Luke 11:14-13:9

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Luke 11:14 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.
2. Luke 11:14 tn Grk “a demon [and it was] mute.” The words “and it was” are omitted from some significant mss and are placed in brackets in the NA²⁸ text, indicating significant doubt about their originality. If the words in question are omitted, the Greek text would read “a mute demon.” Either way, the phrase should probably be understood to mean that the demon caused muteness (the inability to speak) in its victim, although the statement is sometimes taken to refer to the demon’s own inability to speak (cf. TEV, “a demon that could not talk”).
3. Luke 11:14 tn Grk “And it happened that when.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated. Here δέ (de) has not been translated either.
4. Luke 11:14 tn The aorist verb has been translated here as ingressive, stressing the beginning of the action. The context clearly indicates an ingressive force here.sn This miracle is different from others in Luke. The miracle is told entirely in one verse and with minimum detail, while the response covers several verses. The emphasis is on explaining what Jesus’ work means.
5. Luke 11:15 tn Grk “By Beelzebul.”sn Beelzebul is another name for Satan. So some people recognized Jesus’ work as supernatural, but called it diabolical.
6. Luke 11:15 tn Or “prince.”
7. Luke 11:16 tn Grk “testing”; the participle is taken as indicating the purpose of the demand.
8. Luke 11:16 tn The pronoun “him” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
9. Luke 11:16 tn Grk “seeking from him.” The imperfect ἐζήτουν (ezētoun) is taken ingressively. It is also possible to regard it as iterative (“kept on asking”).
10. Luke 11:16 sn What exactly this sign would have been, given what Jesus was already doing, is not clear. But here is where the fence-sitters reside, refusing to commit to him.
11. Luke 11:17 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
12. Luke 11:17 sn Jesus here demonstrated the absurdity of the thinking of those who maintained that he was in league with Satan and that he actually derived his power from the devil. He first teaches (vv. 17-20) that if he casts out demons by the ruler of the demons, then in reality Satan is fighting against himself, with the result that his kingdom has come to an end. He then teaches (v. 21-22) about defeating the strong man to prove that he does not need to align himself with the devil because he is more powerful. Jesus defeated Satan at his temptation (4:1-13) and by his exorcisms he clearly demonstrated himself to be stronger than the devil. The passage reveals the desperate condition of the religious leaders, who in their hatred for Jesus end up attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan.
13. Luke 11:17 tn Or “is left in ruins.”
14. Luke 11:17 tn Grk “and house falls on house.” This phrase pictures one house collapsing on another, what is called today a “house of cards.”
15. Luke 11:18 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate that the clause that follows is a logical conclusion based on the preceding examples.
16. Luke 11:18 tn This first class condition, the first of three “if” clauses in the following verses, presents the example vividly as if it were so. In fact, all three conditions in these verses are first class. The examples are made totally parallel. The expected answer is that Satan’s kingdom will not stand, so the suggestion makes no sense. Satan would not seek to heal.
17. Luke 11:18 tn Grk “because.” “I ask you this” is supplied for the sake of English.
18. Luke 11:19 sn Most read your sons as a reference to Jewish exorcists (cf. “your followers,” L&N 9.4; for various views see D. L. Bock, Luke [BECNT], 2:1077-78), but more likely this is a reference to the disciples of Jesus themselves, who are also Jewish and have been healing as well (R. J. Shirock, “Whose Exorcists are they? The Referents of οἱ υἱοὶ ὑμῶν at Matthew 12:27/Luke 11:19, ” JSNT 46 [1992]: 41-51). If this is a reference to the disciples, then Jesus’ point is that it is not only him, but those associated with him whose power the hearers must assess. The following reference to judging also favors this reading.
19. Luke 11:19 tn The pronoun “them” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
20. Luke 11:20 sn The finger of God is a figurative reference to God’s power (L&N 76.3). This phrase was used of God’s activity during the Exodus (Exod 8:19).
21. Luke 11:20 sn The kingdom of God is a major theme of Jesus’ teaching. The nature of the kingdom of God in the NT and in Jesus’ teaching has long been debated by interpreters and scholars, with discussion primarily centering around the nature of the kingdom (earthly, heavenly, or both) and the kingdom’s arrival (present, future, or both). An additional major issue concerns the relationship between the kingdom of God and the person and work of Jesus himself. See Luke 6:20; 11:20; 17:20-21.
22. Luke 11:20 tn The phrase ἔφθασεν ἐφ᾿ ὑμᾶς (ephthasen eph’ humas) is important. Does it mean merely “approach” (which would be reflected in a translation like “has come near to you”) or actually “come upon” (as in the translation given above, “has already overtaken you,” which has the added connotation of suddenness)? The issue here is like the one in 10:9 (see note there on the phrase “come on”). Is the arrival of the kingdom merely anticipated or already in process? Two factors favor arrival over anticipation here. First, the prepositional phrase “upon you” suggests arrival (Dan 4:24, 28 Theodotion). Second, the following illustration in vv. 21-23 looks at the healing as portraying Satan being overrun. So the presence of God’s authority has arrived. See also L&N 13.123 for the translation of φθάνω (phthanō) as “to happen to already, to come upon, to come upon already.”
23. Luke 11:21 tn The referent of the expression “a strong man” is Satan.
24. Luke 11:21 tn The word αὐλή (aulē) describes any building large and elaborate enough to have an interior courtyard, thus “dwelling, palace, mansion” (L&N 7.6).
25. Luke 11:21 tn Grk “his goods are in peace.”
26. Luke 11:22 tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
27. Luke 11:22 tn The referent of the expression “a stronger man” is Jesus.
28. Luke 11:22 tn Grk “stronger man than he attacks.”
29. Luke 11:22 tn Grk “his”; the referent (the first man mentioned) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
30. Luke 11:22 tn Grk “on which he relied.”
31. Luke 11:22 tn Or “and distributes.”
32. Luke 11:22 sn Some see the imagery here as similar to Eph 4:7-10, although no opponents are explicitly named in that passage. Jesus has the victory over Satan. Jesus’ acts of healing mean that the war is being won and the kingdom is coming.
33. Luke 11:23 sn Whoever is not with me is against me. The call here is to join the victor. Failure to do so means that one is being destructive. Responding to Jesus is the issue.
34. Luke 11:23 sn For the image of scattering, see Pss. Sol. 17:18.
35. Luke 11:24 sn This is a reference to an evil spirit. See Luke 4:33.
36. Luke 11:24 tn Grk “man.” This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos), referring to both males and females.
37. Luke 11:24 sn The background for the reference to waterless places is not entirely clear, though some Jewish texts suggest spirits must have a place to dwell, but not with water (Luke 8:29-31; Tob 8:3). Some suggest that the image of the desert or deserted cities as the places demons dwell is where this idea started (Isa 13:21; 34:14).
38. Luke 11:24 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
39. Luke 11:24 tc ‡ Most mss, including a few early and significant ones (P⁴⁵ א* A C D W Ψ ƒ^1,13 M lat), lack τότε (tote, “then”). Other mss, including some early and important ones (P⁷⁵ א² B L Θ Ξ 070 33 579 892 1241 co), have the adverb. Although the external evidence better supports the longer reading, the internal evidence is on the side of the shorter, for conjunctions and adverbs were frequently added by copyists to remove asyndeton and to add clarification. The shorter reading is thus preferred. The translation, however, adds “Then” because of English stylistic requirements. NA²⁸ has τότε in brackets indicating doubts as to its authenticity.
40. Luke 11:24 tn Grk “I will return to my house from which I came.”
41. Luke 11:25 tn Grk “comes.”
42. Luke 11:25 tn The words “the house” are not in Greek but are implied.
43. Luke 11:25 sn The image of the house swept clean and put in order refers to the life of the person from whom the demon departed. The key to the example appears to be that no one else has been invited in to dwell. If an exorcism occurs and there is no response to God, then the way is free for the demon to return. Some see the reference to exorcism as more symbolic; thus the story’s only point is about responding to Jesus. This is possible and certainly is an application of the passage.
44. Luke 11:26 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the concluding point of the story.
45. Luke 11:26 tn Grk “man.” This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos), referring to both males and females.
46. Luke 11:26 sn The point of the story is that to fail to respond is to risk a worse fate than when one started.
47. Luke 11:27 tn Grk “And it happened that as.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated. Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
48. Luke 11:27 tn Grk “lifted up her voice and said.” This idiom is somewhat redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified to “spoke out.”
49. Luke 11:27 tn For this term see L&N 8.69.
50. Luke 11:27 sn Both the reference to the womb and the breasts form a figure of speech called metonymy. In this case the parts are mentioned instead of the whole; the meaning is “Blessed is your mother!” The warnings seem to have sparked a little nervousness that brought forth this response. In the culture a mother was valued for the accomplishments of her son. So this amounts to a compliment to Jesus.
51. Luke 11:28 tn Grk “said.”
52. Luke 11:28 sn This is another reference to hearing and doing the word of God, which here describes Jesus’ teaching; see Luke 8:21.
53. Luke 11:29 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
54. Luke 11:29 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
55. Luke 11:29 sn The mention of a sign alludes back to Luke 11:16. Given what Jesus had done, nothing would be good enough. This leads to the rebuke that follows.
56. Luke 11:29 sn As the following comparisons to Solomon and Jonah show, in the present context the sign of Jonah is not an allusion to Jonah being three days in the belly of the fish, but to Jesus’ teaching about wisdom and repentance.
57. Luke 11:30 tn Grk “to the Ninevites.” What the Ninevites experienced was Jonah’s message (Jonah 3:4, 10; 4:1).
58. Luke 11:30 tn The repetition of the words “a sign” are not in the Greek text, but are implied and are supplied here for clarity.
59. Luke 11:30 tc Only the Western ms D and a few Itala mss add here a long reference to Jonah being in the belly of the fish for three days and nights and the Son of Man being three days in the earth, apparently harmonizing the text to the parallel in Matt 12:40.
60. Luke 11:31 sn On the queen of the South see 1 Kgs 10:1-3 and 2 Chr 9:1-12, as well as Josephus, Ant. 8.6.5-6 (8.165-175). The South most likely refers to modern southwest Arabia, possibly the eastern part of modern Yemen, although there is an ancient tradition reflected in Josephus which identifies this geo-political entity as Ethiopia.
61. Luke 11:31 sn For the imagery of judgment, see Luke 10:13-15 and 11:19. The warnings are coming consistently now.
62. Luke 11:31 tn Grk “men”; the word here (ἀνήρ, anēr) usually indicates males or husbands, but occasionally is used in a generic sense of people in general, as is the case here (cf. BDAG 79 s.v. 1, 2). The same term, translated the same way, occurs in v. 32.
63. Luke 11:31 tn Grk “behold.”
64. Luke 11:31 sn The message of Jesus was something greater than what Solomon offered. On Jesus and wisdom, see Luke 7:35; 10:21-22; 1 Cor 1:24, 30.
65. Luke 11:32 tn See the note on the word “people” in v. 31.
66. Luke 11:32 tn Grk “at the preaching of Jonah.”sn The phrase repented when Jonah preached to them confirms that in this context the sign of Jonah (v. 30) is his message.
67. Luke 11:32 tn Grk “behold.”
68. Luke 11:33 tn Or perhaps “in a cellar” (L&N 28.78). The point is that the light of Jesus’ teaching has been put in public view.
69. Luke 11:33 tc The phrase “or under a basket” is lacking in some significant and early mss (P^45,75 L Γ Ξ 070 ƒ¹ 700* 1241 2542 sy^s sa). It is hard to decide in this case, since the inclusion of “or under a basket” is widely attested by some early and decent witnesses, as well as the overwhelming majority of mss (א A B C D W Θ Ψ ƒ¹³ M latt). The parallel passage in Luke 8:16 does not include “under a basket.” If the phrase “under a basket” were added as a harmonization with Mark 4:21 and Matt 5:15, it is perhaps surprising that scribes did not add the phrase at Luke 8:16 as well. It seems somewhat more likely that a scribe copying Luke would be inclined to harmonize 11:33 with 8:16 by omitting the phrase here. Thus, the words “or under a basket” seem to have the marks of authenticity.tn Or “a bowl”; this refers to any container for dry material of about eight liters (two gallons) capacity. It could be translated “basket, box, bowl” (L&N 6.151).
70. Luke 11:34 tn Or “sound” (so L&N 23.132 and most scholars). A few scholars take this word to mean something like “generous” here (L&N 57.107), partly due to the immediate context of this saying in Matt 6:22 which concerns money, in which case the “eye” is a metonymy for the entire person (“if you are generous”).
71. Luke 11:34 tn Or “when it is sick” (L&N 23.149).sn There may be a slight wordplay here, as this term can also mean “evil,” so the figure uses a term that points to the real meaning of being careful as to what one pays attention to or looks at. Ancient understanding of vision involved light coming into the body from outside, and “light” thus easily becomes a metaphor for teaching. As a “diseased” eye would hinder the passage of light, so in the metaphor Jesus’ teaching would be blocked from being internalized in the hearer.
72. Luke 11:35 tn This is a present imperative, calling for a constant watch (L&N 24.32; ExSyn 721).
73. Luke 11:35 sn Here you is a singular pronoun, individualizing the application.
74. Luke 11:36 tn This is a first class condition in the Greek text, so the example ends on a hopeful, positive note.
75. Luke 11:36 tn Grk “Therefore”; the same conjunction as at the beginning of v. 35, but since it indicates a further inference or conclusion, it has been translated “then” here.
76. Luke 11:36 tn Grk “not having any part dark.”
77. Luke 11:36 tn Grk “it will be completely illumined as when a lamp illumines you with its rays.”
78. Luke 11:37 tn The use of the aorist infinitive here should probably be translated “as he spoke” rather than “while he was speaking” (see ExSyn 595). The Pharisee did not necessarily interrupt Jesus to issue the invitation.
79. Luke 11:37 sn See the note on Pharisees in 5:17.
80. Luke 11:37 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
81. Luke 11:37 tn Grk “and reclined at table,” as 1st century middle eastern meals were not eaten while sitting at a table, but while reclining on one’s side on the floor with the head closest to the low table and the feet farthest away.
82. Luke 11:38 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
83. Luke 11:38 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
84. Luke 11:38 tn The words “his hands” are not in the Greek text, but have been supplied for clarity.sn Washing before meals was a cultural practice that was described in the OT, but not prescribed there (Gen 18:4; Judg 19:21). It was apparently related to concern about contracting ceremonial uncleanness (Lev 11:31-38; t. Demai 2.11-12).
85. Luke 11:39 sn The allusion to washing (clean the outside of the cup) shows Jesus knew what they were thinking and deliberately set up a contrast that charged them with hypocrisy and majoring on minors.
86. Luke 11:39 tn Or “and evil.”
87. Luke 11:40 sn You fools is a rebuke which in the OT refers to someone who is blind to God (Pss 14:1; 53:1; 92:6; Prov 6:12).
88. Luke 11:40 tn The question includes a Greek particle, οὐ (ou), that expects a positive reply. God, the maker of both, is concerned for what is both inside and outside.
89. Luke 11:41 tn Grk “Give the things inside as alms.” Three different approaches have been taken to the syntax and meaning of this phrase: (1) τὰ ἐνόντα (ta enonta, “the things inside”) is an accusative of respect (“give alms with respect to the things inside”); (2) τὰ ἐνόντα is an adverbial accusative (“give alms inwardly,” i.e., from the heart); (3) the word translated “alms” represents a mistranslation of the original Aramaic term “cleanse,” so the statement urges the hearers to “cleanse the things inside.” According to D. L. Bock (Luke [BECNT], 2:1115) the latter meaning is unlikely because the present verse is independent of Matt 23:26, not parallel to it, and makes good sense as it stands.sn In Jewish culture giving alms to the poor was a very important religious observance; it was meant to be an act of mercy, kindness, and love (D. L. Bock, Luke [BECNT], 2:1114). The implication from the text is that the Pharisees gave alms, but without any of the spiritual concern which should have motivated those generous actions. Here Jesus commands the Pharisees to give from within themselves to those in need instead of just giving of their possessions. In so doing they would show true inner purity acceptable to God. This is in keeping with the author’s social concerns elsewhere in the Gospel (cf., e.g., 1:52-53; 4:18-19; 6:20-21; 14:13).
90. Luke 11:41 tn Grk “and behold.” The Greek word ἰδού (idou) at the beginning of this clause has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).
91. Luke 11:41 sn The expression everything will be clean for you refers to the agreement that should exist between the overt practice of one’s religious duties, such as almsgiving, and the inner condition of one’s heart, including true love for God and the poor; one is not only to wash the outside of the cup and plate, but the inside as well, since as Jesus said, God created the inside too. Religious duties are not to be performed hypocritically, i.e., for the applause and esteem of people, but rather they are to be done out of a deep love for God and a sensitivity to and concern for the needs of others. Then, everything will be clean, both hearts and lives.
92. Luke 11:42 tn Grk “Woe to you…because you…” The causal particle ὅτι (hoti) has not been translated here for rhetorical effect (and so to the end of this chapter).
93. Luke 11:42 tn Or “you tithe mint.”
94. Luke 11:42 sn These small herbs were tithed with great care (Mishnah, m. Demai 2:1).
95. Luke 11:42 tn Grk “and rue.” Καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.sn Rue was an evergreen herb used for seasoning.
96. Luke 11:42 sn Justice was a major theme of OT ethics (Mic 6:8; Zech 7:8-10).
97. Luke 11:42 tn Grk “those,” but this has been translated as “the others” to clarify which are meant.
98. Luke 11:43 tn Or “seats of honor.” The term here is plural and is not a reference only to the lead “seat of Moses” in the synagogue, but includes the front seats near the ark.
99. Luke 11:43 sn See the note on synagogues in 4:15.
100. Luke 11:43 tn Grk “and the greetings.”sn The later Jewish summary of oral tradition, the Talmud, notes elaborate greetings for rabbis. The rebuke here is for pride.
101. Luke 11:43 sn See the note on marketplace in Luke 7:32.
102. Luke 11:44 tc Most mss (A [D] W Θ Ψ ƒ¹³ M it) have “experts in the law and Pharisees, hypocrites” after “you,” but this looks like an assimilation to the parallel in Matt 23:25, 27, 29. The shorter reading has earlier attestation from a variety of reliable mss (P^45,75 א B C L ƒ¹ 33 1241 2542 lat sa).
103. Luke 11:44 tn Grk “men.” This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos), referring to both males and females.
104. Luke 11:44 sn In Judaism to come into contact with the dead or what is associated with them, even without knowing it, makes one unclean (Num 19:11-22; Lev 21:1-3; Mishnah, m. Demai 2:3). To Pharisees, who would have been so sensitive about contracting ceremonial uncleanness, it would have been quite a stinging rebuke to be told they caused it.
105. Luke 11:45 sn That is, an expert in the interpretation of the Mosaic law. They worked closely with the Pharisees.
106. Luke 11:45 tn For this term, see Matt 22:6; Luke 18:32; Acts 14:5; 1 Thess 2:2.
107. Luke 11:46 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
108. Luke 11:46 tn Grk “said.”
109. Luke 11:46 tn Here “as well” is used to translate καί (kai) at the beginning of the statement.
110. Luke 11:46 tn Grk “men.” This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos), referring to both males and females.
111. Luke 11:46 tn Grk “you yourselves do not touch.” This could mean one of two things: (1) Either they make others do what they themselves do not (through various technical exceptions) or (2) they make no effort to help the others fulfill what they are required to do. Considering the care these religious figures are said to have given to the law, the second option is more likely (see L&N 18.11).
112. Luke 11:47 sn The effect of what the experts in the law were doing was to deny the message of the prophets and thus honor their death by supporting those who had sought their removal. The charge that this is what previous generations did shows the problem is chronic. As T. W. Manson said, the charge here is “The only prophet you honor is a dead prophet!” (The Sayings of Jesus, 101).
113. Luke 11:47 tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “fathers.”
114. Luke 11:48 tn Grk “you are witnesses and approve of.”
115. Luke 11:48 tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “fathers.”
116. Luke 11:48 tn Grk “them”; the referent (the prophets) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
117. Luke 11:48 tn “Their,” i.e., the prophets.
118. Luke 11:48 tc The majority of mss list a specific object (“their tombs”), filling out the sentence (although there are two different words for “tombs” among the mss, as well as different word orders: αὐτῶν τὰ μνημεῖα (autōn ta mnēmeia; found in A C W Θ Ψ 33 M) and τοὺς τάφους αὐτῶν (tous taphous autōn; found in ƒ^1,[13] 2542). This suggests that early copyists had no term in front of them but felt the verb needed an object. But since a wide distribution of early Alexandrian and Western mss lack these words (P⁷⁵ א B D L 579 1241 it sa), it is likely that they were not part of the original text of Luke. Nevertheless, the words “their tombs” are inserted in the translation because of requirements of English style.
119. Luke 11:49 sn The expression the wisdom of God is a personification of an attribute of God that refers to his wise will.
120. Luke 11:50 tn Or “that this generation may be charged with”; or “the blood of all the prophets…may be required from this generation.” This is a warning of judgment. These people are responsible for the shedding of prophetic blood.
121. Luke 11:50 tn Or “foundation.” However, this does not suggest a time to the modern reader.
122. Luke 11:50 tn The order of the clauses in this complicated sentence has been rearranged to simplify it for the modern reader.
123. Luke 11:51 sn Gen 4:10 indicates that Abel’s blood cried out for justice.
124. Luke 11:51 sn It is not clear which Zechariah is meant here. It is probably the person mentioned in 2 Chr 24:20-25.
125. Luke 11:51 tn Or “who perished.”
126. Luke 11:51 tn Or “and the temple”; Grk “and the house,” but in this context a reference to the house of God as a place of sanctuary.
127. Luke 11:51 tn Or “required from.”
128. Luke 11:52 sn You have taken away the key to knowledge is another stinging rebuke. They had done the opposite of what they were trying to do.
129. Luke 11:52 tn Or “you tried to prevent.”
130. Luke 11:53 tn Or “the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 5:21.
131. Luke 11:53 tn Or “terribly.”
132. Luke 11:53 tn For this term see L&N 33.183.
133. Luke 11:54 tn Grk “lying in ambush against,” but this is a figurative extension of that meaning.
134. Luke 11:54 tn This term was often used in a hunting context (BDAG 455 s.v. θηρεύω; L&N 27.30). Later examples of this appear in Luke 20.
135. Luke 12:1 tn The phrase ἐν οἷς (en hois) can be translated “meanwhile.”
136. Luke 12:1 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
137. Luke 12:1 tn According to L&N 27.59, “to pay attention to, to keep on the lookout for, to be alert for, to be on your guard against.” This is another Lukan present imperative calling for constant vigilance.
138. Luke 12:1 sn See the note on Pharisees in 5:17.
139. Luke 12:1 sn The pursuit of popularity can lead to hypocrisy, if one is not careful.
140. Luke 12:2 tn Or “concealed.”
141. Luke 12:2 sn I.e., be revealed by God. The passive voice verbs here (“be revealed,” be made known”) see the revelation as coming from God. The text is both a warning about bad things being revealed and an encouragement that good things will be made known, though the stress with the images of darkness and what is hidden in vv. 2-3 is on the attempt to conceal.
142. Luke 12:3 tn Or “because.” Understanding this verse as a result of v. 2 is a slightly better reading of the context. Knowing what is coming should impact our behavior now.
143. Luke 12:3 tn Grk “spoken in the ear,” an idiom. The contemporary expression is “whispered.”
144. Luke 12:3 sn The term translated private rooms refers to the inner room of a house, normally without any windows opening outside, the most private location possible (BDAG 988 s.v. ταμεῖον 2).
145. Luke 12:3 tn The expression “proclaimed from the housetops” is an idiom for proclaiming something publicly (L&N 7.51). Roofs of many first century Jewish houses in Judea and Galilee were flat and had access either from outside or from within the house. Something shouted from atop a house would be heard by everyone in the street below.
146. Luke 12:4 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
147. Luke 12:4 sn Judaism had a similar exhortation in 4 Macc 13:14-15.
148. Luke 12:5 tn Grk “will show,” but in this reflective context such a demonstration is a warning or exhortation.
149. Luke 12:5 sn The actual performer of the killing is not here specified. It could be understood to be God (so NASB, NRSV) but it could simply emphasize that, after a killing has taken place, it is God who casts the person into hell.
150. Luke 12:5 tn The direct object (“you”) is understood.
151. Luke 12:5 sn The word translated hell is “Gehenna” (γέεννα, geenna), a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew words ge hinnom (“Valley of Hinnom”). This was the valley along the south side of Jerusalem. In OT times it was used for human sacrifices to the pagan god Molech (cf. Jer 7:31; 19:5-6; 32:35), and it came to be used as a place where human excrement and rubbish were disposed of and burned. In the intertestamental period, it came to be used symbolically as the place of divine punishment (cf. 1 En. 27:2; 90:26; 4 Ezra 7:36).
152. Luke 12:6 sn The pennies refer to the assarion, a small Roman copper coin. One of them was worth one sixteenth of a denarius or less than a half hour’s average wage. Sparrows were the cheapest thing sold in the market. The point of Jesus’ statement is that God knows about even the most financially insignificant things; see Isa 49:15.
153. Luke 12:6 sn This is a typical form of rabbinic argumentation, from the lesser to the greater: If God cares about the lesser thing (sparrows) how much more does he care about the greater thing (people).
154. Luke 12:7 sn This represents the second call by Jesus not to be afraid in the section (previously in v. 4). Since the previous reference was related to fear of persecution, it is probable that this one does as well. Once again the sparrows are mentioned and the argument is from lesser to greater (if God cares about individual hairs on the head and about sparrows, how much more does he care about people).
155. Luke 12:8 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
156. Luke 12:8 tn Or “confesses.”
157. Luke 12:8 tn Although this is a generic reference and includes both males and females, in this context “men” has been retained because of the wordplay with the Son of Man and the contrast with the angels. The same is true of the occurrence of “men” in v. 9.
158. Luke 12:8 sn This acknowledgment will take place at the judgment. Of course, the Son of Man is a reference to Jesus as it has been throughout the Gospel. On Jesus and judgment, see 22:69; Acts 10:42-43; 17:31.
159. Luke 12:10 sn Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit probably refers to a total rejection of the testimony that the Spirit gives to Jesus and the plan of God. This is not so much a sin of the moment as of one’s entire life, an obstinate rejection of God’s message and testimony. Cf. Matt 12:31-32 and Mark 3:28-30.
160. Luke 12:10 tn Grk “it will not be forgiven the person who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit.”
161. Luke 12:11 sn The saying looks at persecution both from a Jewish context as the mention of synagogues suggests, and from a Gentile one as the reference to the rulers and the authorities suggests.sn See the note on synagogues in 4:15.
162. Luke 12:11 tn Grk “and the,” but καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
163. Luke 12:11 tn Grk “about how or what you should say in your defense,” but this is redundant with the following clause, “or what you should say.”
164. Luke 12:12 tn Grk “in that very hour” (an idiom).
165. Luke 12:12 tn Grk “what it is necessary to say.”
166. Luke 12:13 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
167. Luke 12:13 sn Tell my brother. In 1st century Jewish culture, a figure like a rabbi was often asked to mediate disputes, except that here mediation was not requested, but representation.
168. Luke 12:14 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
169. Luke 12:14 tn This term of address can be harsh or gentle depending on the context (BDAG 82 s.v. ἄνθρωπος 8). Here it is a rebuke.
170. Luke 12:14 tn The pronoun ὑμᾶς (humas) is plural, referring to both the man and his brother; thus the translation “you two.”
171. Luke 12:15 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
172. Luke 12:15 tn See L&N 13.154 for this use of the middle voice of φυλάσσω (phulassō) in this verse.
173. Luke 12:15 tn Or “avarice,” “covetousness.” Note the warning covers more than money and gets at the root attitude—the strong desire to acquire more and more possessions and experiences.
174. Luke 12:16 tn Grk “And he.” Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the connection to the preceding statement.
175. Luke 12:16 tn Grk “a parable, saying.” The participle λέγων (legōn) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated here.
176. Luke 12:16 tn Or “yielded a plentiful harvest.”
177. Luke 12:17 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate that this is a result of the preceding statement.
178. Luke 12:17 tn Grk “to himself, saying.” The participle λέγων (legōn) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated here.
179. Luke 12:17 sn I have nowhere to store my crops. The thinking here is prudent in terms of recognizing the problem. The issue in the parable will be the rich man’s solution, particularly the arrogance reflected in v. 19.
180. Luke 12:18 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
181. Luke 12:18 sn Note how often the first person pronoun is present in these verses. The farmer is totally self absorbed.
182. Luke 12:19 tn Grk “to my soul,” which is repeated as a vocative in the following statement, but is left untranslated as redundant.
183. Luke 12:20 tn Grk “your soul,” but ψυχή (psuchē) is frequently used of one’s physical life. It clearly has that meaning in this context.
184. Luke 12:20 tn Or “required back.” This term, ἀπαιτέω (apaiteō), has an economic feel to it and is often used of a debt being called in for repayment (BDAG 96 s.v. 1).
185. Luke 12:20 tn Grk “the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” The words “for yourself” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
186. Luke 12:21 sn It is selfishness that is rebuked here, in the accumulation of riches for himself. Recall the emphasis on the first person pronouns throughout the parable.
187. Luke 12:22 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative. Jesus’ remarks to the disciples are an application of the point made in the previous parable.
188. Luke 12:22 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
189. Luke 12:22 tc αὐτοῦ (autou, “his”) is lacking in P^45vid,75 B 1241 c e. Although the addition of clarifying pronouns is a known scribal alteration, in this case it is probably better to view the dropping of the pronoun as the alteration in light of its minimal attestation.
190. Luke 12:22 tn Or “do not be anxious.”
191. Luke 12:22 tc Most mss (P⁴⁵ Ψ 070 ƒ¹³ 33 M) supply the pronoun ὑμῶν (humōn, “your”) here, although several significant and early witnesses omit it (P⁷⁵ א A B D L Q W Θ ƒ¹ 700 2542 al lat). Externally, the shorter reading is superior. Internally, the pronoun looks to be a scribal clarification. In context the article can be translated as a possessive pronoun anyway (ExSyn 215), as it has been done for this translation.
192. Luke 12:22 tc Some mss (B 070 ƒ¹³ 33 1424 al) supply the pronoun ὑμῶν (humōn, “your”) here, although the witnesses for the omission are early, significant, and varied (P^45vid,75 א A D L Q W Θ Ψ ƒ¹ M lat). See previous tc note for more discussion.
193. Luke 12:24 tn Or “crows.” Crows and ravens belong to the same family of birds. English uses “crow” as a general word for the family. Palestine has several indigenous members of the crow family.
194. Luke 12:24 tn Or “God gives them food to eat.” L&N 23.6 has both “to provide food for” and “to give food to someone to eat.”
195. Luke 12:25 tn Or “by being anxious.”
196. Luke 12:25 tn Or “a cubit to his height.” A cubit (πῆχυς, pēchus) can measure length (normally about 45 cm or 18 inches) or time (a small unit, “hour” is usually used [BDAG 812 s.v.] although “day” has been suggested [L&N 67.151]). The term ἡλικία (hēlikia) is ambiguous in the same way as πῆχυς. Most scholars take the term ἡλικία (hēlikia) to describe age or length of life here, although a few refer it to bodily stature (see BDAG 435-36 s.v. 1.a for discussion). Worry about length of life seems a more natural figure than worry about height. However, the point either way is clear: Worrying adds nothing to life span or height.
197. Luke 12:26 tn This is a first class condition in the Greek text.
198. Luke 12:26 tn Or “why are you anxious for.”
199. Luke 12:27 tn Traditionally, “lilies.” According to L&N 3.32, “Though traditionally κρίνον has been regarded as a type of lily, scholars have suggested several other possible types of flowers, including an anemone, a poppy, a gladiolus, and a rather inconspicuous type of daisy.” In view of the uncertainty, the more generic “flowers” has been used in the translation.
200. Luke 12:27 tn Traditionally, “toil.” Although it might be argued that “work hard” would be a more precise translation of κοπιάω (kopiaō) here, the line in English scans better in terms of cadence with a single syllable.
201. Luke 12:28 tn This is a first class condition in the Greek text.
202. Luke 12:28 tn Grk “grass in the field.”
203. Luke 12:28 tn Grk “which is in the field today.”
204. Luke 12:28 tn Grk “into the oven.” The expanded translation “into the fire to heat the oven” has been used to avoid misunderstanding; most items put into modern ovens are put there to be baked, not burned.sn The oven was most likely a rounded clay oven used for baking bread, which was heated by burning wood and dried grass.
205. Luke 12:28 sn The phrase how much more is a typical form of rabbinic argumentation, from the lesser to the greater. If God cares for the little things, surely he will care for the more important things.
206. Luke 12:29 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate a conclusion drawn from the previous illustrations.
207. Luke 12:29 tn Grk “do not seek,” but this could be misunderstood to mean that people should make no attempt to obtain their food. The translation “do not be overly concerned” attempts to reflect the force of the original.
208. Luke 12:29 tn The words “about such things” have been supplied to qualify the meaning; the phrase relates to obtaining food and drink mentioned in the previous clause.
209. Luke 12:30 tn Grk “seek.”
210. Luke 12:31 tn Grk “seek,” but in the sense of the previous verses.
211. Luke 12:31 tc Most mss (P⁴⁵ A D¹ Q W Θ 070 ƒ^1,13 33 M lat sy) read τοῦ θεοῦ (tou theou, “of God”) instead of αὐτοῦ (autou, “his”; found in א B D* L Ψ 579 892 co). But such a clarifying reading is suspect. αὐτοῦ is superior on both internal and external grounds. P⁷⁵ includes neither and as such would support the translation above since the article alone can often be translated as a possessive pronoun.
212. Luke 12:31 sn His (that is, God’s) kingdom is a major theme of Jesus’ teaching. The nature of the kingdom of God in the NT and in Jesus’ teaching has long been debated by interpreters and scholars, with discussion primarily centering around the nature of the kingdom (earthly, heavenly, or both) and the kingdom’s arrival (present, future, or both). An additional major issue concerns the relationship between the kingdom of God and the person and work of Jesus himself. See Luke 6:20; 11:20; 17:20-21.
213. Luke 12:32 tn Or perhaps, “your Father chooses.”
214. Luke 12:33 sn The call to sell your possessions is a call to a lack of attachment to the earth and a generosity as a result.
215. Luke 12:33 tn Grk “give alms,” but this term is not in common use today.
216. Luke 12:33 tn Grk “in the heavens.”
217. Luke 12:33 tn Or “an unfailing treasure in heaven,” or “an inexhaustible treasure in heaven.”
218. Luke 12:33 tn The term σής (sēs) refers to moths in general. It is specifically the larvae of moths that destroy clothing by eating holes in it (L&N 4.49; BDAG 922 s.v.). See Jas 5:2, which mentions “moth-eaten” clothing.
219. Luke 12:34 sn Seeking heavenly treasure means serving others and honoring God by doing so; see Luke 6:35-36.
220. Luke 12:35 tn Grk “Let your loins be girded,” an idiom referring to the practice of tucking the ends of the long cloak (outer garment) into the belt to shorten it in preparation for activities like running, etc.
221. Luke 12:35 sn Keep your lamps burning means to be ready at all times.
222. Luke 12:36 tn That is, like slaves (who are mentioned later, vv. 37-38), although the term ἀνθρώποις (anthrōpois) is used here. Since in this context it appears generic rather than gender-specific, the translation “people” is employed.
223. Luke 12:36 sn An ancient wedding celebration could last for days (Tob 11:18).
224. Luke 12:37 tn See the note on the word “slave” in 7:2.
225. Luke 12:37 tn Or “watching”; Grk “awake,” but in context this is not just being awake but alert and looking out.
226. Luke 12:37 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amēn), I say to you.”
227. Luke 12:37 tn See v. 35 (same verb).
228. Luke 12:37 tn Grk “have them recline at table,” as 1st century middle eastern meals were not eaten while sitting at a table, but while reclining on one’s side on the floor with the head closest to the low table and the feet farthest away.
229. Luke 12:37 tn The participle παρελθών (parelthōn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
230. Luke 12:37 sn He…will come and wait on them is a reversal of expectation, but shows that what Jesus asks for he is willing to do as well; see John 13:5 and 15:18-27, although those instances merely foreshadow what is in view here.
231. Luke 12:38 sn The second or third watch of the night would be between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. on a Roman schedule and 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on a Jewish schedule. Luke uses the four-watch schedule of the Romans in Acts 12:4, so that is more probable here. Regardless of the precise times of the watches, however, it is clear that the late-night watches when a person is least alert are in view here.
232. Luke 12:38 tn Grk “finds (them) thus,” but this has been clarified in the translation by referring to the status (“alert”) mentioned in v. 37.
233. Luke 12:38 tn Grk “blessed are they”; the referent (the watchful slaves, v. 37) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
234. Luke 12:39 sn On Jesus pictured as a returning thief, see 1 Thess 5:2, 4; 2 Pet 3:10; Rev 3:3; 16:15.
235. Luke 12:39 tc Most mss (א¹ A B L Q W Θ Ψ 070 ƒ^1,13 33 M lat sy^p,h sa^ms bo) read “he would have watched and not let” here, but this looks like an assimilation to Matt 24:43. The alliance of two significant and early mss along with a few others (P⁷⁵ א* [D] e i sy^s,c sa^mss), coupled with much stronger internal evidence, suggests that the shorter reading is authentic.
236. Luke 12:40 sn Jesus made clear that his coming could not be timed, and suggested it might take some time—so long, in fact, that some would not be looking for him any longer (at an hour when you do not expect him).
237. Luke 12:41 tn Grk “And Peter.” Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the connection to the preceding statement.
238. Luke 12:41 sn Is the parable only for disciples (us) or for all humanity (everyone)? Or does Peter mean for disciples (us) or for the crowd (everyone)? The fact that unfaithful slaves are mentioned in v. 46 looks to a warning that includes a broad audience, though it is quality of service that is addressed. This means the parable focuses on those who are associated with Jesus.
239. Luke 12:42 tn Grk “And the Lord said.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
240. Luke 12:42 tn Or “administrator,” “steward” (L&N 37.39).
241. Luke 12:42 tn This term, θεραπεία (therapeia), describes the group of servants working in a particular household (L&N 46.6).
242. Luke 12:43 tn See the note on the word “slave” in 7:2.
243. Luke 12:43 tn That is, doing his job, doing what he is supposed to be doing.
244. Luke 12:44 tn Grk “Truly (ἀληθῶς, alēthōs), I say to you.”
245. Luke 12:44 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the master) has been specified in the translation for clarity. See also Luke 19:11-27.
246. Luke 12:45 tn In the Greek text this is a third class condition that for all practical purposes is a hypothetical condition (note the translation of the following verb “should say”).
247. Luke 12:45 tn The term “that” (ἐκεῖνος, ekeinos) is used as a catchword to list out, in the form of a number of hypothetical circumstances, what the possible responses of “that” servant could be. He could be faithful (vv. 43-44) or totally unfaithful (vv. 45-46). He does not complete his master’s will with knowledge (v. 47) or from ignorance (v 48). These differences are indicated by the different levels of punishment in vv. 46-48.
248. Luke 12:45 tn Grk “should say in his heart.”
249. Luke 12:45 tn Or “is taking a long time.”
250. Luke 12:45 sn The slave’s action in beginning to beat the other slaves was not only a failure to carry out what was commanded but involved doing the exact reverse.
251. Luke 12:45 tn The word “other” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.
252. Luke 12:45 tn Grk “the menservants and the maidservants.” The term here, used in both masculine and feminine grammatical forms, is παῖς (pais), which can refer to a slave, but also to a slave who is a personal servant, and thus regarded kindly (L&N 87.77).
253. Luke 12:46 tn The verb διχοτομέω (dichotomeō) means to cut an object into two parts (L&N 19.19). This is an extremely severe punishment compared to the other two later punishments. To translate it simply as “punish” is too mild. If taken literally this servant is dismembered, although it is possible to view the stated punishment as hyperbole (L&N 38.12).
254. Luke 12:46 tn Or “unbelieving.” Here the translation employs the slightly more ambiguous “unfaithful,” which creates a link with the point of the parable—faithfulness versus unfaithfulness in servants. The example of this verse must be taken together with the examples of vv. 47-48 as part of a scale of reactions with the most disobedient response coming here. The fact that this servant is placed in a distinct group, unlike the one in vv. 47-48, also suggests ultimate exclusion. This is the hypocrite of Matt 24:51.
255. Luke 12:47 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
256. Luke 12:47 tn Grk “or do according to his will”; the referent (the master) has been specified in the translation for clarity. This example deals with the slave who knew what the command was and yet failed to complete it.
257. Luke 12:48 tn Grk “did not know”; the phrase “his master’s will” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the contemporary English reader.
258. Luke 12:48 tn Grk “blows.”
259. Luke 12:48 tn Grk “will receive few (blows).”
260. Luke 12:48 tn Grk “required from him,” but the words “from him” are redundant in English and have not been translated.
261. Luke 12:48 sn Entrusted with much. To be gifted with precious responsibility is something that requires faithfulness.
262. Luke 12:48 tn Grk “they will ask even more.”
263. Luke 12:49 sn This mission statement, “I have come to bring fire on the earth,” looks to the purging and division Jesus causes: See Luke 3:9, 17; 9:54; 17:29 for fire, 5:32; 7:34; 9:58; 12:51 for the topic of mission.
264. Luke 12:49 tn Grk “cast.” For βάλλω (ballō) in the sense of causing a state or condition, see L&N 13.14.
265. Luke 12:50 sn The figure of the baptism is variously interpreted, as some see a reference (1) to martyrdom or (2) to inundation with God’s judgment. The OT background, however, suggests the latter sense: Jesus is about to be uniquely inundated with God’s judgment as he is rejected, persecuted, and killed (Pss 18:4, 16; 42:7; 69:1-2; Isa 8:7-8; 30:27-28; Jonah 2:3-6).
266. Luke 12:50 tn Grk “to be baptized with.”
267. Luke 12:51 tn Or “hostility.” This term pictures dissension and hostility (BDAG 234 s.v. διαμερισμός).sn For rhetorical reasons, Jesus’ statement is deliberately paradoxical (seeming to state the opposite of Matt 10:13, for example, where the messengers are to bring peace). The conflict implied by the division (the parallel in Matt 10:34 has “sword”) is not primarily eschatological in this context, however, but immediate, and concerns the hostility and discord even among family members that a person’s allegiance to Jesus would bring (vv. 52-53).
268. Luke 12:52 sn From now on is a popular phrase in Luke: 1:48; 5:10; 22:18, 69; see Mic 7:6.
269. Luke 12:53 tn There is dispute whether this phrase belongs to the end of v. 52 or begins v. 53. Given the shift of object, a connection to v. 53 is slightly preferred.
270. Luke 12:54 tn Grk “He”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Here καί (kai) has been translated as “also” and δέ (de) has not been translated.
271. Luke 12:54 sn A cloud rising in the west refers to moisture coming from the Mediterranean Sea.
272. Luke 12:54 tn The term ὄμβρος (ombros) refers to heavy rain, such as in a thunderstorm (L&N 14.12).
273. Luke 12:55 sn The south wind comes from the desert, and thus brings scorching heat.
274. Luke 12:56 sn In Luke, the term hypocrites occurs here, in 6:42, and in 13:15.
275. Luke 12:56 tc Most mss (P⁴⁵ A W Ψ ƒ^1,13 M lat) have a syntax here that reflects a slightly different rhetorical question: “but how do you not interpret the present time?” The reading behind the translation, however, has overall superior support: P⁷⁵ א B L Θ 33 892 1241.
276. Luke 12:57 tn Jesus calls for some personal reflection. However, this unit probably does connect to the previous one—thus the translation of δέ (de) here as “And”—to make a good spiritual assessment, thus calling for application to the spiritual, rather than personal, realm.
277. Luke 12:58 sn The term magistrate (ἄρχων, archōn) refers to an official who, under the authority of the government, serves as judge in legal cases (see L&N 56.29).
278. Luke 12:58 sn The officer (πράκτωρ, praktōr) was a civil official who functioned like a bailiff and was in charge of debtor’s prison. The use of the term, however, does not automatically demand a Hellenistic setting (BDAG 859 s.v.; K. H. Rengstorf, TDNT 8:539; C. Maurer, TDNT 6:642).
279. Luke 12:59 tn Here the English word “cent” is used as opposed to the parallel in Matt 5:26 where “penny” appears, since the Greek word there is different and refers to a different but similar coin.sn This cent was a lepton, the smallest coin available. It was copper or bronze, worth one-half of a quadrans or 1/128 of a denarius. The parallel in Matt 5:26 mentions the quadrans instead of the lepton. The illustration refers to the debt one owes God and being sure to settle with him in the right time, before it is too late. Some interpreters, however, consider it to be like Matt 5:26, which has similar imagery but a completely different context.
280. Luke 13:1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.
281. Luke 13:1 sn This is an event that otherwise is unattested, though several events similar to it are noted in Josephus (J. W. 2.9.2-4 [2.169-177]; Ant. 13.13.5 [13.372-73], 18.3.1-2 [18.55-62]; 18.4.1 [18.85-87]). It would have caused a major furor.
282. Luke 13:2 tn Grk “And he.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.
283. Luke 13:2 sn Jesus did not want his hearers to think that tragedy was necessarily a judgment on these people because they were worse sinners.
284. Luke 13:3 sn Jesus was stressing that all stand at risk of death, if they do not repent and receive life.
285. Luke 13:3 tn Or “you will all likewise perish,” but this could be misunderstood to mean that they would perish by the same means as the Galileans. Jesus’ point is that apart from repentance all will perish.
286. Luke 13:4 tn Grk “on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them.” This relative clause embedded in a prepositional phrase is complex in English and has been simplified to an adjectival and a temporal clause in the translation.
287. Luke 13:4 sn Unlike the previous event, when the tower in Siloam fell on them, it was an accident of fate. It raised the question, however, “Was this a judgment?”
288. Luke 13:5 sn Jesus’ point repeats v. 3. The circumstances make no difference. All must deal with the reality of what death means.
289. Luke 13:5 tn Grk “similarly.”
290. Luke 13:6 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
291. Luke 13:6 tn Grk “he”; the referent has been specified in the translation for clarity.
292. Luke 13:6 sn The fig tree is a variation on the picture of a vine as representing the nation; see Isa 5:1-7.
293. Luke 13:7 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate the man’s response as a result of the lack of figs in the preceding clause.
294. Luke 13:7 tn Grk “Behold, for.”
295. Luke 13:7 sn The elapsed time could be six years total since planting, since often a fig was given three years before one even started to look for fruit. The point in any case is that enough time had been given to expect fruit.
296. Luke 13:7 tn The phrase “each time I inspect it” is not in the Greek text but has been supplied to indicate the customary nature of the man’s search for fruit.
297. Luke 13:7 tc ‡ Several witnesses (P⁷⁵ A L Θ Ψ 070 ƒ¹³ 33 579 892 al lat co) have “therefore” (οὖν, oun) here. This conjunction has the effect of strengthening the logical connection with the preceding statement but also of reducing the rhetorical power and urgency of the imperative. In light of the slightly greater internal probability of adding a conjunction to an otherwise asyndetic sentence, as well as significant external support for the omission (א B D W ƒ¹ M), the shorter reading appears to be more likely as the earlier wording here. NA²⁸ puts the conjunction in brackets, indicating some doubts as to its authenticity.
298. Luke 13:7 tn Grk “Why indeed.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated.
299. Luke 13:7 sn Such fig trees would deplete the soil, robbing it of nutrients needed by other trees and plants.
300. Luke 13:8 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the worker who tended the vineyard) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
301. Luke 13:8 tn Grk “toss manure [on it].” This is a reference to manure used as fertilizer.
302. Luke 13:9 tn This is a third class condition in the Greek text. The conjunction καί (kai, a component of κάν [kan]) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
303. Luke 13:9 tn Grk “the coming [season].”
304. Luke 13:9 tn The phrase “very well” is supplied in the translation to complete the elided idea, but its absence is telling.
305. Luke 13:9 tn This is a first class condition in the Greek text, showing which of the options is assumed.