Note 4 at Lu 11:45: Lawyers are mentioned once in Matthew (Mt 22:35), six times in Luke (Lu 7:30; 10:25; 11:45-46, 52; and 14:3), and once in Titus (Tit 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 Mt 22:35 with Mr 12:28, we see that "scribes" (see note 3 at Lu 6:7) 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 Sanhedrin throughout Israel.