Or, “testing him.” The Pharisees who proposed the question were “tempting” Jesus, whereas likely the man who actually propounded the question was simply “testing” Him. Whatever may have been the original motive that prompted the question, the lawyer himself seems to have been honest and sincere (see on Mark 12:28, 32-34). Evidently he was not personally antagonistic to Jesus.

 One learned in the civil and religious laws of Judaism (see p. 55). This particular “lawyer” was “one” of the Pharisees (v. 34), as most of the scribes were.