Bible Strands
Luke 18:20
You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.’”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to the rich young ruler immediately after correcting the man's use of the word "good." The ruler cites the moral prohibitions and the duty to honor parents in response to Jesus' inquiry about inheriting eternal life.
The words — οἶδας (oidas) literally means "you know," and ἐντολὰς (entolas) translates to "commandments." Jesus uses these terms to anchor the ruler's attention to the established law he already acknowledges.
The thread — This listing of prohibitions and the honor command runs parallel to Exodus 20:12 and Deuteronomy 5:16. Matthew 19:17 records the identical exchange where Jesus redirects the ruler toward the One who is good.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to acknowledge that verbal knowledge of the law and claims of outward compliance are explicitly stated before any deeper reckoning. It forces a direct assessment of whether moral performance can actually satisfy the standard it proclaims.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
Cross-references
- Exodus 20:12 Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
- Deuteronomy 5:16 Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
- Matthew 19:17 “Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
- Romans 13:9 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.”
- Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
- Mark 10:18 “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone.
- Romans 7:7 What then shall we say? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the law. For I would not have been aware of coveting if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”
- Galatians 3:10 All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
- Ephesians 6:2 “Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise),
- Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.