Throughout the Bible, we see a difference between “knowing” and “doing” the word of God. We must know God’s word and His will, but it is just as critical to put it into action.
In Luke 10, a lawyer “stood up and put [Jesus] to the test, saying, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’” (Luke 10:25). This expert in the law, which is the Old Testament or the Law of Moses, wants to compare witts with the Lord. As expected, Jesus passed this challenge with flying colors by turning back to the lawyer and asking, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” (Luke 10:26). In other words, Jesus says, “You are a legal expert, what does the law say?”
The lawyer then proved his knowledge, answering, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27-28). Jesus responded, “Do this and you will live” (Luke 10:28). This man knew the law but did not yet understand what it meant to do it.
In the verses that follow, Jesus teaches The Parable of the Good Samaritan, providing a perfect description of God’s word in action. At the end of the lesson, Jesus says to the lawyer, “Go and do the same” (Luke 10:37). It is not enough to solely know God’s word; we must both know and do.
Matt Langfield