Luke 10:29

Verse 29. 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.