Luke Chapter 10, Verse 29
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29: ο δε θελων δικαιουν εαυτον ειπεν προς τον ιησουν και τις εστιν μου πλησιον
29: But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who
is my neighbour?
29: But he willing to justify himself, said to Jesus: And who is my
neighbour?
To justify himself. Desirous to appear blameless, or to vindicate
himself, and show that he had kept the law. Jesus wished to lead him
to a proper view of his own sinfulness, and his real departure from
the law. The man was desirous of showing that he had kept the law; or
perhaps he was desirous of justifying himself for asking the question;
of showing that it could not be so easily settled; that a mere reference
to the words of the law did not determine it. It was still a question
what was meant by neighbour. The Pharisees held that the Jews only
were to be regarded as such, and that the obligation did not extend
at all to the Gentiles. The lawyer was probably ready to affirm that
he had discharged faithfully his duty to his countrymen, and had thus
kept the law, and could justify himself. Every sinner is desirous of
justifying himself. He seeks to do it by his own works. For this
purpose he perverts the meaning of the law, destroys its spirituality,
and brings down the law to his standard, rather than attempt to frame
his life by its requirements.
