The lawyer was not satisfied with the position and works of the Pharisees. He had been studying the scriptures with a desire to learn their real meaning. He had a vital interest in the matter, and he asked in sincerity, "What shall I do?" In his answer as to the requirements of the law, he passed by all the mass of ceremonial and ritualistic precepts. For these he claimed no value, but presented the two great principles on which hang all the law and the prophets. The Saviour's commendation of this answer placed Him on vantage ground with the rabbis. They could not condemn Him for sanctioning that which had been advanced by an expositor of the law.

Den lovkyndige var ikke tilfreds med farisæernes indstilling og gerninger Han havde studeret skrifterne med ønsket om at forstå deres virkelige betydning. Han følte en levende interesse for sagen og spurgte i al oprigtighed: "Hvad skal jeg gøre?" I sit svar angående lovens krav undlod han at nævne alle de mange ceremonielle bud og forskrifter Han tillagde dem ikke nogen værdi, men fremstillede de to store principper som hele loven og profeterne var afhængig af. Frelserens bifald af hans svar stillede ham gunstigt over for rabbinerne. De kunne ikke fordømme ham for at have bekræftet det, som var blevet fremsat af en lovkyndig.