How does Luke 10:28 connect with the Greatest Commandment in Matthew 22:37-39? Introducing the Two Scenes • Luke 10:28 concludes Jesus’ exchange with a lawyer whose summary of the Law matches Jesus’ own: wholehearted love for God and neighbor. • Matthew 22:37-39 records Jesus stating the same two-fold commandment as the essence of all God requires. The Passages Side by Side Luke 10:28 — “You have answered correctly,” Jesus said. “Do this and you will live.” Matthew 22:37-39 — “Jesus declared, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Shared Foundations • Both texts rest on Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18, anchoring the command in the very Law God gave Moses. • Jesus treats these two verses as inseparable; loving God expresses itself by loving people made in His image (1 John 4:20-21). How Luke 10:28 Connects to Matthew 22:37-39 1. Same content, different emphasis – Matthew records the command; Luke records Jesus’ charge to act on it: “Do this and you will live.” 2. Life promised through obedience – In Luke, Jesus links life (“zoē” — fullness now and forever) with living out the Greatest Commandment. 3. Practical test of love – Luke’s narrative immediately moves to the Good Samaritan (vv. 30-37), illustrating Matthew’s summary command to “love your neighbor.” 4. Unity of heart and deed – Matthew highlights internal devotion; Luke presses for outward practice. Together they show love as both attitude and action (James 2:14-17). What “Do This and You Will Live” Means • Not salvation by works, but evidence of real faith (John 14:15). • Obedience flows from regeneration; the Spirit enables believers to love this way (Romans 5:5). Putting It into Practice • Examine: Is my love for God spilling over into tangible care for those around me? • Prioritize: Schedule time and resources intentionally for both worship and service. • Depend: Pray for the Spirit’s power to love consistently, especially when it costs (Galatians 5:22-23). Encouragement for the Week The Greatest Commandment is not mere theory. Luke 10:28 calls us to step into it every day, confident that the Lord who commands also supplies the life to live it. |
    |