AT THAT VERY SEASON (εν αυτω τω καιρω). Luke's frequent idiom, "at the season itself." Apparently in close connexion with the preceding discourses. Probably "were present" (παρησαν, imperfect of παρειμ) means "came," "stepped to his side," as often (Matthew 26:50; Acts 12:20; John 11:28). These p... [ Continue Reading ]
SINNERS ABOVE ALL (αμαρτωλο παρα παντας). Παρα means "beside," placed beside all the Galileans, and so beyond or above (with the accusative).HAVE SUFFERED (πεπονθασιν). Second perfect active indicative third plural from πασχω, common verb, to experience, suffer. The tense notes that it is "an i... [ Continue Reading ]
EXCEPT YE REPENT (εαν μη μετανοητε). Present active subjunctive of μετανοεω, to change mind and conduct, linear action, keep on changing. Condition of third class, undetermined, but with prospect of determination.YE SHALL PERISH (απολεισθε). Future middle indicative of απολλυμ and intransitive.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TOWER IN SILOAM (ο πυργος εν Σιλωαμ). Few sites have been more clearly located than this. Jesus mentions this accident (only in Luke) of his own accord to illustrate still further the responsibility of his hearers. Jesus makes use of public events in both these incidents to teach spiritual le... [ Continue Reading ]
EXCEPT YE REPENT (εαν μη μετανοησητε). First aorist active subjunctive, immediate repentance in contrast to continued repentance, μετανοητε in verse Luke 13:3, though Westcott and Hort put μετανοητε in the margin here. The interpretation of accidents is a difficult matter, but the moral pointed o... [ Continue Reading ]
PLANTED (πεφυτευμενην). Perfect passive participle of φυτευω, to plant, an old verb, from φυτον, a plant, and that from φυω, to grow. But this participle with ειχεν (imperfect active of εχω) does not make a periphrastic past perfect like our English "had planted." It means rather, he had a fig tr... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VINEDRESSER (τον αμπελουργον). Old word, but here only in the N.T., from αμπελος, vine, and εργον, work.THESE THREE YEARS I COME (τρια ετη αφ' ου ερχομα). Literally, "three years since (from which time) I come." These three years, of course, have nothing to do with the three years of Christ... [ Continue Reading ]
TILL I SHALL DIG (εως οτου σκαψω). First aorist active subjunctive like βαλω (second aorist active subjunctive of βαλλω), both common verbs.DUNG IT (βαλω κοπρια). Cast dung around it, manure it. Κοπρια, late word, here alone in the N.T.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF IT BEAR FRUIT THENCEFORTH (κ'αν μεν ποιηση καρπον εις το μελλον). Aposiopesis, sudden breaking off for effect (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 1203). See it also in Mark 11:32; Acts 23:9. Trench (_Parables_) tells a story like this of intercession for the fig tree for one year more which is widel... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WAS TEACHING (ην διδασκων). Periphrastic imperfect active.... [ Continue Reading ]
A SPIRIT OF INFIRMITY (πνευμα ασθενειας). A spirit that caused the weakness (ασθενειας, lack of strength) like a spirit of bondage (Romans 8:15), genitive case.SHE WAS BOWED TOGETHER (ην συνκυπτουσα). Periphrastic imperfect active of συνκυπτω, old verb, here only in the N.T., to bend together,... [ Continue Reading ]
HE CALLED HER (προσεφωνησεν). To come to him (προς).THOU ART LOOSED (απολελυσα). Perfect passive indicative of απολυω, common verb, loosed to stay free. Only N.T. example of use about disease.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE LAID HIS HANDS UPON HER (επεθηκεν αυτη τας χειρας). First aorist active indicative of επιτιθημ. As the Great Physician with gentle kindness.SHE WAS MADE STRAIGHT (ανωρθωθη). First aorist (effective) passive indicative of ανορθοω, old verb, but only three times in the N.T. (Luke 13:13; Hebrew... [ Continue Reading ]
ANSWERED (αποκριθεις). First aorist passive participle of αποκρινομα. No one had spoken to him, but he felt his importance as the ruler of the synagogue and was indignant (αγανακτων, from αγαν and αχομα, to feel much pain). His words have a ludicrous sound as if all the people had to do to get th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD ANSWERED HIM (απεκριθη δε αυτω ο Κυριος). Note use of "the Lord" of Jesus again in Luke's narrative. Jesus answered the ruler of the synagogue who had spoken to the crowd, but about Jesus. It was a crushing and overwhelming reply.HYPOCRITES (υποκριτα). This pretentious faultfinder and... [ Continue Reading ]
DAUGHTER OF ABRAHAM (θυγατερα Αβρααμ). Triple argument, human being and not an ox or ass, woman, daughter of Abraham (Jewess), besides being old and ill.OUGHT NOT (ουκ εδε). Imperfect active. Of necessity. Jesus simply had to heal her even if on the sabbath.WHOM STAN BOUND (ην εδησεν ο Σαταν... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE PUT TO SHAME (κατηισχυνοντο). Imperfect passive of καταισχυνω, old verb, to make ashamed, make one feel ashamed. Passive here, to blush with shame at their predicament.REJOICED (εχαιρεν). Imperfect active. Sharp contrast in the emotions of the two groups.WERE DONE (γινομενοις). Present m... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SAID THEREFORE (ελεγεν ουν). It is not clear to what to refer "therefore," whether to the case of the woman in verse Luke 13:11, the enthusiasm of the crowd in verse Luke 13:17, or to something not recorded by Luke.... [ Continue Reading ]
A GRAIN OF MUSTARD SEED (κοκκω σιναπεως). Either the _sinapis nigra_ or the _salvadora persica_, both of which have small seeds and grow to twelve feet at times. The Jews had a proverb: "Small as a mustard seed." Given by Mark 4:30-32; Matthew 13:31 in the first great group of parables, but just... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREUNTO SHALL I LIKEN? (Τιν ομοιωσω;). This question alone in Luke here as in verse Luke 13:18. But the parable is precisely like that in Matthew 13:33, which see for details.... [ Continue Reading ]
JOURNEYING ON UNTO JERUSALEM (πορειαν ποιουμενος εις Ιεροσολυμα). Making his way to Jerusalem. Note tenses here of continued action, and distributive use of κατα with cities and villages. This is the second of the journeys to Jerusalem in this later ministry corresponding to that in Luke 13:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE THEY FEW THAT BE SAVED? (ε ολιγο ο σωζομενοι;). Note use of ε as an interrogative which can be explained as ellipsis or as ει=η (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 1024). This was an academic theological problem with the rabbis, the number of the elect.... [ Continue Reading ]
STRIVE (αγωνιζεσθε). Jesus makes short shrift of the question. He includes others (present middle plural of αγωνιζομα, common verb, our agonize). Originally it was to contend for a prize in the games. The kindred word αγωνια occurs of Christ's struggle in Gethsemane (Luke 22:44). The narrow gate... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN ONCE (αφ' ου αν). Possibly to be connected without break with the preceding verse (so Westcott and Hort), though Bruce argues for two parables here, the former (verse Luke 13:24) about being in earnest, while this one (verses Luke 13:25-30) about not being too late. The two points are here u... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL YE BEGIN (αρξεσθε). Future middle, though Westcott and Hort put αρξησθε (aorist middle subjunctive of αρχομα) and in that case a continuation of the αφ' ου construction. It is a difficult passage and the copyists had trouble with it.IN THY PRESENCE (ενωπιον σου). As guests or hosts or nei... [ Continue Reading ]
I KNOW NOT WHENCE YE ARE (ουκ οιδα ποθεν εστε). This blunt statement cuts the matter short and sweeps away the flimsy cobwebs. Acquaintance with Christ in the flesh does not open the door. Jesus quotes Psalms 8:9 as in Matthew 7:23, there as in the LXX, here with παντες εργατα αδικιας, there with... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE (εκε). Out there, outside the house whence they are driven.WHEN YE SHALL SEE (οταν οψησθε). First aorist middle subjunctive (of a late aorist ωψαμην) of οραω, though οψεσθε (future middle) in margin of Westcott and Hort, unless we admit here a "future" subjunctive like Byzantine Greek (af... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL SIT DOWN (ανακλιθησοντα). Future passive indicative third plural. Recline, of course, is the figure of this heavenly banquet. Jesus does not mean that these will be saved in different ways, but only that many will come from all the four quarters of the earth.... [ Continue Reading ]
LAST (εσχατο). This saying was repeated many times (Matthew 19:30; Mark 10:31; Matthew 20:16).... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THAT VERY HOUR (εν αυτη τη ωρα). Luke's favourite notation of time.PHARISEES (Φαρισαιο). Here we see the Pharisees in a new role, warning Jesus against the machinations of Herod, when they are plotting themselves.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT FOX (τη αλωπεκ ταυτη). This epithet for the cunning and cowardice of Herod shows clearly that Jesus understood the real attitude and character of the man who had put John the Baptist to death and evidently wanted to get Jesus into his power in spite of his superstitious fears that he might b... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DAY FOLLOWING (τη εχομενη). See Acts 20:15. The same as the third day in verse Luke 13:32. A proverb.IT CANNOT BE (ουκ ενδεχετα). It is not accepted, it is inadmissible. A severely ironical indictment of Jerusalem. The shadow of the Cross reaches Perea where Jesus now is as he starts toward... [ Continue Reading ]
O JERUSALEM, JERUSALEM (Ιερουσαλημ, Ιερουσαλημ). In Matthew 23:37 Jesus utters a similar lament over Jerusalem. The connection suits both there and here, but Plummer considers it "rather a violent hypothesis" to suppose that Jesus spoke these words twice. It is possible, of course, though not like... [ Continue Reading ]