loving God is to love him without measure.
Note, 2. That the best evidence of our sincere love to God is, the unfeigned love of our neighbor: love to man is both a fruit and testimony of our love to God. For he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
Note, 3. That as it is every man’s duty to love himself, so is he to love his neighbor as himself; not as he does love himself, but as he ought to love himself; not with the same measure and degree of love, but in the same manner and kind of love that we love ourselves.
Do we love ourselves freely and readily, sincerely and unfeignedly, tenderly and compassionately, constantly and perseveringly? So should we love our neighbor also. Though we are not required to love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves, yet are we commanded to love him like we love ourselves.
Observe lastly, Our Lord’s reply: Thou hast answered right. This do, and thou shalt live.
Where note, that Christ intimates to him, that the law considered in itself could give life, but then a person must keep it perfectly and exactly, without the least deficiency; which is impossible to man in his fallen state; for the law is not weak to us, but we are weak to that. Ro 13:3 The law becomes weak through the weakness of our flesh. Such as seek salvation by the works of the law, must keep the law perfectly and exactly; which being impossible in our fallen estate, Christ has obtained of his Father, that for his sake our sincere, though imperfect obedience, shall find acceptance with God and be available to our salvation.
BURKITT | Luke 10:1 | Luke 10:2 | Luke 10:3-4 | Luke 10:5-6 | Luke 10:7-12 | Luke 10:13-15 | Luke 10:16 | Luke 10:17-18 | Luke 10:19 | Luke 10:20 | Luke 10:21-22 | Luke 10:23-24 | Luke 10:25-28 | Luke 10:29-37 | Luke 10:38 | Luke 10:39 | Luke 10:40 | Luke 10:41-42 | KJV Comm