what did the lawyer in luke mean by "eternal life"

This learned lawyer had developed the legalist view that keeping the Law was the route to eternal life. This legalistic scholar had developed a perspective which meant that he had to DO something in order to obtain eternal life.

Full Answer

Is law keeping the way to eternal life?

 · ( Luke 10:25-28 ). Notice that the lawyer was testing Jesus (v. 25) and asked what works he must do to have eternal life . The lawyer obviously had faith in God that produced good works consistent with the Law since he quoted the Law to Jesus when Jesus asked him what was written in the Law.

How did the lawyer put Jesus to the test in Luke?

A certain lawyer - One who professed to be well skilled in the laws of Moses, and whose business it was to explain them. Stood up - Rose - came forward to address him. Tempted him - Feigned a desire to be instructed, but did it to perplex him, or to lead him, if possible, to contradict some of the maxims of the law. Inherit eternal life - Be saved.

Did Jesus insult the lawyers in Luke 11 45?

Does it mean that one can have eternal life without confession and believing? Luke 5:25-37 “On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

What shall I do to inherit eternal life the lawyer asked?

Luke 10:25-37 the Good Samaritan and Eternal Life. One day a Jewish lawyer approached Jesus. He was a remarkable man of fine character. Although the evangelist did not give his name, this man was an expert in the Law of Moses. He spent his life studying the law, interpreting it and teaching it in the synagogues.

What did Jesus mean when he said eternal life?

In Christian teachings, eternal life is not an inherent part of human existence, and is a unique gift from God, based on the model of the Resurrection of Jesus, viewed as a unique event through which death was conquered "once for all", permitting Christians to experience eternal life.

What does eternal life symbolize?

So, how do you receive eternal life and begin living it out? John 17:3 says, “Eternal life means to know and experience you as the only true God, and to know and experience Jesus Christ, as the Son whom you have sent.” To know and experience God.

How does Jesus define eternal life in John 17?

In John 17:3, Jesus defined eternal life saying, “This is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” By Jesus' loving and caring ways, by His power to meet every human need, and by His teaching the word of God, His disciples came to know the Father and the Son.

Who said what must I do to inherit eternal life?

A rich young man asks what he must do to gain eternal life, and Jesus teaches that trusting in riches can keep a person out of the kingdom of God. Jesus praises a poor widow for casting two mites into the treasury. Luke 12:13–21.

What does the word eternal mean in the Bible?

1a : having infinite duration : everlasting eternal damnation. b : of or relating to eternity. c : characterized by abiding fellowship with God good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? — Mark 10:17 (Revised Standard Version) 2a : continued without intermission : perpetual an eternal flame.

What is another word for eternal life?

What is another word for eternal life?immortalitydeathlessnessperpetuityendlessnesseternityindestructibilitytimelessnesseverlasting lifeeverlastingnessimperishability25 more rows

Is salvation the same as eternal life?

However, almost without exception, when the scriptures speak of salvation, they mean full salvation; they mean eternal life or exaltation; and all of these terms are completely, totally, and wholly synonymous. Eternal life is the name of the kind of life that God lives.

What is the difference between eternal and everlasting?

1. According to the English language, “eternal” means “without beginning or end, always existing, lasting forever”; whereas “everlasting” means “lasting forever, lasting for a very long time, for an indefinitely long time.” 2.

What Scripture says you have eternal life?

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life." "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

What must I do to inherit eternal life Luke 10?

To obtain eternal life, I must love God and love my neighbor as myself. It is helpful to remember that the parable of the good Samaritan was Jesus's way of answering a question: “Who is my neighbour?” As you read this parable, keep that question in mind.

Who asked Jesus about eternal life?

In Matthew, a rich young man asks Jesus what actions bring eternal life. First, Jesus advises the man to obey the commandments.

What must a person do to inherit the kingdom of God?

Be ye also ready (2) – Muoka Lazarus Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of them-selves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God”.

The Question (10:25-28)

The first thing we must observe in the story is that a lawyer is asking the question. When we read of the lawyers in the scriptures we cannot think of trial lawyers like we have today. A lawyer means that he was an expert in the Law of Moses and an expert in Jewish law. He knew the laws of God and spent his time studying and teaching the Law.

Need A Savior (10:29)

This properly frames verse 29. The lawyer desires to justify himself. Why is he trying to justify himself? The same reason we are trying to justify ourselves in our minds. He had not done what is required for eternal life. We have not done what is required for eternal life. We have two options.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan (10:30-37)

By telling the parable, Jesus has challenged the lawyer’s assumption. The lawyer asked, “Who is my neighbor?” Look at what Jesus asked in verse 36. Jesus changes the question. “Who do I act like a neighbor toward?” Do you see the reorientation that Jesus demands in our thinking.

Conclusion

Jesus has answered the question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” You have not done what God demands. Jesus says that we are to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. Further, we are to be a neighbor to everyone, showing mercy, loving them as ourselves. We have failed.

What is the lawyer's first question?

The lawyer’s first question was intended to ‘tempt’ Jesus, which here seems to mean, rather, ‘to test’; that is, to ascertain His orthodoxy or His ability. Christ walks calmly through the snare, as if not seeing it. His answer is unimpeachably orthodox, and withal just hints in the slightest way that the question was needless, since one so learned in the law knew well enough what were the conditions of inheriting life. The lawyer knows the letter too well to be at a loss what to answer. But it is remarkable that he gives the same combination of two passages which Jesus gives in His last duel with the Pharisees {Matthew 22:1- Matthew 22:46; Mark 12:1- Mark 12:44}. Did Jesus adopt this lawyer’s summary? Or is Luke’s narrative condensed, omitting stages by which Jesus led the man to so wise an answer?

What does "certain lawyer" mean?

A certain lawyer - One who professed to be well skilled in the laws of Moses, and whose business it was to explain them.

What does Christ teach us about sorrow?

So Christ teaches us that sorrow and need and sympathy and help are of no nationality. That lesson is still more strongly taught by making the helper a Samaritan. Perhaps, if Jesus had been speaking in America, he would have made him a ; or, if in France, a German; or, if in England, a ‘foreigner.’.

What is the purpose of the law?

The purpose of the law was to reveal sin, not to give eternal life. It pointed its long finger and declared, "You are guilty!" "The Scripture has shut up all men under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe" ( Galatians 3:22 ). The purpose of the law was to convict us of sin and point us to the Savior who can save us from our sin and guilt. The law was never meant to save anyone. It was powerless. It was being used for the wrong purpose.

What is the purpose of the law in Romans 3:20?

The purpose of the Law was not to give eternal life.

Who told the story of the Good Samaritan?

Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan (vv. 30-37).

Did Jesus answer the man's question?

It is important to observe that Jesus didn't answer the man's question. He let the man answer his own question. Jesus asked the lawyer what the law teaches. Jesus answered with another question: "What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?" (v. 26). How do you read it? You are an expert in the Law; may I hear your exposition of it?

Is eternal life a good neighbor?

This eternal life is not the result of our good works, not even being a good neighbor, but the result of God's grace manifested through Jesus Christ. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast" ( Ephesians 2:8–9 ).

What does Luke say about the lawyer?

Luke says the lawyer intended to put Jesus to the test, and to do so, he asks two questions.

Why does Jesus undermine the lawyer's standing?

Jesus undermines the lawyer’s standing in order to show that the lawyer, like all the rest of humanity, needs not to stand his ground but to see the face of grace, and then to move, to repent. It is important to keep in view that the story Jesus told the lawyer was a parable, not an example story.

What did the lawyer depend on?

The lawyer depended upon the concepts “love God” and “love neighbor” to remain fixed and stable, a system of religious justification, and, again like most of us, he had found a sweet spot in that religious system that allowed him to be satisfied with himself and his life.

Why was Jesus not born to justify the righteous?

Jesus was not born to justify the righteous; he was born, as the angels over Bethlehem proclaimed, to be a savior. In Jesus, the system is not standing still. God is moving toward humanity in mercy and calling humanity to move toward God in repentance. And that is why Jesus throws the lawyer into the ditch beside the Jericho road.

Where does Jesus set his face to go in the Gospel of Luke?

But that is precisely the beginner’s blunder committed by the well-known Torah attorney who shows up in the tenth chapter of the Gospel of Luke. At this point in Luke, Jesus has “set his face to go to Jerusalem” (9:51) and is beginning the long journey to the city of his destiny, the city of his death, the city of his glory.

Who lifted the lawyer up?

Only the Samaritan, the despised Samaritan, the one by whom the lawyer would not want even to be touched, only the Samaritan lifted him up, dressed his wounds, cared for his life, helped him move from a place of death to a place of life.

Did the lawyer want Jesus to confess?

No, the lawyer wanted Jesus to confess publicly that, while he might seem a tad unorthodox, a bit intense perhaps, whatever he was doing as he made his way from village to village, he was really just waving the flag of the slogan we’ve been saying since we were kids – love God and love your neighbor.

What does the word "lawyer" mean in the Bible?

In everyday speech, we use the term “lawyer ” to mean an attorney, one who represents another in a legal courtroom. The Bible, however, attaches another definition—a religious one. When you encounter the word “lawyer” in Scripture, concentrate on the “law” root. The “law” here is the Mosaic Law, the codified system of rules ...

Who was the doctor of the law in Acts 5?

Acts 5:34: “Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;….” (According to Acts 22:3, Gamaliel was one of the rabbinical mentors of Saul of Tarsus [later the Apostle Paul].

What was the purpose of the Scribes?

The scribes were originally simply men of letters, students of Scripture, and the name first given to them contains in itself no reference to the law; in course of time, however, they devoted themselves mainly, though by no means exclusively, to the study of the law.

What is the Mosaic Law?

The “law” here is the Mosaic Law, the codified system of rules and regulations meant to govern Israel in JEHOVAH God’s ways as the nation lived in His land, the Promised Land. The suffix “ –er ” means “one who practices.”. A “lawyer,” therefore, was an expert or scholar of the Mosaic Law.

Who insulted the Pharisees?

One “lawyer,” speaking on behalf of the others, claims that the Lord Jesus insulted them in Luke 11:45 by telling the truth. Some “lawyers” sided with the Pharisees against Christ when He healed a disabled man on the Sabbath (Luke 14:1-3).

Is a lawyer the same as a scribe?

A lawyer seems to be identical to a “scribe” (this latter appellation emphasizes the man’s ability to write/copy Scripture and other religious texts). The word is comparable to “doctor.” This is not a medical doctor (physician)—please note—but a doctor of theology (what we would call a “Th.D.”). He was a very learned man in Jewish religion and skilled in the interpretation and application of the Mosaic Law. While not an exact equivalent, it may help to understand him as a theologian (as we think of one).

Does skill in the Bible lead to faith?

Furthermore, skill in the Scripture does not necessarily lead to faith. The aforementioned lawyers were experts in the Hebrew Bible and Hebrew religion and yet it was all head knowledge. Most of them did not have a positive heart attitude toward God’s Word.

What does "certain lawyer" mean?

A certain lawyer - One who professed to be well skilled in the laws of Moses, and whose business it was to explain them.

What did Jesus do to the questioner?

Jesus then forced the questioner to answer his own question . The example that he had to follow was not that of the religious purists, but that of the despised foreigner. If a person loves his neighbour as himself, he will act kindly towards anyone that he happens to meet, even enemies ( Luke 10:36-37 ).

What did Jesus tell the disciples about the traveller?

In reply Jesus told a story in which a traveller was beaten, robbed, and left to die. Two Jews, one a priest and the other a Levite, deliberately passed him by, but a Samaritan stopped and helped him ( Luke 10:30-35 ). Jesus then forced the questioner to answer his own question.

What happens if you don't put God before all things?

If they do not put God before all things and their neighbour before themselves, they can have no assurance of eternal life ( Luke 10:25-28 ). The teacher was disappointed with this answer and, in an attempt to excuse his own failings, asked how anyone could know who was or was not his neighbour ( Luke 10:29 ).

What did Jesus' teacher test him with?

A Jewish teacher of the law came to Jesus to test him with a question about eternal life. His question showed that he thought of eternal life as something to be obtained by some special act. Jesus’ reply showed that obtaining eternal life is inseparably linked with the way people live their daily lives.

What does the present section of the Bible remind us of?

The present section also reminds the reader of Jesus’ allegiance to the Old Testament Scriptures, which He viewed as authoritative. Thus it balances Jesus’ former words about Him revealing the Father ( Luke 10:22) with the importance of Scripture in that process. Copyright Statement. These files are public domain.

What does "inherit" mean in the Bible?

The term "inherit" had a particular significance for Jewish readers distinguishing a special way of receiving eternal life (cf. Matthew 5:5; Matthew 19:29; Matthew 25:34 ). However, Gentiles readers for whom Luke wrote would have regarded it as synonymous with obtaining eternal life (cf. Mark 10:17 ).

What does the Bible say about eternal life?

Answer. When the Bible speaks of eternal life, it refers to a gift of God that comes only “through Jesus Christ our Lord” ( Romans 6:23 ). This gift is in contrast to the “death” that is the natural result of sin. The gift of eternal life comes to those who believe in Jesus Christ, who is Himself “the resurrection and the life” ( John 11:25 ).

Why do Christians not have to wait for eternal life?

Believers don’t have to “wait” for eternal life, because it’s not something that starts when they die. Rather, eternal life begins the moment a person exercises faith in Christ. It is our current possession. John 3:36 says, “Whoever believes in the Son has ...

What does the leaf of the tree mean?

And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations” ( Revelation 22:1–2 ). In Eden, we rebelled against God and were banished from the tree of life ( Genesis 3:24 ). In the end, God graciously restores our access to the tree of life. This access is provided through Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ...

Who is the Son of God?

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for your sins, and He rose again the third day. Believe this good news; trust the Lord Jesus as your Savior, and you will be saved ( Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9 –10 ). John puts it so simply: “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

Is there any knowledge of God without the Son?

There is no knowledge of God without the Son, for it is through the Son that the Father reveals Himself to the elect ( John 17:6; 14:9 ). This life-giving knowledge of the Father and the Son is a true, personal knowledge, not just an academic awareness.

Is eternal life eternal?

The fact that this life is “eternal” indicates that it is perpetual life—it goes on and on and on, with no end. It is a mistake, however, to view eternal life as simply an unending progression of years. A common New Testament word for “eternal” is aiónios, which carries the idea of quality as well as quantity.