Day 127 – The question behind the question

Study Luke 10:25-29

“But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbour?’” Luke 10:29

A lawyer, an expert in the Jewish law, approached Jesus with an important question: “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” At first glance, it seems like a sincere spiritual question, and perhaps it was. Yet Luke tells us that he was also testing Jesus.

Instead of answering directly, Jesus pointed him back to Scripture. “What is written in the law?” The lawyer knew the answer immediately. He summarized the law beautifully: love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.

The problem was not that he lacked knowledge. The problem was that he lacked perfect obedience.

Jesus told him, “Do this and you will live.” If a person could perfectly love God with every part of their being and perfectly love every neighbour, they would fulfil God’s law completely. But no one can do this perfectly. Every one of us falls short.

Rather than admitting his failure, the lawyer tried to narrow the requirements. Luke tells us that he wanted to justify himself. Instead of asking, “Am I truly loving others?” he asked, “Who exactly counts as my neighbour?”

We often do the same. We look for the minimum requirement rather than examining our hearts. We compare ourselves to others instead of God’s perfect standard. Yet God’s law was never given to prove how good we are. It was given to show us how much we need His grace.

The lawyer’s question opened the door for one of Jesus’ most famous parables, a story that would completely redefine what it means to love our neighbour.

Pray with me: Lord, guard me from trying to justify myself before You. Help me to honestly examine my heart and to depend fully on Your grace rather than my own efforts. Amen. ©

Love, Iriza