But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
29. But he wishing to justify himself. This question might appear to be of no importance for justifying a man. But if we recollect what was formerly stated, that the hypocrisy of men is elderly detected by means of the second table—for, while they pretend to be eminent worshippers of God, they openly violate charity towards their neighbors—it will be easy to infer from this...
A lawyer puts the question to trap Christ: what must I do to inherit eternal life? But a good question asked with a mean or contentious spirit is no good question at all. If we speak of eternal life as mere matter of dispute, we take God's name in vain.
AI summary
Commenting on Luke 10:25-37
And Jesus answering, said,.... The following things; which may either be considered as a narrative of matter of fact, or as a supposed case, and delivered by way of parable; and in either way, though the general design of it is in answer to the lawyer's question, to show who may be called a neighbour; and that a man who is a stranger, and accounted...