UNTO BETHPHAGE (εις Βεθφαγη). An indeclinable Aramaic name here only in O.T. or N.T. (Mark 11:1; Luke 19:29). It means "house of unripe young figs." It apparently lay on the eastern slope of Olivet or at the foot of the mountain, a little further from Jerusalem than Bethany. Both Mark and Luke sp... [ Continue Reading ]
INTO THE VILLAGE THAT IS OVER AGAINST YOU (εις την κωμην την κατεναντ υμων). Another use of εις. If it means "into" as translated, it could be Bethany right across the valley and this is probably the idea.AND A COLT WITH HER (κα πωλον μετ' αυτης). The young of any animal. Here to come with the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD (ο κυριος). It is not clear how the word would be understood here by those who heard the message though it is plain that Jesus applies it to himself. The word is from κυρος, power or authority. In the LXX it is common in a variety of uses which appear in the N.T. as master of the slave (M... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THE PROPHET (δια του προφητου). The first line is from Isaiah 62:11, the rest from Zechariah 9:9. John (John 12:14) makes it clear that Jesus did not quote the passage himself. In Matthew it is not so plain, but probably it is his own comment about the incident. It is not Christ's intention to... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DAUGHTER OF ZION (τη θυγατρ Σιων). Jerusalem as in Isaiah 22:4 (daughter of my people). So Babylon (Isaiah 47:1), daughter of Tyre for Tyre (Psalms 45:12).RIDING (επιβεβηκως). Perfect active participle of επιβαινω, "having gone upon."AND UPON A COLT THE FOAL OF AN ASS (κα επ πωλον υιον υπο... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAT THEREON (κα επεκαθισεν επανω αυτων), Mark (Mark 11:7) and Luke (Luke 19:35) show that Jesus rode the colt. Matthew does not contradict that, referring to the garments (τα ιματια) put on the colt by "them" (αυτων). not to the two asses. The construction is somewhat loose, but intelligib... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MOST PART OF THE MULTITUDE (ο πλειστος οχλος). See Matthew 11:20 for this same idiom, article with superlative, a true superlative (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 670).IN THE WAY (εν τη οδω). This the most of the crowd did. The disciples put their garments on the asses. Note change of tenses (con... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WENT BEFORE HIM AND THAT FOLLOWED (ο προαγοντες αυτον κα ο ακολουθουντες). Note the two groups with two articles and the present tense (linear action) and the imperfect εκραζον "were crying" as they went.HOSANNA TO THE SON OF DAVID (Hοσαννα τω υιω Δαυειδ). They were now proclaiming Jesus a... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS STIRRED (εσεισθη). Shaken as by an earthquake. "Even Jerusalem frozen with religious formalism and socially undemonstrative, was stirred with popular enthusiasm as by a mighty wind or by an earthquake" (Bruce).... [ Continue Reading ]
CAST OUT (εξεβαλεν). Drove out, assumed authority over "the temple of God" (probably correct text with του θεου, though only example of the phrase). John (John 2:14) has a similar incident at the beginning of the ministry of Jesus. It is not impossible that he should repeat it at the close after... [ Continue Reading ]
A DEN OF ROBBERS (σπηλαιον ληιστων). By charging exorbitant prices.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHILDREN (τους παιδας). Masculine and probably boys who had caught the enthusiasm of the crowd.... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAREST THOU (ακουεις). In a rage at the desecration of the temple by the shouts of the boys they try to shame Jesus, as responsible for it. THOU HAST PERFECTED (κατηρτισω). The quotation is from Psalms 8:3 (LXX text). See Matthew 4:21 where the same verb is used for mending nets. Here it is th... [ Continue Reading ]
TO BETHANY (εις Βηθανιαν). House of depression or misery, the Hebrew means. But the home of Martha and Mary and Lazarus there was a house of solace and comfort to Jesus during this week of destiny. HeLODGED THERE (ηυλισθη εκε) whether at the Bethany home or out in the open air. It was a time of... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HUNGERED (επεινασεν). Ingressive aorist indicative, became hungry, felt hungry (Moffatt). Possibly Jesus spent the night out of doors and so had no breakfast.... [ Continue Reading ]
A FIG TREE (συκην μιαν). "A single fig tree" (Margin of Rev. Version). But εις was often used = τις or like our indefinite article. See Matthew 8:10; Matthew 26:69. The Greek has strictly no indefinite article as the Latin has no definite article.LET THERE BE NO FRUIT FROM THEE HENCEFORWARD FOR E... [ Continue Reading ]
DOUBT NOT (μη διακριθητε). First aorist passive subjunctive, second-class condition. To be divided in mind, to waver, to doubt, the opposite of "faith" (πιστιν), trust, confidence.WHAT IS DONE TO THE FIG TREE (το της συκης). The Greek means "the matter of the fig tree," as if a slight matter in... [ Continue Reading ]
BELIEVING (πιστευοντες). This is the point of the parable of the mountain, "faith in the efficacy of prayer" (Plummer).... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE QUESTION (λογον ενα). Literally "one word" or "a word." The answer to Christ's word will give the answer to their query. The only human ecclesiastical authority that Jesus had came from John.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BAPTISM OF JOHN (το βαπτισμα το Ιωανου). This represents his relation to Jesus who was baptized by him. At once the ecclesiastical leaders find themselves in a dilemma created by their challenge of Christ.THEY REASONED WITH THEMSELVES (διελογιζοντο). Picturesque imperfect tense describing t... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL NOT (ου θελω). So many old manuscripts, though the Vatican manuscript (B) has the order of the two sons reversed. Logically the "I, sir" (εγω, κυριε) suits better for the second son (verse Matthew 21:30) with a reference to the blunt refusal of the first. So also the manuscripts differ in... [ Continue Reading ]
GO BEFORE YOU (προαγουσιν). "In front of you" (Weymouth). The publicans and harlots march ahead of the ecclesiastics into the kingdom of heaven. It is a powerful indictment of the complacency of the Jewish theological leaders.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (εν οδω δικαιοσυνης). In the path of righteousness. Compare the two ways in Matthew 7:13; Matthew 7:14 and "the way of God" (Matthew 22:16).... [ Continue Reading ]
A HEDGE (φραγμον). Or fence as a protection against wild beasts.DIGGED A WINEPRESS (ωρυξεν ληνον). Out of the solid rock to hold the grapes and wine as they were crushed. Such wine-vats are to be seen today in Palestine.BUILT A TOWER (ωικοδομησεν πυργον). This for the vinedressers and watchmen... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS SERVANTS (τους δουλους αυτου). These slaves are distinguished fromTHE HUSBANDMEN (γεωργο, workers of the soil) or workers of the vineyard who had leased it from the householder before he went away. The conduct of the husbandmen towards the householder's slaves portrays the behaviour of the... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WILL REVERENCE MY SON (εντραπησοντα τον υιον μου). Second future passive from εντρεπω, to turn at, but used transitively here as though active or middle. It is the picture of turning with respect when one worthy of it appears.... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE HIS INHERITANCE (σχωμεν την κληρονομιαν αυτου). Ingressive aorist active subjunctive (hortatory, volitive) of εχω. Let us get his inheritance.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WILL MISERABLY DESTROY THOSE MISERABLE MEN (κακους κακως απολεσε αυτους). The paronomasia or assonance is very clear. A common idiom in literary Greek. "He will put the wretches to a wretched death" (Weymouth).WHICH (οιτινες). Who, which very ones of a different character.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE STONE WHICH (λιθον ον). Inverse attraction of the antecedent into the case of the relative.THE BUILDERS REJECTED (απεδοκιμασαν ο οικοδομουντες). From Psalms 118:22. A most telling quotation. These experts in building God's temple had rejected the corner-stone chosen by God for his own house... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL BE TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU (αρθησετα αφ' υμων). Future passive indicative of αιρω. It was the death-knell of the Jewish nation with their hopes of political and religious world leadership.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL BE BROKEN TO PIECES (συνθλασθησετα). Some ancient manuscripts do not have this verse. But it graphically pictures the fate of the man who rejects Christ. The verb means to shatter. We are familiar with an automobile that dashes against a stone wall, a tree, or a train and the ruin that foll... [ Continue Reading ]
PERCEIVED (εγνωσαν). Ingressive second aorist active of γινωσκω. There was no mistaking the meaning of these parables. The dullest could see the point.... [ Continue Reading ]
TOOK HIM (ειχον). Descriptive imperfect of εχω, to hold. This fear of the people was all that stayed the hands of the rabbis on this occasion. Murderous rage was in their hearts towards Jesus. People do not always grasp the application of sermons to themselves.... [ Continue Reading ]