Everyone knows at least one “lawyer joke.” In this week’s gospel lesson, Luke shows he is no exception.

It appears Jesus’ “private” conversations with his disciples (10:23-24) weren’t all that private. Suddenly a lawyer (“nomikos”) stands up in their midst. What is more, this interloper is defined as being present specifically to “test” (“ekpeirazo”) Jesus, not because he was genuinely seeking to hear about the kingdom.

The lawyer’s initial question is unusual, since the notion of inheriting “eternal life” is not found in the Torah. In Mark (12:28-34) and Matthew (22:34-40) a similar inquiry by a scribe specifically asks Jesus what is the greatest commandment — which is where Jesus’ response here in Luke leads the discussion.

Whatever this lawyer’s motivation for engaging Jesus in dialogue, h…