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Friday, July 18th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Bible Commentaries
International Critical Commentary NT International Critical
Copyright Statement
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Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
These files are public domain.
Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
Bibliographical Information
Driver, S.A., Plummer, A.A., Briggs, C.A. "Commentary on Luke 20". International Critical Commentary NT. https://studylight.org/commentaries/eng/icc/luke-20.html. 1896-1924.
Driver, S.A., Plummer, A.A., Briggs, C.A. "Commentary on Luke 20". International Critical Commentary NT. https://studylight.org/
Whole Bible (43)New Testament (15)Gospels Only (6)Individual Books (9)
Verses 1-99
20:1-8. The Question of the Sanhedrin respecting the authority of Jesus. Matthew 21:23-27; Mark 11:27-33. Having given a general description of the activity of Jesus and of His enemies during these last days, Lk. now gives some illustrations of both. it was fear of the people which kept His opponents from proceeding against Him: and therefore their first object was to discredit Him with His protectors. Then they could adopt more summary measures.
None of the Evangelists enables us to answer with certainty the question whether the hierarchy had at first any idea of employing the sicarii to assassinate Jesus. Matthew 26:4 might mean this. But more probably this and other notices of plots against the life of Jesus refer to the intention of getting Him out of the way by some legal process, either as a blasphemer or as a rebel against the Roman government. Of course, if a mob could be goaded into a fury and provoked to put Him to death (4:29; John 8:59, John 10:31), this would suit their purpose equally well. The intrinsic probability of the controversies reported by the Evangelist as taking place after the triumphal entry is admitted even by Strauss.
If the tentative chronology suggested above be accepted, this conversation about authority took place probably two days after the entry, and on Tuesday, April 4, Nisan 12. This day is sometimes called the âDay of Questions.â We have (1) the Sanhedrin asking about Authority, and (2) Christâs counter-question about the Baptist; (3) the Pharisees and Herodians asking about the Tribute; (4) the Sadducees asking about the Woman with Seven Husbands; (5) the Scribe asking which is the First Commandment; (6) Christâs question about Psa_110. It is possible this day the question was asked about the Woman taken in Adultery; but that is too precarious to be worth more than a passing mention, although Renan places it here without doubt, and makes it the proximate cause of the arrest and death of Jesus (V. de J. p. 346). If it were included, we might group the questions pressed upon Christ thus: (i.) a personal question; (ii.) a political question; (iii.) a doctrinal question; (iv.) an ethical question; (v.) a question of discipline. Of hardly any day in our Lordâs life have we so full a report. With Luk_20. and 21. comp. Matthew 21:18; Mark 11:20; John 12:20-43. It includes at least four parables: the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32), the Wicked Husbandmen (Matthew 21:33-44; Mark 12:1-11; Luke 20:9-18), the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), and eht Talentg (Matthew 25:14-30). The day may be considered the last working-day of Christâs ministry, the last of His public teaching, the last of activity in the temple, the last of instruction to the e and of warning to their leaders. âIt is a picture with genuine Oriental local colouring. ⦠We see Jesus sitting surrounded by a multitude awed into silence. They are all devoutly meditating on the great Messianic question. From time to time an emissary from His opponents steps up to Him, with Eastern solemnity and ceremoniousness, to propose some well-considered question. Anxiously do the multitude listen for Jesusâ answer. Then again follows a meditative silence as before, until at last Jesus Himself delivers a connected discourseâ (Hausrath, N. T. Times, ii. p. 250).
1. á¼Î½ μιᾷ Ïῶν ἡμεÏῶν. Lk. alone uses this expression (5:17, 8:22; comp. 5:12, 13:10). He is still indefinite in his chronology. Mt. is a little more clear. It is Mk. who enables us to distinguish three days; presumably Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. âThe daysâ perhaps refers to the âdaily teaching in the templeâ (19:47); and this deputation from the Sanhedrin is the result of their âseeking to destroy Him.â We have a similar deputation to the Baptist John 1:19. See fourth note on Luke 9:22. For εá½Î³Î³ÎµÎ»Î¹Î¶Î¿Î¼ÎÎ½Î¿Ï , which defines the character of His teaching more clearly than διδάÏκονÏοÏ, see on 2:10.
á¼ÏÎÏÏηÏαν. One of Lk.âs favourite words (see on 2:38): âthere came upon Him.â So also Ïὺν Ïοá¿Ï ÏÏ. and ÏÏá½¸Ï Î±á½ÏÏν illustrate his fondness for these prepositions. Mt. and Mk. here have καὶ for ÏÏν (see on 1:56), and neither of them has ÏÏÏÏ after λÎγειν.
The introduction of the oratio recta by λÎγονÏÎµÏ or λÎγÏν after εἰÏεá¿Î½ is rare (Mark 12:26): but either is common after λαλεá¿Î½ (Acts 8:26, Acts 26:31, Acts 28:25, etc.).
2. á¼Î½ Ïοίᾳ ⦠Ïοιεá¿Ï; So in all three. The two questions are not identical; nor is the second a mere explanation of the first. It anticipates the reply, âBy the Messiahâs authority,â with another question, âWho made Thee Messiah?â They ask by what kind of authority, human or Divine, ecclesiastical or civil, assumed or conferred, He acts. They refer not merely to His teaching, but also to His cleansing the temple, as Ïοιεá¿Ï shows. On the first occasion they had asked for a Ïημεá¿Î¿Î½ as a guarantee for the lawfulness of His Ïοιεá¿Î½ (John 2:18). They do not venture to do more than question Him, for they know that the feeling and conscience of the people are with Him for putting down their extortionate and profane traffic, for His teaching, and for His works of healing. This was the one point where He seemed to be vulnerable. âFor there was no principle more firmly established by universal consent than that authoritative teaching required previous authorization,â because all such teaching was traditional (Edersh. L. & T. 2. p. 381). For á¼Î½ á¼Î¾Î¿Ï ÏÏίᾳ see on 4:32.
3. εἶÏεν ÏÏá½¸Ï Î±á½ÏοÏÏ. Both Mt. and Mk. have αá½Ïοá¿Ï.
á¼ÏÏÏήÏÏ á½Î¼á¾¶Ï κá¼Î³á½¼ λÏγον. The λÏγον refers to their answer rather than His question, as is shown by ὠν á¼á½°Î½ εἴÏηÏΠμοι (Matthew 21:24). âYou ask Me to state My authority. I also will ask you for a statementâ; not, âask you a questionâ (RV.), nor, âask you one thingâ (AV.). As teachers they must speak first.
The á¼Î½Î± (A C D) is an insertion from Mt. and Mk, om. × B L R, Syr-Sin. Latin texts are divided.
4. Verbatim as Mt. and Mk., except that Mt. inserts ÏÏθεν, and Mk. adds�Acts 5:38, Acts 5:39
5. ÏÏ Î½ÎµÎ»Î¿Î³Î¯ÏανÏο. Here only in N.T., but classical. × C D have ÏÏ Î½ÎµÎ»Î¿Î³Î¶Î¿Î½Ïο. Comp. ver. 14.
6. καÏαλιθάÏει. Here only: but λιθάζειν is found John 10:31-33, John 10:11:8; Acts 5:26, Acts 14:19. In LXX λιθάζειν occurs twice (2 Samuel 16:6, 2 Samuel 16:13), but λιθοβλεá¿Î½ is the common verb. comp, 13:34; Acts 7:58. The καÏα. expresses âstoning down, overwhelming with stonesâ: Comp. καÏαλιθοβολεá¿Î½ Exodus 17:4, and καÏαλιθοῦν in Josephus. Here Mt. and Mk. have the less definite expression, âfear the multitude.â
ÏÏοÏήÏην εἶναι. Their intense joy at the reappearance of a Prophet after three centuries of silence (p. 80) would be the measure of their fury against a hierarchy which should declare that John had not been a Prophet at all. Comp. 7:29, 30. With á½ Î»Î±á½¸Ï á¼ ÏÎ±Ï comp. 19:48. Nowhere else does ÏεÏειÏμÎÎ½Î¿Ï á¼ÏÏιν occur.
7. μἠεἰδÎναι ÏÏθεν. This shameful and dishonest avowal is excelled a few days later by their answer to Pilate, âWe have no king but Cæsarâ (John 19:15). Timentes lapidationem, sed magis timentes veritatis confessionem (Bede), these professed âTeachers of Israelâ (John 3:10), who so scorned the ignorant multitude (John 7:49), confessed that they had not yet decided whether one, who for years had been recognized by the nation as a Prophet, had any Divine commission. If they were not competent to judge of the Baptist, still less were they competent to judge of the Christ. Nösgen, Gesch. J. C. i. p. 514.
8. οá½Î´á½² á¼Î³Ï. Verbatim as in Mt. and Mk. Their refusal to answer His question cancels their claim to an answer from Him. This they admit by ceasing to press it. See Gould on Mark 11:33.
9-19. The Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen. Matthew 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12. Mt. here gives a trilogy of parables, placing this one between the Two Sons and the Marriage of the Kingâs Son. Godet thinks that the Two Sons cannot have been uttered where Mt. places it. But it fits the preceding discussion about the Baptist very well; and Mk., who records one parable only, says ἤÏξαÏα αá½Ïοá¿Ï á¼Î½ ÏαÏαβολαá¿Ï λαλεá¿Î½, which agrees well with the fact that more than one parable was spoken. The idea of âwork in the vineyardâ is common to both parables. In this parable Christ lets His enemies know that He is aware of their murderous plans against Himself; an in it He warns both them and the people generally of the fatal results co themselves, if their pans are carried out.1 It is the special characteristic of this parable that it does not teach general and perinanent truths for the guidance of Christians, but refers to post, present, and future events. From the conduct of His traditional enemies, especially at that very time, He predicts His own end and theirs. The parable is capable of spiritual application as to Godâs dealings with churches and individuals, but its primary reference is to the treatment which He is receiving from the Jewish hierarchy. The parable contains the answer to the question which they had raised. He is acting in the authority of His Father who sent Him to them. The imagery is taken from the O. T. and would be readily understood by the audience. The inairl source is the similar parable Isaiah 5:1-7; but comp. Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 15:1-6, 19:10-14; Hosea 10:1; Deuteronomy 32:32, Deuteronomy 32:33, and the many other passages in which Israel is spoken of as a vineyard or a vine; Psalms 80:8 ff.; Joel 1:7, etc.
It has been said that be main difference between this parable and Is. v. or other O.T. figures is, that there the husbandmen or leaders and teachers of the people are not mentioned: it is the nation as a whole that fails in its duty to Jehovah. Here it is those who have charge of the nation that are condemned: the vineyard itself is not destroyed for its unfruitfulness, but is treansferred to more faithful stewards. And, in support of this view, it has been pointed out that in the first times of the Kingdom the nation went voluntarily into idolatry; it was not led into it by the priests and other teachers: but now it was mainly the official teachers who prevented the people from acceptin Jesus as the Messiah. This, however, does not fit vv. 15, 16, which show that the tenants are the Jewish nation, and not merely the leaders, and that the vineyard is not the nation, but its spiritual privileges. The nation was not to be transferred to other rulers, but its privileges were to be transferred to other nations.
9. ἬÏξαÏο δὲ ÏÏá½¸Ï Ïὸν λαὸν λÎγειν. There is a pause after the discomfiture of the deputation from the Sanhedrin; and then Jesus âbeginsâ to address a different company. But while He speaks to the people He also speaks at the hierarchy, who are still present, though silenced. Mt. and Mk. regard the parable as addressed to the latter. Syr-Sin. has âto speak to them.â D, a d e omit ÏÏá½¸Ï Ïὸν λαÏν. Comp. 5:36.
á¼Î½Î¸ÏÏÏοÏ. Lk. commonly adds ÏιÏ: see small print note on 13:19. TR. follows A in adding ÏÎ¹Ï here.
á¼ÏÏÏÎµÏ Ïεν�Genesis 9:20; Deuteronomy 20:6, 28:30, 39; Psalms 106:37, etc.). Lk. omits the fence, the winepress, and the tower.
á¼Î¾ÎδεÏο. In all three narratives in this place, but nowhere else in N. T. In LXX it is used of giving a daughter in marriage; Exodus 2:21; Ecclus. 7:25; 1 Mac. 10:58: but the sense of letting out for hire is classical; Plat. Leg. vii:806 D, γεÏÏγίαι δὲ á¼ÎºÎ´ÎµÎ´Î¿Î¼Îναι δοÏλοιÏ�
The same form (εÏο, not -οÏο is found in the best MSS. in all three. Comp. διεδίδεÏο (Acts 4:35) and ÏαÏεδίδεÏο (1 Corinthians 11:23). Gregory, Proleg. p. 124.
ΧÏÏÎ½Î¿Ï Ï á¼±ÎºÎ±Î½Î¿ÏÏ . This addition is peculiar to Lk. See on 7:12. We may understand several years.
10. καιÏá¿· . No doubt ὠκαιÏá½¸Ï Ïῶν καÏÏῶν (Mt.) is meant. Syr-Sin. has âat one of the seasons.â
á¼ÏÎÏÏειλεν ⦠δοῦλον . So also Mk., while Mt. has ÏÎ¿Ï Ï Î´Î¿ÏÎ»Î¿Ï Ï Î±á½Ïοῦ. In Lk. it is always a single slave who is sent, and the treatment becomes worse each time, culminating in the slaying of the heir, before whom no one is killed. In Mt. and Mk. there is no such dramatic climax, and several are killed before the son is sent: all which is more in accordance with facts in Jewish history. See 1 Kings 18:13, 1 Kings 18:22:1 Kings 18:24-27; 2 Kings 6:31, 2 Kings 6:21:16; 2 Chronicles 24:19-22, 36:15, 2 Chronicles 24:16; Nehemiah 9:26; Jeremiah 37:15, 44:4; Acts 7:52.
ἵνα�
ἵνα ⦠δÏÏÎ¿Ï Ïιν . The fut. iudic. is found in class. Grk. after á½ ÏÏÏ, but not after ἵνα. In bibl. Grk, it is found most often in the last of a series: of verbs following ἵνα: but cases in which the verb depends immediately upon ἵνα occur: 1 Corinthians 9:18; 1 Peter 3:1, Revelation 6:4, Revelation 8:3, Revelation 9:20, Revelation 12:12, on 14:13, and other passages in which the reading is somewhat doubtful. See on 14:10. Burton., § 198, 199.
á¼Î¾Î±ÏÎÏÏειλαν ⦠κενÏν . They probably told him, and perhas tried to persuade themselves that his masterâs demand was unjust. Excepting Galatians 4:4, Galatians 4:6. the verb is peculiar in N.T. to Lk. (Acts 7:12, Acts 9:30, Acts 11:22, Acts 12:11, Acts 13:26, Acts 17:14, Acts 22:21); but it is freq. in LXX. For the phrase âsend empty awayâ comp 1:53; Genesis 31:42; Deuteronomy 15:13; 1 Samuel 6:3; Job 22:9. For δείÏαÏÎµÏ see on 12:47.
11. ÏÏοÏÎθεÏο ÏÎμÏαι . A Hebraism: see on 19:11. Whether this is a second messenger sent that same vintage, or the messenger sent at another vintage, is not stated. The important point is that chastisement does not follow upon the first outrage. The husbandmen have several opportunities; and these are brought by different persons. If one messengerâs manner of delivering his message was unpleasing, anotherâs would be the opposite. But this time they add insult �John 8:49; Acts 5:41; Romans 1:24, Romans 1:2:23; James 2:6. The verb is freq. in LXX.
12. ÏÏÎ±Ï Î¼Î±ÏίÏανÏÎµÏ . Worse than δείÏανÏÎÏ Îº.�Hebrews 11:36-38; Acts 7:52.
13. Τί ÏοιήÏÏ ; Peculiar to this account; as also is the qualifying á¼´ÏÏÏ, which occurs nowhere else in N.T., and only once in LXX (1 Samuel 25:21), where English Versions have âsurely.â Godet contends for such a meaning here: pourtant, en tout cas, certainement. But comp. ÎÎ. á¼¼ÏÏÏ. ÎÎ. Îá½Îº á¼´ÏÏÏ,�
We must remember that it is the á¼Î½Î¸ÏÏÏÎ¿Ï of ver. 9 who deliberates as to what he shall do, says á¼´ÏÏÏ, and expects that his son will be well received. All this is the setting of the parable, and must not be pressed as referring to God. This man represents God, not by his perplexity, but by his long-suffering and mercy.
á¼Î½ÏÏαÏήÏονÏαι. In all three: for the meaning see on 18:2. This form of the fut. is late. In Polyb. and Plut. the verb sometimes has an acc., but in class. Grk. a gen., when it means âreverenceâ Comp. Exodus 10:3, Wisd. 2:10.
The ἰδÏÏÎµÏ of TR. with A R, Vulg. Goth. comes from ver. 14; om. × B C D C Q, a c d e ff2 i l q r, Bob. Arm. The Syriac Versions are divided. Syr-Sin. is defective here.
14. διελογίζονÏο ÏÏὸÏ�
A K and Latt. have διελογίÏανÏο, cogitaverunt and A C Q, Vulg. have ÏÏá½¸Ï á¼Î±Ï ÏοÏÏ from Mark 12:7 for ÏÏὸÏ�Hebrews 1:2 and his detached note on Hebrews 6:12, p. 167.
15. á¼ÎºÎ²Î±Î»ÏνÏεÏ�1 Kings 20:13). No doubt á¼Î¾Ï Ï.�Acts 7:58, which is closely parallel), not with�
Ïί οá½Î½ ÏοιήÏει αá½Ïοá¿Ï ; Not, Ïί οá½Î½ á¼ÏοίηÏεν; Our Lord indicates that the parable is not a mere fiction: it is a key to a future which depends upon present action. Assuming that the heir is killed, what will happen? In Mt. some of the bystanders answer the question. They are so interested, and enter so fully into the spirit of the narrative, that, without seeing the application to themselves, they reply ÎºÎ±ÎºÎ¿á½ºÏ ÎºÎ±Îºá¿¶Ï. See on 19:25, and comp. Davidâs reply to Nathanâs parable (2 Samuel 12:5, 2 Samuel 12:6).
16. á¼Î»ÎµÏÏεÏαιλ καὶ�Isaiah 2:2; Isaiah 60:0. passim; Jeremiah 3:17). Yet this was restricted to those Gentiles who had taken no part in oppressing Israel, but had submitted to Israel; and later Judaism as a rule denied even this to the heathen (Charles, Enoch, 90:30). Here the Jews are to lose what the Gentiles gain. In vv. 16-19 Syr-Sin. is confused.
á¼ÎºÎ¿ÏÏανÏÎµÏ Î´á½² εἶÏαν Îá½´ γÎνοιÏο . We need not confine this to the people and conclude that âthe Pharisees had too much wariness and self command to have allowed such an exclamation to escape from their lips.â The exclamation may not mean more than âThat is incredible,â or âAway with the thought.â See Lft. on Galatians 2:17 and Sanday on Romans 3:4. This is the only instance of μὴ γÎνοιÏο in N.T. outside the Pauline Epp., where it generally is used to scout a false inference which might be drawn. Burton., § 176, 177. Here it probably refers to the punishment rather than to the sin which brings it,âto�
The expression is rare in the Pauline Epp. except in Rom., where it occurs ten times: twice in Gal. and once in 1 Cor. In LXX it is rare, and never stands as an independent sentence: Genesis 44:7, Genesis 44:17; Joshua 22:29, Joshua 22:24:16; 1 Kings 20:0 [21] 3.
17. á¼Î¼Î²Î»ÏÎ±Ï Î±á½Ïοá¿Ï. Lk. alone has this touch. Comp, 22:61 and Elishaâs fixed look on Hazael (2 Kings 8:11).
Τί οá½Î½ á¼ÏÏίν. âIf the destruction which I have just foretold is not to come (μὴ γÎνοιÏο), how then do you explain this text?â The passage is once more (see on ver. 9) from the Hallel Psalms (118:22, 23), where see Perowne. The Rabbis recognized it as Messianic: see Schoettg. 1. p. 173. In all three Gospels the quotation is verbatim as in LXX. For Ïὸ γεγÏαμμÎνον see on 22:37, and for�Romans 9:33.
For the attraction of λίθον to á½Î½ see on 3:19, and for á¼Î³ÎµÎ½Î®Î¸Î· Îµá¼°Ï see on 13:19.
κεÏαλὴ γÏÎ½Î¯Î±Ï . Not the key-stone of the arch, but a cornerstone uniting two walls; but whether a foundation-stone at the base of the corner, or a completing stone at the top of it, is uncertain. Comp. Acts 4:11 and 1 Peter 2:7; also�Ephesians 2:20 and Isaiah 28:16. Mt. and Mk. quote ver. 23 of Psalms 118:0. as well as ver. 22, and Mt. adds the explanation that the Kingdom shall be transferred to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. Would Lk. have omitted this reference to the believing and loyal Gentiles if he had known it? We conclude that he was not familiar with Mt.âs account. See on 19:46.
18. Ïá¾¶Ï á½ ÏεÏὼν ⦠αá½ÏÏν . These words are not in Mk. and are of somewhat doubtful authority in Matthew 21:44, where they are omitted by D 33, or b d e ff12 Syr-Sin., Orig. But the characteristic Ïá¾¶Ï is in any case peculiar to Lk. The first half of the saying seems to be an adaptation of Isaiah 8:14, and the second half an adaptation of Daniel 2:34, Daniel 2:35, Daniel 2:44. Christ is a stumblingblock to some (2:34), and they suffer heavily for their shortsightedness. They not only lose the blessing which is offered, but what they reject works their overthrow.
ÏÏ Î½Î¸Î»Î±ÏθήÏεÏαι . âShall be shatteredâ; confringetur (Lat Vet, Beza), conquassabitur (Vlug.), wird zerschellen (Luth.). But in Matthew 21:44 Vulg. has confringetur. The verb occurs nowhere else in N.T., but the act, is found in LXX (Psalms 57:7; Micah 3:3), and several times as v.l.
á¼Ïʼ ὠν δʼ á¼Î½ ÏÎÏá¿ . Note the impressive change of construction. In the first case the man is the chief agent; in the second the stone. And the main thought now is simply λίθοÏ: the metaphor of κεÏαλή γÏÎ½Î¯Î±Ï is dropped. A chief corner-stone would not be likely either to trip up a person or to fall on him.
λικμήÏει αá½ÏÏν. The rendering âgrind to powder,â which all English. Versions from Tyn. to AV. give (Rhem. âbreake to pouderâ), follows the comminuet of Vulg. (in Mt. conteret), but is without authority. Not only in classical authors (Hom. Xen. Plut. Lucian.), but also in LXX, it means âto winnow chaff from gain,â from λικμÏÏ, âa winnowing fan.â In Ruth 3:2, λικμᾷ Ïὸν ἠλÏνα Ïῶν κÏιθῶν, and Ecclus. 5:9, μὴ λίκμα á¼Î½ ÏανÏὶ�Job 27:21); καὶ ÏÏÏá¿¥Ï Î±á½Ïὸν διÏξεÏαι á½¦Ï Ïνοῦν�Isaiah 17:13); á½ Î»Î¹ÎºÏ Î¼Î®Ïαν Ïὸν ἸÏÏαὴλ ÏÏ Î½Î½Î¬Î¾ÎµÎ¹ αá½ÏÏν (Jeremiah 31:10); καὶ λικμήÏÏ á¼Î½ Ïá¾¶Ïιν ÏÎ¿á¿¦Ï á¼Î¸Î½ÎµÏιν Ïὸν οἶκον Ïοῦ ἸÏÏαήλ, á½Î½ ÏÏÏÏον λικμᾶÏαι á¼Î½ Ïá¿· λικμῷ (Amos 9:9). Daniel 2:44 is important, as being the probable source of the saying: there, while in LXX we read ÏαÏάξει καὶ�Daniel 2:35). âScatter him as chaff,â therefore, is the meaning. When a heavy mass falls, what is pulverized by the blow is scattered by the rush of air. The Commovet illum of Cod. Palat. (e) looks like an attempt to preserve the right idea. Deissmann, Bible Studies, p. 225.
19. á¼Î½ αá½Ïá¿ Ïá¿ á½¥Ïá¾³ . âIn that very hourâ Lk.âs usual expression: see on 10:7, 21. There is no equivalent to it here in Mt. or Mk.
á¼Î³Î½ÏÏαν Î³á½°Ï á½ Ïι ÏÏá½¸Ï Î±á½ÏοÏÏ. So also in Mark 12:12, while Mt. has ÏÏÏÏ Î±á½Ïῶν. Vulg. has ad ipos here and ad eos in Mk. But ÏÏÏÏ may be either âwith a view to, in reference toâ (see on 12:41, 18:1, 9, 19:9), or âagainstâ (AV. RV.): comp. Acts 23:30. Here, as in Hebrews 1:7, Hebrews 1:8, Wsctt. prefers the meaning âin reference toâ: comp. Romans 10:21; Hebrews 11:18. The nom. to á¼Î³Î½ÏÏαν is οἱ γÏαμμαÏεá¿Ï, not ὠλάÏ, which would require á¼Î³Î½Ï, to be unambiguous. In Mt. the nom. to á¼Î³Î½ÏÏαν must be the hierarchy. And Î³Î¬Ï gives the reason, not for á¼Î¶Î½ÏÏαν, but for á¼ÏοβήθηÏαν, as the order of the sentences shows: and this is still more clear in Mk. by the change of tense from á¼Î¶Î®ÏÎ¿Ï Î½ (see Gould). The hierarchy recognize that the parable was directed against themselves; and this made them fear the people, who had heard e parable also. Syr-Sin. transfers this to v. 16.
In class. Grk. ÏÏÏÏ Ïινα often means âin reply to,â and hence âagainst,â being less strong than καÏά ÏινοÏ, as adversus than in. Here Beza has adversus ipsos and Luther auf sie.
20-26. The Question about the Tribute. Matthew 22:15-22; Mark 12:13-17. There is no evidence that a night intervened between the previous question and this one. The connexion between vv. 19 and 20 is close; and ver. 19 took place á¼Î½ αá½Ïá¿ Ïá¿ á½¥Ïá¾³ with what precedes. The previous question about authority had emanated from the Sanhedrin as a whole. The different parties represented in it now act separately and devise independent attacks. This one comes from the Pharisees (Matthew 22:15), who send a group composed of Pharisees and Herodians (Matthew 21:16; Mark 12:13). Neither Lk. nor Jn. mentions the Herodians. Their alliance with Pharisees is remarkable, for the Pharisees detested the Herodian dynasty; and this is not the first instance of such an alliance (Mark 3:6). But opponents often combine to attack those who are obnoxious to both.
20. ÏαÏαÏηÏήÏανÏεÏ. See on 14:1. Both AV. and RV. follow Tyn. Cran. Cov, and Gen. in translating âwatched himâ; but neither indicates by italics that âhimâ is not in the Greek. Wic, and Rhem. have no pronoun, in accordance with Vulg. observantes miserunt. It is doubtful whether the pronoun ought to be supplied, for ÏαÏαÏηÏεá¿Î½ without case may mean âto watch an opportunity.â See Field and Alford, ad loc. Mt. has his favourite ÏοÏÎµÏ Î¸ÎνÏεÏ.
D and some Versions here have�
á¼Î½ÎºÎ±Î¸ÎÏÎ¿Ï Ï . âSuborned to lie in waitâ; lit. âsent down into.â In N.T. here only, and in LXX Job 19:12, Job 31:9: but classical. Comp. Jos. B. J. vi:5, 2. The á½ÏοκÏινομÎÎ¿Ï Ï shows for what purpose they were suborned: they posed as scrupulous persons with a difficulty of conscience. In different ways all three accounts call attention to their hypocrisy. Meyer quotes, Qui tum, cum maxime fallunt, id agunt ut viri boni videantur (Cic. De Off. i:13, 41).
á¼ÏιλαβÏνÏαι αá½Ïοῦ λÏÎ³Î¿Ï . âTake Him in His speechâ; αá½Ïοῦ depending upon á¼Ïιλαβ. and λÏÎ³Î¿Ï being epexegetic (De W. Mey. Go.): rather than âtake hold of His speech,â αá½Ïοῦ depending upon λÏÎ³Î¿Ï (Holtz. Hahn). Vulg. has eum in sermone. So also Tyn. Cov. Cran. Gen. Rhem. Luth. Comp. á¼ÏελάβεÏÏ Î¼Î¿Ï Ïá¿Ï ÏÏολá¿Ï (Job 30:18) and á¼ÏιλαμβάνεÏαι αá½Ïοῦ Ïá¿Ï á¼´ÏÎ¿Ï Ï (Xen. Anab. iv:7, 12). Mt. has á½ ÏÏÏ Î±á½Ïὸν οαγιδεÏÏÏÏιν á¼Î½ λÏγῳ, Mk. ἵνα αá½Ïὸν�
á½¥ÏÏε ÏαÏαδοῦναι ⦠Ïοῦ ἡγεμÏνοÏ. Peculiar to Lk. Quod per se non poterant, præsidis manibus efficere tentabant, ut veluti ipsi a morte ejus viderentur immunes (Beds). For á½¥ÏÏε comp 4:29; Matthew 24:4.
Ïá¿ï¿½1 Corinthians 15:24; Ephesians 3:10, Colossians 1:16, Colossians 1:2:15; Titus 3:1. See Lft. on Colossians 1:16.
The generic term ἡγεμÏν may be used of the emperor (comp. ἠγεμονία 3:1) or any of his subordinates. In N.T. it is often used of the á¼ÏίÏοÏÎ¿Ï or procurator (Matthew 27:2, Matthew 27:11, Matthew 27:14, etc.; Acts 23:24, Acts 23:26, Acts 23:33, Acts 23:24:1, Acts 23:10, etc.) and less definitely of any governor (21:12; 1 Peter 2:14). Comp. Jos, Ant. xviii:3, 1; and ἡγεμονεÏÏ 2:2, 3:1.
21. á½ÏθÏÏ Î»ÎÎ³ÎµÎ¹Ï ÎºÎ±á½¶ διδάÏκειÏ. The falseness of these fulsome compliments in their mouths (οἴδαμεν á½ Ïι) stamps this as one of the most dastardly of the attacks on Christ. They go on to emphasize their flattery by denying the opposite.
Î¿á½ Î»Î±Î¼Î²Î¬Î½ÎµÎ¹Ï ÏÏÏÏÏÏον. Affreux barbarisme pour des lecteurs grecs (Godet). The expression is a Hebraism, which originally meant âraise the face,â i.e. make the countenance rise by favourable address, rather than âaccept the face.â Hence it came to mean âregard with favour,â but not necessarily with undue favour: Comp. Psalms 81:2; Malachi 1:8, Malachi 1:9. But the bad sense gradually prevailed; and both here and in Galatians 2:6 (see Lft.) partiality is implied, as in Leviticus 19:15 and Malachi 2:9. In LXX the common phrase is Î¸Î±Ï Î¼Î¬Î¶ÎµÎ¹Î½ ÏÏÏÏÏÏον: comp. Jude 1:16. The compounds ÏÏοÏÏÏολήμÏÏηÏ, ÏÏοÏÏÏολημÏία, etc., always imply favouritism.
Both Syr-Cur. and Syr-Sin. for âway of Godâ read âword of God.â
22. The ÏÏÏÎ¿Ï (classical and in LXX) or capitation-tax must be distinguished from ÏÎλη, which are indirect taxes. Mt. and Mk. here have κá¿Î½Ïον, but in Mk. á¼ÏικεÏάλαιον is a notable v. l.
For á¼¡Î¼á¾¶Ï (× A B L) TR. has ἡμá¿Î½ (C D P Î Î A Î ). Only here and 6:4 does á¼Î¾ÎµÏÏιν c. acc. et infin. occur in N.T. ÎαίÏαÏι stands first with emphasis. Usually both dat, and acc. follow δοῦναι: 1:74, 77, 12:32, 17:18; Acts 5:31, Acts 5:7:5; Matthew 14:7, Matthew 20:4, etc.
23. καÏανοήÏÎ±Ï â¦ ÏÎ±Î½Î¿Ï Ïγίαν . Mt. has Î³Î½Î¿á½ºÏ â¦ ÏονηÏίαν, Mk. Îµá¼°Î´á½¼Ï â¦ á½ÏÏκÏιÏιν. See on 12:27 for Lk.âs fondness for καÏανοÎÏ. In N.T., as in class. Grk., ÏÎ±Î½Î¿Ï Ïγία always has a bad meaning (1 Corinthians 3:19; 2 Corinthians 4:2, 2 Corinthians 4:11:3; Ephesians 4:14). In LXX it may mean âversatility, skillâ (Proverbs 1:4, Proverbs 8:5).
24. ÎείξαÏΠμοι δηνάÏιον. Mk. has ÏÎÏεÏε, which implies that they had to fetch it. They would not have heathen money on their persons. Mt. has ÏÏοÏήνεγκαν αá½Ïá¿¶, which implies the same thing; and he calls it Ïὸ νÏμιÏμα Ïοῦ κήνÏÎ¿Ï , because this poll-tax had to be paid in denarii.
Τί με ÏειÏάζεÏε (A C D P) is an insertion here from Mt. and Mk. × B L omit. See Wright, Synopsis, § 80, p. 73.
ÎαίÏαÏÎ¿Ï . Probably that of Tiberius. There was no royal offigy on Jewish coins: and Roman copper coins, if for circulation in Palestine, had no image on them. It was a base piece of flattery on the part of Herod Philip that he placed on his coins the head of the emperor, and the denarius used on this occasion may have been one of his. It is possible but not probable that it was a foreign coin, such as circulated outside Palestine.1 âJudas of Galileeâ (Acts 5:37; Jos. Ant, xviii:1. 6, 20:5, 2) or the Gaulonite (Ant. xviii:1, 1) had denounced the payment of tribute to Cæsar as treason against Jehovah, the only Lord that Israel could acknowledge (a.d. 6): and probably the Galileans who were listening to Jesus on this occasion were thoroughly in sympathy. But His adversaries had conceded the whole point when they admitted that the coinage was Cæsarâs: for even Judaism admitted that coinage implies the right of taxation, and is evidence of the government to which submission is due. Ubiunque numisma alicujus regis obtinet, illic incolæ regem istum pro domino agnoscunt (Maimon.). See Edersh. L. & T. 2. p. 385; Hist. of. J. N. p. 257. Grodus quotes Τίνα á¼Ïει ÏαÏκÏá¿Ïα ÏοῦÏο ÏεÏÏαÏÏάÏιον; ΤÏαιανοῦ (Arrian. Epict. iv:5, 17).
25. Î¤Î¿Î¯Î½Ï Î½ï¿½Hebrews 13:13; Isaiah 3:10, Isaiah 5:13, and contrast 1 Corinthians 9:26; Wisd. 1:11, 8:9. The ÏÎ¿Î¯Î½Ï Î½ (Mt. οá½Î½) marks the sayings as a conclusion drawn from the previous admission: âThen render to, Cæsar,â etc.
Ïá½° ÎαίÏαÏÎ¿Ï ÎαίÏαÏι. This is the answer to the Pharisaic portion of His questioners, as Ïá½° Ïοῦ Îεοῦ Ïá¿· Îεοῷ to the Herodian. The error lay in supposing that Cæsar and God were mutually exclusive alternatives. Duty to Cæsar was part of their duty to God, because for purposes of order and government Cæsar was Godâs vicegerent. In Romans 12:1, Romans 12:2 S. Paul insists on the second of these principles, in 13:1-7 on the first. See detached note at the end of Romans 13:0. As Judæa was an imperial province, its taxes would go to the fiscus of the emperor, not to the ærarium of the senate.
Ïá½° Ïοῦ Îεοῦ. No one duty is to be understood to the exclusion of others, whether offerings in the temple, or penitence, etc. All duties owed by man to God are included.2 For�Hebrews 12:11. They had said ÏÏÏον δοῦναι, as if the tribute was a gift. By substituting�
26. οá½Îº á¼´ÏÏÏ Ïαν ⦠á¼Î½Î±Î½Ïίον Ïοῦ λαοῦ . Peculiar to Lk., who drawe special attention to this further victory of Jesus. All three record the wonder of His adversaries.
For the constr. of αá½Ïοῦ see on ver. 20. This use of á¼Î½Î±Î½Ïίον is common in LXX, but in N.T. is found only here, 24:19; Acts 7:10, Acts 8:32: comp. á¼Î½Î±Î½Ïι 1:8, Acts 8:21.
For Î¸Î±Ï Î¼Î¬Î¶ÎµÎ¹Î½ á¼Ïί see on 2:33, and for Ïιγᾷν see on 18:39.
27-38. The Question of the Sadducees respecting a Woman with Seven Husbands. Matthew 22:23-33; Mark 12:18-27. Mt. tells us expressly that this took place á¼Î½ á¼ÎºÎµÎ¯Î½á¿ ÏῠἡμÎÏá¾³. Lk. mentions the Sadducees several times in the Acts (4:1, 5:17, 23:6-8) but here only in his Gospel. Mk. also here only. This question was less dangerous than the previous one. It concerned a matter of exegesis and speculation, not of politics, and was doctrinal rather than practical. Like the first two questions, it aimed at destroying Christâs influence with the multitude. While the first aimed at inspiring them with distrust, and the second at rousing their indignation against Him, this one is calculated to excite their ridicule. If Jesus failed to answer it, He and His supporters would be placed in a grotesque position. The Sadducees were not popular, for the doctrine of the resurrection is precious to the majority of mankind, and they would be glad of this opportunity of publicly exhibiting the popular doctrine as productive of ludicrous results. Josephus says that when Sadducees became magistrates, they conformed to the views of the Pharisees, for otherwise the people would not tolerate them (Ant. xviii:1, 4). D.C.G. art. âSadducees.â
But the doctrine of the resurrection and of invisible powers (Acts 23:8, Jos. B. J. ii:8 14) was not the main point in dispute between Sadducees and Pharisees, but a deduction from the main point. The crucial question was whether the oral tradition was binding (Ant. xii:10, 6). The Pharisees contended that it was equal in authority to the written law, while the Sadducees maintained that everything not written was an open question and might be rejected. Apparently the Pharisees were willing to concede that the doctrine of the resurrection is not to be found in the written Law; and indeed outside the Book of Daniel it is not clearly taught in O.T. What is said in favour of it (Job 19:26; Psalms 16:9, Psalms 16:11; Isaiah 26:19) seems to be balanced by statements equally strong on the other side (Psalms 6:5, 88:10, 11, 115:17; Ecclesiastes 9:4-10; Isaiah 38:18, Isaiah 38:19). Hence it followed, on Sadducean principles, that the doctrine was without authority, and was simply a pious opinion. That the Sadducees rejected the O.T., with the exception of the Pentateuch, is a mistake of Tertullian, Origen, Hippolytus, Jerome, and others; and perhaps arises from confusion with the Samaritans. But no Jew regarded the other books as equal in authority to the Books of Moses; and hence Jesus, in answering the Sadducees, takes His argument from Exodus (Bleak, Int. to O. T. § 305, Eng. tr. 2. p. 310). The name Î£Î±Î´Î´Î¿Ï ÎºÎ±á¿Î¿Ï probably comes from Zadok, the best attested form of which in many passages of LXX is ΣαδδοÏκ (2 Samuel 8:17; Nehemiah 3:29, Nehemiah 3:10:21, Nehemiah 3:11:11, Nehemiah 3:13:13; Ezekiel 40:46, Ezekiel 43:19, Ezekiel 44:15, Ezekiel 48:11): but which Zadok gave the name to the sect, remains doubtful (Schürer, Jewish People in the T. of J. C. II, 2. pp. 29-43; Hausrath, N. T. Times, 1. pp. 136-150; Pressensé, Le Siêcle Apostolique, pp. 87, 88, ed. 1888. For minor points of difference between Sadducees and Pharisees, see Kuenen, Religion of Israel, 3. pp. 234-238; Derenbourg, pp. 132-144):
27. ÏÎ¹Î½ÎµÏ Ïῶν Î£Î±Î´Î´Î¿Ï ÎºÎ±Î¯Ïν οἱ λÎγονÏÎµÏ . The οἱ λεγ. may agree with ÏινεÏ, or be an irregular description of Ïῶν Σαδδ. In the latter case comp. Mark 12:40; but the former is better. All Sadducees held that the resurrection was not an article of faith, but some may have believed that it was true. One might render οἱ λÎγονÏÎµÏ âwho were sayingâ at that moment.
λÎγονÏÎµÏ is the reading of × B C D L" 133 etc., d e Syr-Sin. Syr-Cur. Aegypt. Goth. Aeth., which is not discredited because it is also in Mt. But Tisch. follows B R Î Î Î Î etc. in reading�
á¼Î¬Î½ ÏινοÏ�Deuteronomy 25:5; comp. Genesis 38:8. The levirate law is said still to prevail among the Kalmucks and other nations in the East. See Morison on Mark 12:19.
29. á¼ÏÏá½° Ï á½Íν�
á¼ÏεκνοÏ. âChildlessâ as in ver. 28: comp. ver. 31. All three imply that there was neither son nor daughter. And this is laid down in the Talmud,âthat the deceased brother must have no child at all, although Deuteronomy 25:5 says simply âhave no sonâ (RV.). Some maintained that the levirate law, which to a large extent had gone out of use, did not apply to a wedded wife, but only to a betrothed woman. The Mishna recommends that the levirate law be not observed.
30. καὶ ὠδεÏÏεÏÎ¿Ï . This is the reading of × B D L 157, e. omitting á¼Î»Î±Î²ÎµÎ½ after καὶ and Ïὴν Î³Ï Î½Î±á¿ÎºÎ± καὶ οá½ÏολÏ�
34. Jesus begins by removing this erroneous basis and shows that the question is futile. The words of οἱ Ï á¼±Î¿á½¶ Ïοῦ Î±á¼°á¿¶Î½Î¿Ï â¦ ÏÏ Ïεá¿Î½ are peculiar to Lk., who omits âYe do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.â Comp. Ephesians 1:21.
35. οἱ δὲ καÏαξιÏθÎνÏÎµÏ Ïοῦ Î±á¼°á¿¶Î½Î¿Ï á¼ÎºÎµÎ¯Î½Î¿Ï . One might have expected simply of οἱ Ï á¼±Î¿á½¶ Τ. Î±á¼°á¿¶Î½Î¿Ï á¼Îº. But the substitution of καÏαξιÏθÎνÏÎµÏ corrects the assumption that all the sons of this world will enter the Kingdom which begins with the resurrection. Comp. Acts 5:41; 2 Thessalonians 1:5 Nowhere else does ὠαἰὼν á¼ÎºÎµá¿Î½Î¿Ï occur in N.T. It means the age beyond the grave regarded as an age of bliss and glory. See on Romans 12:2. In itself it implies resurrection; but, inasmuch as this is the doctrine in dispute, the resurrection is specially mentioned. The word�Zephaniah 3:8; Lamentations 3:63; Daniel 11:20; title of Psalms 65:0. But not until 2 Mac. 7:14, 12:43 is it used of resurrection after death.
Ïá¿Ï á¼Îº νεκÏῶν. This must be distinguished from [ἡ]�Matthew 22:31; Acts 17:32, Acts 17:23:6, Acts 17:24:21, Acts 17:26:23; Romans 1:4; 1 Corinthians 15:12, 1 Corinthians 15:13, 1 Corinthians 15:42; Hebrews 6:2). Whereas�Acts 4:2; 1 Peter 1:3: comp. Colossians 1:18). The�John 5:29).Comp. 14:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 20:5, Revelation 20:6; and see Lft. on Philippians 3:11 and Mey. on Romans 1:4. With the construction comp. ÏοÏÏÎ¿Ï ÏÏ Ïεá¿Î½ οá½Îº ἠειÏθην αá½ÏÏÏ (Aesch. P.V. 239).
γαμίζονÏαι. Identical in meaning with γαμίÏκονÏαι (ver. 34).
In both verses the simple verb is the right reading. In both places TR. inferior authorities in reading á¼ÎºÎ³Î±Î¼.
36. οá½Î´á½² γὰÏ�
á¼°Ïάγγελοι Î³Î¬Ï Îµá¼°Ïιν. The adj. occurs here only in bibl. Grk. and was probably coined by Lk. on the analogy of á¼°ÏάÏÏεÏÎ¿Ï (4 Mac. 17:5), á¼°ÏάδελÏοÏ, á¼°ÏÏθεοÏ, κ.Ï.λ. Mt. and Mk have á½¡Ï á¼Î³Î³ÎµÎ»Î¿Î¹. Grotius quotes from Hierocles ÏÎ¿á½ºÏ á¼°ÏÎ¿Î´Î±Î¯Î¼Î¿Î½Î±Ï ÎºÎ±á½¶ á¼°ÏαγγÎÎ»Î¿Ï Ï ÎºÎ±á½¶ Ïοá¿Ï á¼¥ÏÏÏιν á½Î¼Î¿Î¯Î¿Ï Ï. âThey do not marry, because they cannot die; and they cannot die, because they are like angels; and they are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.â In correcting the error of the Sadducees about the resurrection Jesus incidentally corrects their scepticism respecting Angels (Acts 23:8). See Latham, A Service of Angels, pp. 52-60; Charles, Apoc. of Baruch, pp. 77:84.
The connexion of καὶ Ï á¼±Î¿Î¯ Îεοῦ is uncertain. The repetition of εἰÏιν is rather against the clause being taken with á¼°Ïάγγελοι Î³Î¬Ï Îµá¼°Ïιν. More probably it is co-ordinate with οá½Î´á½²ï¿½Job 1:6, Job 2:1, and Genesis 6:2 LXX has not Ï á¼±Î¿Î¯ but á¼Î³Î³ÎµÎ»Î¿Î¹ Ïοῦ Îεοῦ. Comp. 1 Corinthians 15:52; Revelation 21:4 But in any case it is the immortality, of the Angels, not their sexlessness or immateriality, that is the point of the argument. For Ïá¿Ï�
37. Having shown that their question ought not to have been asked, being based upon a gross misconception of the conditions of the future state, Jesus proceeds to answer the objection which their question implied, viz. that the doctrine of the resurrection is inconsistent with the Mosais Law. On the contrary, Moses implies the doctrine. The levirate law is no argument against a resurrection; and the passage here quoted is a strong argument in favour of it. See Martensen, Chr. Dogm. § 290, 274.
καὶ ÎÏÏ Ïá¿Ï. âEven Moses,â who was supposed to be against the doctrine (Mey. Weiss, Holtzm.). Less well, etiam Moses, non modo proPhetæ (Beng.). Jesus quotes Moses because they done so (ver. 28), not because the Sadducees accepted only the Pentateuch (Tert. Orig. Hieron.), which was not the case.
á¼Î¼Î®Î½Ï Ïεν. Not, âhinted,â but âdisclosed, intimated, revealed.â Both in class. and bibl. Grk. μήÏÏ is specially used of making known what was secret (Acts 23:30; 1 Corinthians 10:28; John 11:57; soph. O.R. 102).
á¼Ïá½¶ Ïá¿Ï βάÏÎ¿Ï . âIn the Bush,â i.e. in the portion of Scripture known as âthe Bush.â In Mk. we have á¼Î½ Ïῠβίβλῳ ÎÏÏ ÏÎÏÏ á¼Ïá½¶ Ïοῦ βάÏÎ¿Ï , where AV. violently transposes á¼Ïá½¶ Ï. β.,ââhow in the bush God spake unto him.â Comp. 2 Samuel 1:18 and Romans 11:2 The O.T. was divided into sections, which were named after something prominent in the contents. Examples are quoted from the Talmud. The rhapsodists divided Homer into sections and named them on a similar principle. In the Koran the chapters are named in this way. But the possibility of the simple local meaning here must not be excluded.
The gender of βάÏÎ¿Ï varies. Here and Acts 7:35 it is fem. In Mk. and in LXX it is masc. (Exodus 3:2, Exodus 3:3, Exodus 3:4; Deuteronomy 33:16). So also in Polyb. and Theophr. Several Old Latin texts here read sicut dixit vidi in rubo (cf ff2 il q), which seems to imply a Greek text á½¡Ï Î»Îγει εἶδον á¼Î½ Ïῠβ.
38. The Sadducees based their denial of the resurrection on the alleged silence of Scripture and on the incredibility of existence after the death of the body (Jos. B. J. ii. 8. 14). Christ demolishes their premises by showing that Scripture is not silent, but teaches the reality of existence after death.1 His argument has less force against those who admit existence after death, but hold that this existence of the soul apart from the body will continue for ever. This, however, was not the error which He was combating, and perhaps was not a common view. Yet even against this error the argument has force, as Bengel points out. Deus non est non entis deus: ipse est deus vivens; ergo ii qui deum habent, vivere debent, et qua parte vivere intermiserant, reviviscere in perpetuum. But perhaps this is more than is intended. What is obvious is this:âDead things may have a Creator, a Possessor, a Ruler: only living beings can have a God. If Abraham or any of the patriarchs had ceased to exist when he died, God would have ceased to be his God. âI am the God of Abrahamâ implies that Abraham still lives. Comp. οἱ διὰ Ïὸν Îεὸν�
41-44. Jesus in turn asks a Question about David and the Messiah. Matthew 22:41-46; Mark 12:35-37, where see Gould. It is yet another opportunity of instructing them, not of vanquishing and humiliating them, that is sought. The approbation recorded in ver. 39 (comp. Mark 12:32) gave signs that some of His opponents were open to conviction, and might even now recognize the Christ.
41. ÏÏá½¸Ï Î±á½ÏοÏÏ. The scribes who had expressed admiration are perhaps chiefly meant. In any case, âunto themâ and not âin reference to themâ is the meaning.
Î á¿¶Ï Î»ÎÎ³Î¿Ï Ïιν. Mk. gives οἱ γÏαμμαÏεá¿Ï as the subject of λÎÎ³Î¿Ï Ïιν, which does not imply that the scribes had gone away. âWith what right do teachers say?â This is the usual doctrine; but do people consider what it involves in reference to other statements?
42. αá½Ïá½¸Ï Î³Î¬Ï. is the reading of × B L R I 33, l, Aegyptt., and may be safely preferred to καὶ αá½ÏÏÏ (A D P, Syrr. Vulg. Goth.). Q has καὶ αá½Ïá½¸Ï Î³Î¬Ï.
á¼Î½ βίβλῳ Ïαλμῶν. See on 3:4. Mt. has ÏνεÏμαÏι and Mk. Ïá¿· Ïν. Ïá¿· á¼Î³Î¯á¿³ for βίβλῳ ÏαλμÍν. The quotation is verbatim the same in all three, excepting that Mt. and Mk. have á½ÏοκάÏÏ for the á½ÏοÏÏδιον of LXX. and Lk. All three omit the á½ before ÎÏÏιοÏ. In the Hebrew we have different words for Lord: âJehovah saith to Adonai.â Psalms 110:0. was always believed to be Messianic, and to have been written by David. That it is Messianic is a matter of spiritual interpretation; and, as Jesus here gives this doctrine the sanction of His authority, no loyal Christian will consider that he is free to question it. The authorship of the Psalm is a question of Criticism; and nothing in the method of Christâs teaching, or in the contents of Scripture generally, warrants us in believing that He here frees us from the duty of investigating a problem which is capable of being solved by our own industry and acuteness. We have no right to expect that Scripture will save us from the discipline of patient research by supplying us with infallible answers to questions of history, chronology, geology, and the like.
The last word has not yet been spoken as to the authorship of Psalms 110:0.; but it is a mistake to maintain that Jesus has decided the question. There is nothing antecedently incredible in the hypothesis that in such matters, as in other details of human information, He condescended not to know more than His contemporaries, and that He therefore believed what He had been taught the school and in the synagogue (see footnote, p. 124). Nor ought we summarily to dismiss the suggestion that, although He knew that the Psalm was not written by David, He yet abstained from challenging beliefs respecting matters of fact, because the premature and violent correction of such beliefs would have been more harmful to His work than their undisturbed continuance would be. In this, as in many things, the correction of erroneous opinion might well be left to time. But this suggestion is less satisfactory than the other hypothesis. It should be noticed that, while Jesus affirms both the inspiration (Mt. Mk.) and the Messianic character (Mt. Mk. Lk.) of Ps. 110., yet the argumentative question with which He concludes need not be understood as asserting that David is the author of it, although it seems to imply this. It may mean no more than that the scribes have not fairly faced whale their own principles involve. Here is a problem, with which they ought to be quite familiar, and of which they ought to be able to give a solution. It is their position, and not His, that is open to criticism. The question, âWhy callest thou Me good?â appears to serve a similar purpose. It seems to imply that Christ is not to be called good in the sense that God is called good (Mark 10:18). But it need mean no more than that the young man who addressed Jesus as âGood Masterâ ought to reflect as to the significance of such language before making use of it.1
44. καὶ Ïá¿¶Ï Î±á½Ïοῦ Ï á¼±ÏÏ á¼ÏÏιν; De Wette and Strauss both point out that this question must imply either (1) that the Messiah is not the Son of David, or (2) that the inspired Psalmist teaches that the Messiah is no mere political deliverer. Strauss, with Schenkel and Volkmar, prefers the former altenative.2 But it is incredible that, even if Jesus were a mere human teacher, He would thus gratuitously have contradicted the express utterances of Scripture (2 Samuel 7:8-29; Isaiah 9:5-7, Isaiah 9:11:Isaiah 9:1-10; Jeremiah 23:5-8; Micah 5:2) and the popular belief which was built upon them; especially as this belief was a valuable help to His own work (18:38; Matthew 15:22, Matthew 12:23, Matthew 21:9). Whereas, those who believe in His Divinity need have no difficulty in admitting, that, on a point which was no part of His teaching, Jesus might go all His human life without even raising the question as to the truth of what was authoritatively taught about the authorship of this or that portion of Scripture.
45-47. The Condemnation of the Scribes. Like Mark 12:38-40, this seems to be a summary of the terrible indictment of the hierarchy given at length in Matthew 23:0. Lk. perhaps did not know the longer report preserved by Mt. As he had already given an account of a similar discourse (11:39-52), there was the less need to give a full report here.
45. á¼ÎºÎ¿ÏονÏÎ¿Ï Î´á½² ÏανÏá½¸Ï Ïοῦ λαοῦ. It is in the hearing of the multitude who had just been witnesses of the contest, in which the scribes had been so signally defeated, that Jesus utters His final condemnation of them. Comp. the similar condemnation 12:1, where as here we have ÏÏοÏÎÏεÏε�Ezekiel 22:25: á¼ÏÏάζονÏÎµÏ á¼ÏÏάγμαÏα, ÏÏ Ïá½°Ï ÎºÎ±ÏεÏθίονÏÎµÏ á¼Î½ Î´Ï Î½Î±ÏÏείᾳ, καὶ ÏÎ¹Î¼á½°Ï Î»Î±Î¼Î²Î¬Î½Î¿Î½ÏÎµÏ ÎºÎ±á½¶ αἱ Ïá¿Ïαί ÏÎ¿Ï á¼ÏληθÏνθηÏαν á¼Î½ μεÏῳ ÏÎ¿Ï .
46. ÏεÏιÏαÏεá¿Î½ á¼Î½ ÏÏολαá¿Ï. Mk. also has this Hellenized expression for ÏλαÏÏÎ½Î¿Ï Ïιν Ïá½° ÏÏ Î»Î±ÎºÏήÏια αá½Ïῶν (Matthew 23:5). The saying from�Matthew 23:6, Matthew 23:7.
Salmon quotes AV. of this and of Mark 12:38 in illustration of the variety which independent translation is sure to produce. There, âlove to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the market places and the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts, which for a pretence make long prayers.â Here, âdesire, walk, robes, greetings, markets, highest, chief, showâ for the words in italics, the Greek in all cases being the same.
Ïῶν θελÏνÏÏν ÏεÏινÏαÏεá¿Î½. This constr. of θÎÎ»Ï = âlike, loveâ c. infin. occurs only here and Mark 12:38. It is perhaps an extension of the Hebraistic θÎÎ»Ï Ïινα or Ïι = âtake delight in,â and in Mark 12:7 an acc. is coupled with the infin. Comp. Matthew 27:43, Matthew 27:9:13, Matthew 27:12:7; Hebrews 10:5, Hebrews 10:8. But Lk. seperates the acc. from θελÏνÏÏν by inserting the more usual ÏιλοÏνÏÏν, Win. liv. 4 p. 587. What follows is common to all three accounts. See on 11:43 and 14:7.
47. οἳ καÏεÏÎ¸Î¯Î¿Ï Ïιν Ïá½°Ï Î¿á¼°ÎºÎ¯Î±Ï Ïῶν ÏηÏῶν. Comp. Mark 12:40; but this item in the condemnation is not found in the true text of Matthew 23:0. Probably wealthy widows are chiefly meant. They devoured widowsâ houses by accepting hospitality and rich presents from pious and weak women. Sexus muliebris ut ad superstitionem pronior ita magis patet ad eas fraudes (Grot.). They would find widows a specially easy prey, and their taking advantage of the defenceless aggravated their guilt Câétaient les Tartuffes de lâépoque (Godet). Josephus says of the Pharisees Î¿á¼·Ï á½Ïá¿ÎºÏο ἡ Î³Ï Î½Î±Î¹ÎºÏνá¿ÏÎ¹Ï (Ant. xvii. 2. 4). Comp. the cases of Fulvia (18:3, 5) and of Helene (20:2, 5) as instances of devout and benevolent women. The wife of Pheroras, brother of Herod the Great, paid the fines of thousands of Pharisees who had been fined for refusing to swear loyalty to Cæsar (17:2, 4). The Talmud gives evidence of the plundering of widows. Inter plagas quæ a Pharisæis proveniunt hæc etiam est. Est qui consulant cum orphanis, ut alimenta viduæ eripiat (Sota Hieros. f. 20. I, , Schoettg. 1:199). Of a plundered widow R. Eleazar says, Plaga Pharisæorum tetigit illam.
λήμÏονÏαι ÏεÏιÏÏÏÏεÏον κÏίμα. The âmore abundantâ may be understood in two ways: (1) in proportion to the high estimation in which they were held in this world; or (2) in proportion to the hypocrisy which makes a trade of religion (Gould). Qui male agit, judicatur. Qui bono abutitur ad malum ornandum, magis judicatur (Beng.). For λήμÏομαι κÏίμα comp. Romans 13:2; James 3:1; and for ÏεÏιÏÏÏÏεÏον see on 7:26.
V. de J. Vie de Jésus.
Edersh. Edersheim, Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah.
RV. Revised Version.
AV. Authorized Version.
A A. Cod. Alexandrinus, sæc. v. Once in the Patriarchal Library at Alexandria; sent by Cyril Lucar as a present to Charles 1. in 1628, and now in the British Museum. Complete.
C
C. Cod. Ephraemi Rescriptus, sæc. 5. In the National Library at Paris. Contains the following portions of the Gospel: 1:2-2:5, 2:42-3:21, 4:25-6:4, 6:37-7:16, or 17, 8:28-12:3, 19:42-20:27, 21:21-22:19, 23:25-24:7, 24:46-53.
These four MSS. are parts of what were once complete Bibles, and are designated by the same letter throughout the LXX and N.T.
D D. Cod. Bezae, sæc. vi. Given by Beza to the University Library at Cambridge 1581. Greek and Latin. Contains the whole Gospel.
om. omit.
×Ô × Cod. Sinaiticus, sæc. iv. Brought by Tischendorf from the Convent of St. Catherine on Mt. Sinai; now at St. Petersburg. Contains the whole Gospel complete.
B B. Cod. Vaticanus, sæc. 4. In the Vatican Library certainly since 15331 (Batiffol, La Vaticane de Paul 3, etc., p. 86).
L L. Cod. Regius Parisiensis, sæc. viii. National Library at Paris. Contains the whole Gospel.
R R. Cod. Nitriensis Rescriptus, sæc. 8. Brought from a convent in the Nitrian desert about 1847, and now in the British Museum. Contains 1:1-13, 1:69-2:4, 16-27, 4:38-5:5, 5:25-6:8, 18-36, 39, 6:49-7:22, 44, 46, 47, 8:5-15, 8:25-9:1, 12-43, 10:3-16, 11:5-27, 12:4-15, 40-52, 13:26-14:1, 14:12-15:1, 15:13-16:16, 17:21-18:10, 18:22-20:20, 20:33-47, 21:12-22:15, 42-56, 22:71-23:11, 38-51. By a second hand 15:19-21.
Syr Syriac.
Sin. Sinaitic.
1 Keim speaks with sverity of the âdestructive criticismâ which âagain miserably fails to see anything hut an invention of the dogmatic artistâ in âthis grand self-revelation of Jesus,â which is attested by all three Gospels (v. p.142).
TR. Textus Receptus.
Burton. Burton, N.T. Moods and Tenses.
Vulg. Vulgate.
Goth. Gothic.
Arm. Armenian.
K K. Cod. Cyprius, sæc. ix. In the National Library at Paris. Contains the whole Gospel.
Latt. Latin.
Wsctt. Westcott.
Orig. Origen.
Luth. Luther.
Tyn. Tyndale.
Rhem. Rheims (or Douay).
Gen. Geneva.
Aeth. Ethiopic.
Jos. Josephus.
De W. De Wette.
Mey. Meyer.
Cov. Coverdale.
Nösg. Nösgen.
Cur. Curetonian.
ÎÌ Î. Cod. Sangallensis, sæc. ix. In the monastery of St. Gall in Switzerland. Greek and Latin. Contains the whole Gospel.
1 Some âhereticâ sent R. Juda an imperial denapius, and he was deciding not to accept it, when another Rabbi advised him to accept it and throw it into a well before the donorâs feet (Avoda Sara f. 6 quoted by Wetst. on Matthew 22:21). But see Schürer, J.P. in T. of. J.C. p. 77.
Boh. Bohairic.
Lat. Vet. Vetus Latina.
2 It may be doubted whether the idea that man bears the image of God just as the coin bears the image of Cæsar is to be supplied: âRender then the coin to Cæsar, and give the whole man up to Godâ (Lathem, A Service of Angels, p. 50).
Tisch. Tischendorf.
ins. insert.
G G. Cod. Harleianus, sæc. ix. In the British Museum. Contains considerable portions.
Beng. Bengel.
Tert. Tertullian.
1 Gamaliel is said to have silenced Sadducees by quoting such promises as Deuteronomy 1:8, Deuteronomy 11:9. Godâs promises must be fulfilled, and these were not fulfilled to the patriarchs during their lifetime. Again, if God quickened buried seed, how much His own people (Edersh. Hist. of J.N. p. 316).
2 The Fourth Book or Maccabees, although written before the destruction of Jerusalem, was probably written not very long before Christian interpolations, or conscious imitations of Christian phraseology, are possible (Schürer, Jewish People in the T. of J. C. II. iii. p. 244).
WH. Westcott and Hort.
Aegyptt. Egyptian.
1
âIf I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out?â (Luke 11:19) is possibly a similar case. It need not imply that Jewish exorcists had succeeded in casting out demons, but only that they were credited with no diabolical witchcraft in making the attempt. The question may mean no more than âJudge Me on the same principles as you judge your own exorcists.â See Wright ad loc. and 16:19.
On Psalms 110:0. see Gore, Bampton Lectures, 1891, Lect. 7, sub fin. and note 55; Driver, Int. to Lit, of O.T. p. 362 and note; Perowne, Psalms, 2. p. 302, with the remarks of Thirlwall there quoted; Meyer on Matthew 22:43; Weiss on Matthew 22:43 with note; Bishop Mylne, Indian Ch. Quar. Rev. Oct. 1892, p. 486; Schwartzkopff, Konnte Jesus irren? 1896, pp. 21-36.
2 Latham is of the same opinion from a different point of view. He thinks that Jesus repudiated the title âSon of Davidâ as implying that the Redeemer of the world was a Jewish Messiah, with a title based on legitimacy and genealogy (Pastor pastorum, p. 415).
Wetst. Wetstein.
Grot. Grotius.