Anchor My Faith

What Does the Law Say?

Scripture: Luke 10:27-29

In the previous lesson Jesus was asked a question by a lawyer which began a conversation that we will follow with interest.

^{Lk 10:27} “And [the lawyer] answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”’

If we look back in the Old Testament, the answer the lawyer gave was from Deuteronomy 6:5. When comparing the lawyer’s answer to that given in Deuteronomy, we find he added “with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself” to “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” In Matthew, Mark and Luke we find heart, soul and mind used. Strength is used in Mark and Luke and might is used in Deuteronomy.

In thinking about the meaning of heart, soul, strength and mind as used in the Bible can lead one to an interesting study. For now, we will be satisfied with the brief description given in the footnote for Luke 10:27 on p. 1976, ESV Study Bible, Copyright © 2008 by Crossway Bibles: “the words heart (emotions, will, and deepest convictions), soul (the immaterial part of a person’s being), mind (reason), . . . and strength (how a person uses the abilities and powers that he has).”

The addition of loving your neighbor as yourself is going to become a problem for the lawyer as we will see shortly in the conversation. Before we come to that, we need to look at the response Jesus gives.

^{Lk 10:28} “And [Jesus] said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”’

If we obtain salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, how can Jesus say, “do this and you will live?” According to the law, what the lawyer said is true, but can one live a perfect life as Jesus did and if he could, . . . well he can’t! One’s knowledge of what should be done to inherit eternal life in insufficient. It must be lived out perfectly and Jesus is about to show the lawyer that he is falling short on the “doing.”

^{Lk 10:29} “But [the lawyer], desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”’

This is the opportunity Jesus was working up to. The lawyer asks a simple question to justify himself in his act of loving his neighbor, but in so doing he will soon realize that he is in trouble. Jesus responds to his question with the parable of the good Samaritan.

Conclusion

The law was a means of guidance, but it could not save us. It provided a means of covering sin until Jesus came as the perfect sacrifice. 24 “So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith” (Galatians 3:24 – 26 ESV).