AS HE WAS PRAYING IN A CERTAIN PLACE (εν τω εινα αυτον εν τοπω τιν προσευχομενον). Characteristically Lukan idiom: εν with articular periphrastic infinitive (εινα προσευχομενον) with accusative of general reference (αυτον).THAT . Not in the Greek, asyndeton (κα εγενετο ειπεν).WHEN HE CEASED ... [ Continue Reading ]
AT MIDNIGHT (μεσονυκτιου). Genitive of time.AND SAY TO HIM (κα ειπη αυτω). This is the deliberative subjunctive, but it is preceded by two future indicatives that are deliberative also (εξει, πορευσετα).LEND ME (χρησον μο). First aorist active imperative second singular. Lend meNOW . From κ... [ Continue Reading ]
TO SET BEFORE HIM (ο παραθησω αυτω).WHICH I SHALL PLACE BESIDE HIM . Future active of παρατιθημ. See Luke 9:16 for this same verb.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE (κακεινος). Emphatic.SHALL SAY (ειπη). Still the aorist active deliberative subjunctive as in verse Luke 11:5 (the same long and somewhat involved sentence).TROUBLE ME NOT (μη μο κοπους παρεχε). Μη and the present imperative active. Literally, "Stop furnishing troubles to me." On this... [ Continue Reading ]
THOUGH (ε κα). Κα ε would be "Even if," a different idea.BECAUSE HE IS HIS FRIEND (δια το εινα φιλον αυτου). Δια and the accusative articular infinitive with accusative of general reference, a causal clause="because of the being a friend of his."YET BECAUSE OF HIS IMPORTUNITY (δια γε την αναι... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL BE OPENED (ανοιγησετα). Second future passive third singular of ανοιγνυμ and the later ανοιγω.... [ Continue Reading ]
OF WHICH OF YOU THAT IS A FATHER (τινα δε εξ υμων τον πατερα). There is a decided anacoluthon here. The MSS. differ a great deal. The text of Westcott and Hort makes τον πατερα (the father) in apposition with τινα (of whom) and in the accusative the object of αιτησε (shall ask) which has also ano... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOW HOW TO GIVE (οιδατε διδονα). See on Matthew 7:11 for this same saying. Only here Jesus adds the Holy Spirit (πνευμα αγιον) as the great gift (the _summum bonum_) that the Father is ready to bestow. Jesus is fond of "how much more" (ποσω μαλλον, by how much more, instrumental case).... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN (του δαιμονιου εξελθοντος). Genitive absolute ana asyndeton between κα εγενετο and ελαλησεν as often in Luke (no οτ or κα).... [ Continue Reading ]
DUMB (κωφον). See on Matthew 9:32.BY BEELZEBUB (εν Βεεζεβουλ). Blasphemous accusation here in Judea as in Galilee (Mark 3:22; Matthew 12:24; Matthew 12:27). See on Matthew for discussion of the form of this name and the various items in the sin against the Holy Spirit involved in the charge. It... [ Continue Reading ]
TEMPTING HIM (πειραζοντες). These "others" (ετερο) apparently realized the futility of the charge of being in league with Beelzebub. Hence they put up to Jesus the demand for "a sign from heaven" just as had been done in Galilee (Matthew 12:38). By "sign" (σημειον) they meant a great spectacular... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE (αυτος δε). In contrast with them.KNOWING THEIR THOUGHTS (ειδως αυτων τα διανοηματα). From διανοεω, to think through or distinguish. This substantive is common in Plato, but occurs nowhere else in the N.T. It means intent, purpose. Jesus knew that they were trying to tempt him.AND A HOUS... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE YE SAY (οτ λεγετε). Jesus here repeats in indirect discourse (accusative and infinitive) the charge made against him in verse Luke 11:15. The condition is of the first class, determined as fulfilled.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF I BY BEELZEBUB (ε δε εγω εν Βεεζεβουλ). Also a condition of the first class, determined as fulfilled. A Greek condition deals only with the _statement_, not with the actual facts. For sake of argument, Jesus here assumes that he casts out demons by Beelzebub. The conclusion is a _reductio... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THE FINGER OF GOD (εν δακτυλω θεου). In distinction from the Jewish exorcists. Matthew 12:28 has "by the Spirit of God."THEN IS COME (αρα εφθασεν). Φθανω in late Greek comes to mean simply to come, not to come before. The aorist indicative tense here is timeless. Note αρα (accordingly) in th... [ Continue Reading ]
FULLY ARMED (καθωπλισμενος). Perfect passive participle of καθοπλιζω, an old verb, but here only in the N.T. Note perfective use of κατα in composition with οπλιζω, to arm (from οπλα, arms). Note indefinite temporal clause (οταν and present subjunctive φυλασση).HIS OWN COURT (την εαυτου αυλην).... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN (επαν δε). Note οταν in verse Luke 11:21.STRONGER THAN HE (ισχυροτερος αυτου). Comparative of ισχυρος followed by the ablative.COME UPON HIM AND OVERCOME HIM (επελθων νικηση αυτον). Second aorist active participle of επερχομα and first aorist active subjunctive of νικαω. Aorist tense... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT IS NOT WITH ME (ο μη ων μετ' εμου). This verse is just like Matthew 12:30.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FINDING NONE (κα μη ευρισκον). Here Matthew 12:43 has κα ουχ ευρισκε (present active indicative instead of present active participle). Luke 11:24-26 is almost verbatim like Matthew 12:43-45, which see. Instead of just "taketh" (παραλαμβανε) in verse Luke 11:26, Matthew has "taketh with himsel... [ Continue Reading ]
AS HE SAID THESE THINGS (εν τω λεγειν αυτον). Luke's common idiom, εν with articular infinitive. Verses Luke 11:27; Luke 11:28 are peculiar to Luke. His Gospel in a special sense is the Gospel of Woman. This woman "speaks well, but womanly" (Bengel). Her beatitude (μακαρια) reminds us of Elisabet... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE SAID (αυτος δε ειπεν). Jesus in contrast turns attention to others and gives them a beatitude (μακαριο). "The originality of Christ's reply guarantees its historical character. Such a comment is beyond the reach of an inventor" (Plummer).... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE GATHERING TOGETHER UNTO HIM (επαθροιζομενων). Genitive absolute present middle participle of επαθροιζω, a rare verb, Plutarch and here only in the N.T., from επ and αθροιζω (a common enough verb). It means to throng together (αθροος, in throngs). Vivid picture of the crowds around Jesus.BUT... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH THE MEN OF THIS GENERATION (μετα των ανδρων της γενεας ταυτης). Here Matthew 12:42 has simply "with this generation," which see.... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THE PREACHING OF JONAH (εις το κηρυγμα Ιωνα). Note this use of εις as in Matthew 10:41; Matthew 12:41. Luke inserts the words about the Queen of the South (Luke 11:31) in between the discussion of Jonah (verses Luke 11:29; Luke 11:32). Both Σολομωνος (Luke 11:31) and Ιωνα (verse Luke 11:32) ar... [ Continue Reading ]
IN A CELLAR (εις κρυπτην). A crypt (same word) or hidden place from κρυπτω, to hide. Late and rare word and here only in the N.T. These other words (lamp, λυχνον, bushel, μοδιον, stand, λυχνιαν) have all been discussed previously (Matthew 5:15). Luke 11:33 is like Matthew 6:22, which see for deta... [ Continue Reading ]
WHETHER NOT (μη). This use of μη in an indirect question is good Greek (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 1045). It is a pitiful situation if the very light is darkness. This happens when the eye of the soul is too diseased to see the light of Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH ITS BRIGHT SHINING (τη αστραπη). Instrumental case, as if by a flash of lightning the light is revealed in him. See on Luke 10:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW AS HE SPAKE (εν δε τω λαλησα). Luke's common idiom, εν with the articular infinitive (aorist active infinitive) but it does not mean "after he had spoken" as Plummer argues, but simply "in the speaking," no time in the aorist infinitive. See Luke 3:21 for similar use of aorist infinitive with... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT HE HAD NOT FIRST WASHED BEFORE DINNER (οτ ου πρωτον εβαπτισθη προ του αριστου). The verb is first aorist passive indicative of βαπτιζω, to dip or to immerse. Here it is applied to the hands. It was the Jewish custom to dip the hands in water before eating and often between courses for ceremon... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD (ο κυριος). The Lord Jesus plainly and in the narrative portion of Luke.NOW (νυν). Probably refers to him. You Pharisees do now what was formerly done.THE PLATTER (του πινακος). The dish. Old word, rendered "the charger" in Matthew 14:8. Another word for "platter" (παροψις) in Matthe... [ Continue Reading ]
HOWBEIT (πλην). See Luke 6:24. Instead of devoting so much attention to the outside.THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE WITHIN (τα ενοντα). Articular neuter plural participle from ενειμ, to be in, common verb. This precise phrase only here in the N.T. though in the papyri, and it is not clear what it means.... [ Continue Reading ]
TITHE (αποδεκατουτε). Late verb for the more common δεκατευω. So in Matthew 23:23. Take a tenth off (απο-). Rue (πηγανον). Botanical term in late writers from πηγνυμ, to make fast because of its thick leaves. Here Matthew 23:23 has "anise."EVERY HERB (παν λαχανον). General term as in Mark 4:32.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHIEF SEATS IN THE SYNAGOGUES (την πρωτοκαθεδριαν εν ταις συναγωγαις). Singular here, plural in Matthew 23:6. This semi-circular bench faced the congregation. Matthew 23:6 has also the chief place at feasts given by Luke also in that discourse (Luke 20:46) as well as in Luke 14:7, a marked ch... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TOMBS WHICH APPEAR NOT (τα μνηνεια τα αδηλα). These hidden graves would give ceremonial defilement for seven days (Numbers 19:16). Hence they were usually whitewashed as a warning. So in Matthew 23:27 the Pharisees are called "whited sepulchres." Men do not know how rotten they are. The word... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU REPROACHEST US ALSO (κα ημας υβριζεις). Because the lawyers (scribes) were usually Pharisees. The verb υβριζω is an old one and common for outrageous treatment, a positive insult (so Luke 18:32; Matthew 22:6; Matthew 22:14; Matthew 22:5; 1 Thessalonians 2:2). So Jesus proceeds to give the la... [ Continue Reading ]
GRIEVOUS TO BE BORNE (δυσβαστακτα). A late word in LXX and Plutarch (δυς and βασταζω). Here alone in text of Westcott and Hort who reject it in Matthew 23:4 where we have "heavy burdens" (φορτια βαρεα). In Galatians 6:2 we have βαρη with a distinction drawn. Here we have φορτιζετε (here only in th... [ Continue Reading ]
CONSENT (συνευδοκειτε). Double compound (συν, ευ, δοκεω), to think well along with others, to give full approval. A late verb, several times in the N.T., in Acts 8:1 of Saul's consenting to and agreeing to Stephen's death. It is a somewhat subtle, but just, argument made here. Outwardly the lawye... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WISDOM OF GOD (η σοφια του θεου). In Matthew 23:34 Jesus uses "I send" (εγω αποστελλω) without this phrase "the wisdom of God." There is no book to which it can refer. Jesus is the wisdom of God as Paul shows (1 Corinthians 1:30), but it is hardly likely that he so describes himself here. Pro... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT... MAY BE REQUIRED (ινα... εκζητηθη). Divinely ordered sequence, first aorist passive subjunctive of εκζητεω, a late and rare verb outside of LXX and N.T., requiring as a debt the blood of the prophets.WHICH WAS SHED (το εκκεχυμενον). Perfect passive participle of εκχεω and εκχυννω (an Aeo... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM THE BLOOD OF ABEL TO THE BLOOD OF ZACHARIAH (απο αιματος Αβελ εως αιματος Ζαχαριου). The blood of Abel is the first shed in the Old Testament (Genesis 4:10), that of Zacharias the last in the O.T. canon which ended with Chronicles (2 Chronicles 24:22). Chronologically the murder of Uriah by... [ Continue Reading ]
YE TOOK AWAY THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE (ηρατε την κλειδα της γνωσεως). First aorist active indicative of αιρω, common verb. But this is a flat charge of obscurantism on the part of these scribes (lawyers), the teachers (rabbis) of the people. They themselves (αυτο) refused to go into the house of know... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM THENCE (κ'ακειθεν). Out of the Pharisee's house. What became of the breakfast we are not told, but the rage of both Pharisees and lawyers knew no bounds.TO PRESS UPON HIM (ενεχειν). An old Greek verb to hold in, to be enraged at, to have it in for one. It is the same verb used of the relen... [ Continue Reading ]
LAYING WAIT FOR HIM (ενεδρευοντες αυτον). An old verb from εν and εδρα, a seat, so to lie in ambush for one. Here only and Acts 23:21 in the N.T. Vivid picture of the anger of these rabbis who were treating Jesus as if he were a beast of prey.TO CATCH SOMETHING OUT OF HIS MOUTH (θηρευσα το εκ το... [ Continue Reading ]