HE BEGAN TO SPEAK UNTO THEM IN PARABLES (ηρξατο αυτοις εν παραβολαις λαλειν). Mark's common idiom again. He does not mean that this was the beginning of Christ's use of parables (see Mark 4:2), but simply that his teaching on this occasion took the parabolic turn. "The circumstances called forth t... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THE SEASON (τω καιρω). For fruits as in the end of the sentence.A SERVANT (δουλον). Bondslave. Matthew has plural.THAT HE MIGHT RECEIVE (ινα λαβη). Purpose clause with second aorist subjunctive. Matthew has infinitive λαβειν, purpose also.WOUNDED IN THE HEAD (εκεφαλιωσαν). An old verb (κ... [ Continue Reading ]
BEATING SOME AND KILLING SOME (ους μεν δεροντεσ, ους δε αποκτεννυντες). This distributive use of the demonstrative appears also in Matthew 21:35 in the singular (ον μεν, ον δε, ον δε). Originally δερω in Homer meant to skin, flay, then to smite, to beat. Αποκτεννυντες is a μ form of the verb (απο... [ Continue Reading ]
A BELOVED SON (υιον αγαπητον). Luke 20:13 has τον υιον τον αγαπητον. Jesus evidently has in mind the language of the Father to him at his baptism (Mark 1:11; Matthew 3:17; Luke 3:22).LAST (εσχατον). Only in Mark. See on Matthew 21:37 for discussion of "reverence.... [ Continue Reading ]
AMONG THEMSELVES (προς εαυτους). This phrase alone in Mark. Luke 20:14 has "with one another" (προς αλληλους), reciprocal instead of reflexive, pronoun.... [ Continue Reading ]
KILLED HIM AND CAST HIM FORTH (απεκτειναν αυτον, κα εξεβαλον αυτον). Matthew and Luke reverse the order, cast forth and killed.... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS SCRIPTURE (την γραφην ταυτην). This passage of scripture (Luke 4:21; John 19:37; Acts 1:16). It is a quotation from Psalms 118:22. See on Matthew 21:42 for discussion.... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS (αυτη). Feminine in LXX may refer toKEPHAL (head) or may be due to the Hebrew originalZOTH (this thing) which would be neuter τουτο in a Greek original, a translation Hebraism.... [ Continue Reading ]
AGAINST THEM (προς αυτους). So Luke. It was a straight shot, this parable of the Rejected Stone (Mark 12:10) and the longer one of the Wicked Husbandmen. There was no mistaking the application, for he had specifically explained the application (Matthew 21:43-45). The Sanhedrin were so angry that... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THEY MIGHT CATCH HIM IN TALK (ινα αυτον αγρευσωσιν λογω). Ingressive aorist subjunctive. The verb is late from αγρα (a hunt or catching). It appears in the LXX and papyri. Here alone in the N.T. Luke 20:20 has the same idea, "that they may take hold of his speech" (επιλαβωντα αυτου λογον) whi... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL WE GIVE OR SHALL WE NOT GIVE? (δωμεν η μη δωμεν;). Mark alone repeats the question in this sharp form. The deliberative subjunctive, aorist tense active voice. For the discussion of the palaver and flattery of this group of theological students see on Matthew 22:16-22.... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOWING THEIR HYPOCRISY (ειδως αυτων την υποχρισιν). Matthew 22:18 has "perceived their wickedness" (γνους την πονηριαν αυτων) while Luke 20:23 says, "perceived their craftiness" (κατανοησας αυτων την πανουργιαν). Each of these words throws a flash-light on the spirit and attitude of these young... [ Continue Reading ]
MARVELLED GREATLY AT HIM (εξεθαυμαζον επ' αυτω). Imperfect tense with perfective use of the preposition εξ. Both Matthew and Luke use the ingressive aorist. Luke adds that they "held their peace" (εσιγησαν) while Matthew notes that they "went their way" (απηλθαν), went off or away.... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE COME UNTO HIM SADDUCEES (ερχοντα Σαδδουκαιο προς αυτον). Dramatic present. The Pharisees and Herodians had had their turn after the formal committee of the Sanhedrin had been so completely routed. It was inevitable that they should feel called upon to show their intellectual superiority to... [ Continue Reading ]
MOSES WROTE (Μωυσης εγραψεν). So Luke 20:28 (Genesis 38:8; Genesis 25:5). Matthew has "said" (ειπεν).... [ Continue Reading ]
TOOK A WIFE (ελαβεν γυναικα). So Luke 20:29. Matthew has "married" (γημας).... [ Continue Reading ]
LAST OF ALL (εσχατον παντων). Adverbial use of εσχατον.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO WIFE (γυναικα). Predicate accusative in apposition with "her" (αυτην). So Luke, but Matthew merely has "had her" (εσχον αυτην), constative aorist indicative active.... [ Continue Reading ]
IS IT NOT FOR THIS CAUSE THAT YE ERR? (Ου δια τουτο πλανασθε;). Mark puts it as a question with ου expecting the affirmative answer. Matthew puts it as a positive assertion: "Ye are." Πλαναομα is to wander astray (cf. our word _planet_, wandering stars, αστερες πλανητα, Judges 1:13) like the Lati... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THEY SHALL RISE FROM THE DEAD (οταν εκ νεκρων αναστωσιν). Second aorist active subjunctive with οταν (οτε plus αν). Matthew 22:30 has it "in the resurrection," Luke 20:35 "to attain to the resurrection." The Pharisees regarded the future resurrection body as performing marriage functions, as... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE PLACE CONCERNING THE BUSH (επ του βατου). This technical use of επ is good Greek, in the matter of, in the passage about, the Bush. Βατος is masculine here, feminine in Luke 20:37. The reference is to Exodus 3:3-6 (in the book of Moses, εν τη βιβλω).... [ Continue Reading ]
YE DO GREATLY ERR (πολυ πλανασθε). Only in Mark. Solemn, severe, impressive, but kindly close (Bruce).... [ Continue Reading ]
HEARD THEM QUESTIONING TOGETHER (ακουσας αυτων συνζητουντων). The victory of Christ over the Sadducees pleased the Pharisees who now had come back with mixed emotions over the new turn of things (Matthew 22:34). Luke 20:39 represents one of the scribes as commending Jesus for his skilful reply to... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SCRIBE SAID (ειπεν αυτω ο γραμματευς). Mark alone gives the reply of the scribe to Jesus which is a mere repetition of what Jesus had said about the first and the second commandments with the additional allusion to 1 Samuel 15:22 about love as superior to whole burnt offerings.WELL (καλ... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCREETLY (νουνεχως). From νους (intellect) and εχω, to have. Using the mind to good effect is what the adverb means. He had his wits about him, as we say. Here only in the N.T. In Aristotle and Polybius. Νουνεχοντως would be the more regular form, adverb from a participle.NOT FAR (ου μακραν).... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW SAY THE SCRIBES (Πως λεγουσιν ο γραμματεις). The opponents of Jesus are silenced, but he answers them and goes on teaching (διδασκων) in the temple as before the attacks began that morning (Mark 11:27). They no longer dare to question Jesus, but he has one to put to them "while the Pharisees w... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FOOTSTOOL (υποποδιον). Westcott and Hort read υποκατω (under) after Aleph B D L.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE COMMON PEOPLE HEARD HIM GLADLY (ο πολυς οχλος ηκουεν αυτου εδεως). Literally, the much multitude (the huge crowd) was listening (imperfect tense) to him gladly. Mark alone has this item. The Sanhedrin had begun the formal attack that morning to destroy the influence of Jesus with the crowds w... [ Continue Reading ]
BEWARE OF THE SCRIBES (βλεπετε απο των γραμματεων). Jesus now turns to the multitudes and to his disciples (Matthew 23:1) and warns them against the scribes and the Pharisees while they are still there to hear his denunciation. The scribes were the professional teachers of the current Judaism and... [ Continue Reading ]
FIRST SEATS IN THE SYNAGOGUES (πρωτοκαθεδριας). As a mark of special piety, seats up in front while now the hypocrites present in church prefer the rear seats.CHIEF PLACES AT FEASTS (πρωτοκλισιας εν τοις δειπνοις). Recognizing proper rank and station. Even the disciples fall victims to this des... [ Continue Reading ]
DEVOUR WIDOWS' HOUSES (ο κατεσθοντες τας οικιας των χηρων). New sentence in the nominative. Terrible pictures of civil wrong by graft grabbing the homes of helpless widows. They inveigled widows into giving their homes to the temple and took it for themselves.FOR A PRETENCE MAKE LONG PRAYERS (π... [ Continue Reading ]
SAT DOWN OVER AGAINST THE TREASURY (καθισας κατεναντ του γαζοφυλακιου). The storm is over. The Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, scribes, have all slunk away in terror ere the closing words. Mark draws this immortal picture of the weary Christ sitting by the treasury (compound word in the LXX from... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE POOR WIDOW (μια χηρα πτωχη). Luke has πενιχρα, a poetical late form of πενης. In the N.T. the πτωχος is the pauper rather than the mere peasant, the extreme opposite of the rich (πλουσιο). The money given by most was copper (χαλκον).TWO MITES (δυο λεπτα). Λεπτος means peeled or stripped and... [ Continue Reading ]
CALLED UNTO HIM (προσκαλεσαμενος). Indirect middle voice. The disciples themselves had slipped away from him while the terrific denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees had gone on, puzzled at this turn of affairs.MORE THAN ALL (πλειον παντων). Ablative of comparison (παντων). It may mean, mor... [ Continue Reading ]