Danny Hickman

I don't think we'll ever all agree about this. Jesus didn't direct the man to the law to give an answer to the requirements for eternal life. He asked an "expert in the law" did he understand the law. The expert said he did, and quoted the law. Jesus told him if he could keep the law he quoted he would live. Of course, that's true.

Then the conversation changed. The man, having answered that he was to love his neighbor the way he loves himself, now asks Jesus who should he consider to be his neighbor. Jesus tells him a parable about 3 men who come across a man who was in need of help. Two of the men didn't help. One did. He asked the "expert in the law" which of the three did he think was neighbor to the man. The expert said 'the one who helped him.' Jesus said, "go and do likewise." (The parable of the good Samaritan of Luke 10).

Jesus answered both his questions. The first question was "what must I (the expert in the law) do to inherit eternal life?") Jesus told him what HE MUST DO. (Side note: he can't do it and neither can anyone else.)

Then the expert asked "who is my neighbor?" Jesus allowed him to answer his own question both times.

Good luck to anyone who thinks he/she can keep the law in his/her own strength and obtain eternal life. But please don't put words in Jesus' mouth. He answered the man's question. If the man wanted to do something himself to obtain eternal life, he'd need to NEVER break God's law. It was too late. He was born a sinner.

September 13 2021 • Report