Note 4 at Lk. 11:45: Lawyers are mentioned six times in Luke (Lk. 7:30; 10:25; 11:45-46,52; 14:3), once in Matthew (22:35), and once in Titus (3:13) where it refers to a Greek or Roman rather than to a Jewish lawyer.

A Jewish lawyer was one learned in the law of Moses, both written and oral. By comparing Matthew 22:35 with Mark 12:28, we see that "scribes" (see note 3 at Lk. 6:7, p. 105) and "lawyers" are synonymous terms. However, in the course of time, lawyers devoted themselves mainly, but not exclusively, to being jurists rather than theologians. They studied, expounded, and interpreted the law and became judges in the various Sanhedrins throughout Israel.