Luke 10:29

But the expert, ¹  wanting to justify ²  himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Le 19:34; Job 32:2; Mt 5:43,44; Lu 10:36; Lu 16:15; Lu 18:9-11; Ro 4:2; Ro 10:3; Ga 3:11; Jas 2:24

¹ tn Grk “And he”; the referent (the expert in religious law, shortened here to “the expert”) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

² tn Or “vindicate.”

sn The expert in religious law picked up on the remark about the neighbor and sought to limit his responsibility for loving. Some believed this obligation would only be required toward the righteous (Sir 12:1-4). The lawyer was trying to see if that was right and thus confidently establish his righteousness (wanting to justify himself).