Luke 18:20
A plain-spoken deep dive on this verse. Read the chapter →
You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.’”
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Thou knowest, &c.--Matthew (Mat 19:17) is more complete here: "but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which--as if he had said, Point me out one of them which I have not kept?--"Jesus said, Thou shalt," &c. (Mat 19:17-18). Our Lord purposely confines Himself to the second table, which He would consider easy to keep, enumerating them all--for in Mark (Mar 10:19), "Defraud not" stands for the tenth (else the eighth is twice repeated). In Matthew (Mat 19:19) the sum of this second table of the law is added, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself," as if to see if he would venture to say he had kept that.
Open source ↗In this chapter we have, I. The parable of the importunate widow, designed to teach us fervency in prayer (Luk 18:1-8). II. The parable of the Pharisee and publican, designed to teach us humility, and humiliation for sin, in prayer (Luk 18:9-14). III. Christ's favour to little children that were brought to him (Luk 18:15-17). IV. The trial of a rich man that had a mind to follow Christ, whether he loved better Christ or his riches; his coming short upon that trial; and Christ's discourse with his disciples upon that occasion (Luk 18:18-30). V. Christ's foretelling his own death and sufferings (Luk 18:31-34). VI. His restoring sight to a blind man (Luk 18:35-43). And these four passages we had before in Matthew and Mark.
Open source ↗18:20 you know the commandments: Jesus cites the fifth through ninth of the Ten Commandments (Exod 20:12-16; Deut 5:16-20), which pertain to relationships between human beings.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
“Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise),
Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.
To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.