Then {o} one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

(o) A scribe, so it says in Mr 12:28. To understand what a scribe is, see Geneva Mt 2:4

People's New Testament

22:35 A lawyer. An expounder of the law of Moses. A scribe (see Mr 12:32).

Tempting him. Trying him.

Wesley's Notes

22:35 A scribe asking him a question, trying him - Not, as it seems, with any ill design: but barely to make a farther trial of that wisdom, which he had shown in silencing the Sadducees.

Scofield Reference Notes

[1] lawyer

Gr. "nomikos," "of the law"; occurs also Lk 7:30 10:25 11:45,46,52 Lk 14:3 Ti 3:13. Except in the last instance, "lawyer" is another name for "scribe."

See Scofield Note: "Mt 2:4". In Ti 3:13 the term has the modern meaning.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

22:34-40 An interpreter of the law asked our Lord a question, to try, not so much his knowledge, as his judgment. The love of God is the first and great commandment, and the sum of all the commands of the first table. Our love of God must be sincere, not in word and tongue only. All our love is too little to bestow upon him, therefore all the powers of the soul must be engaged for him, and carried out toward him. To love our neighbour as ourselves, is the second great commandment. There is a self-love which is corrupt, and the root of the greatest sins, and it must be put off and mortified; but there is a self-love which is the rule of the greatest duty: we must have a due concern for the welfare of our own souls and bodies. And we must love our neighbour as truly and sincerely as we love ourselves; in many cases we must deny ourselves for the good of others. By these two commandments let our hearts be formed as by a mould.