One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This lawyer, hearing Jesus' sharp critique of the Pharisees, doesn't just deny the charges – he feels personally attacked and calls Jesus out for "insulting" them, revealing a deep-seated sensitivity to public critique despite their own hypocrisy. The original Greek word used here points not just to simple reproach, but to an outrageous insult, highlighting how their pride was wounded by Jesus' unflinching honesty.
One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just delivered a harsh "woe" against the Pharisees and lawyers for their hypocrisy, focusing on their love for prestige and their failure to live by the very laws they enforced on others. A lawyer, hearing these strong accusations, feels personally attacked and speaks up, pointing out that Jesus' words insult him and his peers as well.
Jesus was calling out religious leaders for their hypocrisy. But what happens when the truth he speaks hits a little too close to home for those who hear it?
Jesus had just delivered a stinging rebuke to the Pharisees and scribes in Luke 11:37-44, highlighting their outward piety that masked inner corruption. He exposed their love for status, their hypocrisy in upholding the Law while not practicing it, and their focus on external appearances over internal righteousness. The lawyer's response, "Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also," reveals that Jesus' words weren't just abstract pronouncements; they were perceived as direct accusations. This highlights a key tension: the truth of God's Word, when applied to our lives, can feel like a personal attack, especially if we've been living in ways that don't align with it. It's a sign that the truth has landed, even if the immediate reaction is defensiveness.
Who were these 'lawyers,' and why did Jesus' words about religious leaders hit them so hard? Let's look at their role and Jesus' critique.
In Jesus' day, the terms 'lawyer' and 'scribe' were often used interchangeably, referring to experts in Jewish law. They were the teachers, interpreters, and custodians of the Law of Moses, responsible for its application to daily life. However, Jesus' criticism in the preceding verses (Luke 11:37-44) was directed at their hypocrisy – their outward show of religious observance (loving places of honor, fasting, prayer) that concealed a lack of genuine righteousness and a heavy burden of man-made rules placed on others. These lawyers, as expounders of the Law, were implicated in this system. The lawyer's response shows that he understood Jesus was condemning a way of life that he and his peers likely embodied. He felt personally 'reproached' because Jesus' denunciation of hypocrisy and self-serving religious practice directly challenged their perceived spiritual authority and integrity.
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Understand the original words
nomikos · Greek Noun
Experts in the Mosaic Law who interpreted and taught the Scriptures, often serving as legal advisors and religious authorities.
didaskalos · Greek Noun
An authoritative instructor or master, particularly one recognized for teaching divine truth.
hybrizō · Greek Verb
To speak in a way that causes offense, disparages, or treats with contempt, challenging the honor or standing of a person.
c. 200 BC - AD 30
Rise of the Scribes and Lawyers
During this period, the class of 'scribes' and 'lawyers' gained prominence as expounders and interpreters of the Mosaic Law. They developed a complex system of oral traditions and legalistic rulings that heavily influenced Jewish life.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Ministry in Galilee and Judea
Jesus traveled and taught throughout these regions, confronting the religious authorities and challenging their interpretations and practices of the Law.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Confrontations with Religious Leaders
Jesus engaged in numerous public debates and private conversations with Pharisees, scribes, and lawyers, often exposing their hypocrisy and spiritual blindness.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus Denounces Scribes and Pharisees
In various teachings, Jesus directly condemned the pride, love of prestige, and burdensome legalism of the scribes and Pharisees. This verse is part of such a denunciation.
This passage directly parallels Luke 11:45 by describing Jesus denouncing the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy, specifically their exclusion of people from the kingdom and their burdening of others while not lifting a finger themselves.
Matthew 23:4This verse explains the 'heavy burdens' the lawyer likely felt Jesus referring to, detailing how scribes and Pharisees 'bind heavy burdens' and lay them on people's shoulders, illustrating the oppressive legalism that Jesus condemned.
Luke 11:52This verse follows immediately and acts as Jesus' direct response, declaring 'Woe to you lawyers!' and further condemning them for taking away the key of knowledge, highlighting the intellectual and spiritual arrogance behind their 'burdens'.
Romans 2:17-24This passage addresses the same issue of religious leaders who outwardly appear righteous but inwardly are corrupt, showing how their hypocrisy brings disgrace to God's name among the nations, just as Jesus implied the lawyers' actions did.
barnesLuke 11:45: "Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also."
Lawyers - Men learned in the law; but it is not known in what way the lawyers differed from the "scribes," or whether they were Pharisees or Sadducees. Thus saying, thou ... - He felt that the remarks of Jesus about loving the chief seats, etc., applied to them as well as to the Pharisees. His conscience told him that if "they" were to blame, "he" was also, and he therefore applied t…
wesleyLuke 11:45: "Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also."
11:45 One of the lawyers - That is scribes; expounders of the law.
This lawyer, hearing Jesus' sharp critique of the Pharisees, doesn't just deny the charges – he feels personally attacked and calls Jesus out for "insulting" them, revealing a deep-seated sensitivity to public critique despite their own hypocrisy. The original Greek word used here points not just to simple reproach, but to an outrageous insult, highlighting how their pride was wounded by Jesus' unflinching honesty.
Jesus has just delivered a harsh "woe" against the Pharisees and lawyers for their hypocrisy, focusing on their love for prestige and their failure to live by the very laws they enforced on others. A lawyer, hearing these strong accusations, feels personally attacked and speaks up, pointing out that Jesus' words insult him and his peers as well.
Jesus has just delivered a harsh "woe" against the Pharisees and lawyers for their hypocrisy, focusing on their love for prestige and their failure to live by the very laws they enforced on others. A lawyer, hearing these strong accusations, feels personally attacked and speaks up, pointing out that Jesus' words insult him and his peers as well.
"One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.”" — This lawyer, hearing Jesus' sharp critique of the Pharisees, doesn't just deny the charges – he feels personally attacked and calls Jesus out for "insulting" them, revealing a deep-seated sensitivity…
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Last reviewed October 2026