ON A SABBATH (εν σαββατω). This is the second sabbath on which Jesus is noted by Luke. The first was Luke 4:31-41. There was another in John 5:1-47. There is Western and Syrian (Byzantine) evidence for a very curious reading here which calls this sabbath "secondfirst" (δευτεροπρωτω). It is undoubt... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT EVEN THIS (ουδε τουτο). This small point only in Luke.WHAT (ο). Literally,WHICH . Mark 2:25; Matthew 12:3 have τ (what).... [ Continue Reading ]
DID TAKE (λαβων). Second aorist active participle of λαμβανω. Not in Mark and Matthew. See Matthew 12:1-8; Mark 2:23-28 for discussion of details about the shewbread and the five arguments in defence of his conduct on the sabbath (example of David, work of the priests on the sabbath, prophecy of H... [ Continue Reading ]
ON ANOTHER SABBATH (εν ετερω σαββατω). This was a second (ετερον, as it often means), but not necessarily the next, sabbath. This incident is given by all three synoptics (Mark 3:1-6; Matthew 12:9-14; Luke 6:6-11). See Matt. and Mark for details. Only Luke notes that it was on a sabbath. Was this... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SCRIBES AND THE PHARISEES (ο γραμματεις κα ο Φαρισαιο). Only Luke here though Pharisees named in Matthew 12:14 and Pharisees and Herodians in Mark 3:6.WATCHED HIM (παρετηρουντο αυτον). Imperfect middle, were watching for themselves on the side (παρα). Mark 3:2 has the imperfect active παρετ... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE KNEW THEIR THOUGHTS (αυτος δε ηιδε τους διαλογισμους αυτων). In Luke alone. Imperfect in sense, second past perfect in form ηιδε from οιδα. Jesus, in contrast to these spies (Plummer), read their intellectual processes like an open book.HIS HAND WITHERED (ξηραν την χειρα). Predicate posi... [ Continue Reading ]
I ASK YOU (επερωτω υμας). They had questions in their hearts about Jesus. He now asks in addition (επ') an open question that brings the whole issue into the open.A LIFE (ψυχην). So the Revised Version. The rabbis had a rule: _Periculum vitae pellit sabbatum_. But it had to be a Jew whose life... [ Continue Reading ]
HE LOOKED ROUND ABOUT ON THEM ALL (περιβλεψαμενος). First aorist middle participle as in Mark 3:5, the middle voice giving a personal touch to it all. Mark adds "with anger" which Luke here does not put in. All three Gospels have the identical command:STRETCH FORTH THY HAND (εξτεινον την χειρα... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WERE FILLED WITH MADNESS (επλησθησαν ανοιας) First aorist passive (effective) with genitive: In Luke 5:26 we saw the people filled with fear. Here is rage that is kin to insanity, for ανοιας is lack of sense (α privative and νους, mind). An old word, but only here and 2 Timothy 3:9 in the N.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WENT OUT INTO THE MOUNTAINS TO PRAY (εξελθειν αυτον εις το ορος προσευξασθα). Note εξ- where Mark 3:13 hasGOETH UP (αναβαινε). Luke alone has "to pray" as he so often notes the habit of prayer in Jesus.HE CONTINUED ALL NIGHT (ην διανυκτερευων). Periphrastic imperfect active. Here alone in... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN IT WAS DAY (οτε εγενετο ημερα). When day came, after the long night of prayer.HE CHOSE FROM THEM TWELVE (εκλεξαμενος απ' αυτων δωδεκα). The same root (λεγ) was used for picking out, selecting and then for saying. There was a large group of "disciples" or "learners" whom he "called" to him... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH WAS THE TRAITOR (ος εγενετο προδοτης). Who became traitor, more exactly, εγενετο, not ην. He gave no signs of treachery when chosen.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE CAME DOWN WITH THEM (καταβας μετ' αυτων). Second aorist active participle of καταβαινω, common verb. This was the night of prayer up in the mountain (Mark 31:3; Luke 6:12) and the choice of the Twelve next morning. The going up into the mountain of Matthew 5:1 may simply be a summary statement... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH UNCLEAN SPIRITS (απο πνευματων ακαθαρτων). In an amphibolous position for it can be construed with "troubled," (present passive participle ενοχλουμενο) or with "were healed" (imperfect passive, εθεραπευοντο). The healings were repeated as often as they came. Note here both verbs, ιαομα and θ... [ Continue Reading ]
SOUGHT TO TOUCH HIM (εζητουν απτεσθα αυτου). Imperfect active. One can see the surging, eager crowd pressing up to Jesus. Probably some of them felt that there was a sort of virtue or magic in touching his garments like the poor woman in Luke 8:43. (Mark 5:23; Matthew 9:21).FOR POWER CAME FORTH F... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE LIFTED UP HIS EYES (κα αυτος επαρας τους οπθαλμους αυτου). First aorist active participle from επαιρω. Note also Luke's favourite use of κα αυτος in beginning a paragraph. Vivid detail alone in Luke. Jesus looked the vast audience full in the face. Matthew 5:2 mentions that "he opened his... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW (νυν). Luke adds this adverb here and in the next sentence after "weep." This sharpens the contrast between present sufferings and the future blessings.FILLED (χορτασθησεσθε). Future passive indicative. The same verb in Matthew 5:6. Originally it was used for giving fodder (χορτος) to anima... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THEY SHALL SEPARATE YOU (οταν αφορισωσιν υμας). First aorist active subjunctive, from αφοριζω, common verb for marking off a boundary. So either in good sense or bad sense as here. The reference is to excommunication from the congregation as well as from social intercourse.CAST OUT YOUR NAME... [ Continue Reading ]
LEAP FOR JOY (σκιρτησατε). Old verb and in LXX, but only in Luke in the N.T. (here and Luke 1:41; Luke 1:44). It answers to Matthew's (Matthew 5:12) "be exceeding glad."DID (εποιουν). Imperfect active, the habit of "their fathers" (peculiar to both here). Matthew 5:12 has "persecuted." Thus the... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WOE UNTO YOU THAT ARE RICH (Πλην ουα υμιν τοις πλουσιοις). Sharp contrast (πλην). As a matter of fact the rich Pharisees and Sadducees were the chief opposers of Christ as of the early disciples later (James 5:1-6).YE HAVE RECEIVED (απεχετε). Receipt in full απεχω means as the papyri show.C... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW (νυν). Here twice as in verse Luke 6:21 in contrast with future punishment. The joys and sorrows in these two verses are turned round, measure for measure reversed. The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) illustrate these contrasts in the present and the future.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE SAME MANNER DID THEIR FATHERS (τα αυτα εποιουν ο πατερες αυτων). Literally, their fathers did the same things to the false prophets. That is they spoke well (καλως), finely of false prophets. Praise is sweet to the preacher but all sorts of preachers get it.OF YOU (υμας). Accusative case... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I SAY UNTO YOU THAT HEAR (Αλλα υμιν λεγω τοις ακουουσιν). There is a contrast in this use of αλλα like that in Matthew 5:44. This is the only one of the many examples given by Luke 6:5 of the sharp antithesis between what the rabbis taught and what Jesus said. Perhaps that contrast is referre... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT DESPITEFULLY USE YOU (των επηρεαζοντων υμας). This old verb occurs here only in the N.T. and in 1 Peter 3:16, not being genuine in Matthew 5:44.... [ Continue Reading ]
ON THE CHEEK (επ την σιαγονα). Matthew 5:39 has "right." Old word meaning jaw or jawbone, but in the N.T. only here and Matthew 5:39, which see for discussion. It seems an act of violence rather than contempt. Sticklers for extreme literalism find trouble with the conduct of Jesus in John 18:22 w... [ Continue Reading ]
ASK THEM NOT AGAIN (μη απαιτε). Here the present active imperative in a prohibition, do not have the habit of asking back. This common verb only here in the N.T., for αιτουσιν is the correct text in Luke 12:20. The literary flavour of Luke's _Koine_ style is seen in his frequent use of words comm... [ Continue Reading ]
AS YE WOULD (καθως θελετε). In Matthew 7:12 the Golden Rule begins: Παντα οσα εαν θελητε. Luke has "likewise" (ομοιως) where Matthew has ουτως. See on Matthew for discussion of the saying.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT THANK HAVE YE? (ποια υμιν χαρις εστιν;). What grace or gratitude is there to you? Matthew 5:46 has μισθον (reward).... [ Continue Reading ]
DO GOOD (αγαθοποιητε). Third-class condition, εαν and present subjunctive. This verb not in old Greek, but in LXX.EVEN SINNERS (κα ο αμαρτωλο). Even the sinners, the article distinguishing the class. Matthew 5:46 has "even the publicans" and Luke 5:47 "even the Gentiles." That completes the lis... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE LEND (εαν δανισητε). Third-class condition, first aorist active subjunctive from δανιζω (old form δανειζω) to lend for interest in a business transaction (here in active to lend and Matthew 5:42 middle to borrow and nowhere else in N.T.), whereas κιχρημ (only Luke 11:5 in N.T.) means to loa... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT (πλην). Plain adversative like πλην in verse Luke 6:24. Never despairing (μηδεν απελπιζοντες). Μηδεν is read by A B L Bohairic and is the reading of Westcott and Hort. The reading μηδενα is translated "despairing of no man." The Authorized Version has it "hoping for nothing again," a meaning f... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN AS YOUR FATHER (καθως ο πατηρ υμων). In Matthew 5:48 we have ως ο πατηρ υμων. In both the perfection of the Father is placed as the goal before his children. In neither case is it said that they have reached it.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JUDGE NOT (κα μη κρινετε). Μη and the present active imperative, forbidding the habit of criticism. The common verb κρινω, to separate, we have in our English words critic, criticism, criticize, discriminate. Jesus does not mean that we are not to form opinions, but not to form them rashly, u... [ Continue Reading ]
PRESSED DOWN (πεπιεσμενον). Perfect passive participle from πιεζω, old verb, but here alone in the N.T., though the Doric form πιαζω, to seize, occurs several times (John 7:30; John 7:32; John 7:44).SHAKEN TOGETHER (σεσαλευμενον). Perfect passive participle again from common verb σαλευω.RUNNING... [ Continue Reading ]
ALSO A PARABLE (κα παραβολην). Plummer thinks that the second half of the sermon begins here as indicated by Luke's insertion of "And he spake (ειπεν δε) at this point. Luke has the word parable some fifteen times both for crisp proverbs and for the longer narrative comparisons. This is the only u... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DISCIPLE IS NOT ABOVE HIS MASTER (ουκ εστιν μαθητης υπερ τον διδασκαλον). Literally, a learner (or pupil) is not above the teacher. Precisely so in Matthew 10:24 where "slave" is added with "lord." But here Luke adds: "But everyone when he is perfected shall be as his master" (κατηρτισμενος δ... [ Continue Reading ]
MOTE (καρφος) andBEAM (δοκον). See on Matthew 7:3-5 for discussion of these words in this parabolic proverb kin to several of ours today.... [ Continue Reading ]
CANST THOU SAY (δυνασα λεγειν). Here Matthew 7:4 hasWILT THOU SAY (ερεις).BEHOLDEST NOT (ου βλεπων). Matthew 7:4 has "lo" (ιδου).THOU HYPOCRITE (υποκριτα). Contrast to the studied politeness of "brother" (αδελφε) above. Powerful picture of blind self-complacence and incompetence, the keywor... [ Continue Reading ]
IS KNOWN (γινωσκετα). The fruit of each tree reveals its actual character. It is the final test. This sentence is not in Matthew 7:17-20, but the same idea is in the repeated saying (Matthew 7:16; Matthew 7:20): "By their fruits ye shall know them," where the verbEPIGNOSESTHE means full knowled... [ Continue Reading ]
BRINGETH FORTH (προφερε). In a similar saying repeated later. Matthew 12:34 has the verb εκβαλλε (throws out, casts out), a bolder figure. "When men are natural, heart and mouth act in concert. But otherwise the mouth sometimes professes what the heart does not feel" (Plummer).... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DO NOT (κα ου ποιειτε). This is the point about every sermon that counts. The two parables that follow illustrate this point.... [ Continue Reading ]
HEARS AND DOES (ακουων κα ποιων). Present active participles. So in Matthew 7:24. (Present indicative.)I WILL SHOW YOU (υποδειξω υμιν). Only in Luke, not Matthew.... [ Continue Reading ]
DIGGED AND WENT DEEP (εσκαψεν κα εβαθυνεν). Two first aorist indicatives. Not a _hendiadys_ for dug deep. Σκαπτω, to dig, is as old as Homer, as is βαθυνω, to make deep.AND LAID A FOUNDATION (κα εθηκεν θεμελιον). That is the whole point. This wise builder struck the rock before he laid the foun... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT HEARETH AND DOETH NOT (ο δε ακουσας κα μη ποιησας). Aorist active participle with article. Particular case singled out (punctiliar, aorist).LIKE A MAN (ομοιος εστιν ανθρωπω). Associative instrumental case after ομοιος as in verse Luke 6:47.UPON THE EARTH (επ την γην). Matthew 7:26 has... [ Continue Reading ]