Read The Jewish Annotated New Testament Online
Authors: Amy-Jill Levine
27
:
Not taste death
, enigmatic saying perhaps refers to those who witness Jesus’ resurrection or the successful mission; see 21.31.
9.28
–36: The Transfiguration
(Mt 17.1–9; Mk 9.2–10).
28
:
About eight days
, Jewish thought associates eight days with circumcision (Gen 17.12; 21.4; Lev 12.3), perhaps here subtly anticipating Jesus’ resurrection on the “first day” after the old week.
Peter and John and James
, 8.51n.
To pray
, 3.21n.
29
:
Face
, see Ex 34.29–34.
Dazzling
, suggests mystical experience (Ex 34.29–35; also Dan 12.3).
30
:
Moses and Elijah
, unlikely representing “Torah” and “Nevi’im” (Prophets); perhaps representing the heavenly elect, righteous caught up to heaven, fidelity, or prophets rejected by (some of) the people.
31
:
Glory
, 2.9n.
Departure
(Gk “exodus,” “road out”), referring to Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension.
32
:
Sleep
, anticipating 22.45.
33
:
Dwellings
, “tents” or “tabernacles.”
Not knowing
, Peter wants Moses and Elijah to remain.
34
:
Cloud
, indicating the divine presence (e.g., Ex 13.21–22).
35
:
Voice
, see 3.22n.
Chosen
, cf. Isa 42.1; Jewish tradition affirms the people Israel as God’s chosen (Gen 18.19; Deut 7.6; Isa 43.20; Ps 33.12; 89.19; 105.6; 1 Chr 16.13, and elsewhere). For God’s choosing particular people, see e.g., Neh 9.7 (Abraham).
9.37
–43a: Healing the afflicted boy
(Mt 17.14–21; Mk 9.14–29).
38
:
Only child
, cf. 8.42n.
41
:
Faithless and perverse generation
, evoking Moses’ speech in Deut 32.5; see also 7.31.
42
:
Rebuked
, see 4.35,39,41; 8.24.
9.43b
–45: Second Passion prediction
(Mt 17.22–23; Mk 9.30–32).
44
:
See 9.22; 17.25; 18.31–34.
Son of Man
, see 5.14n.
45
:
Was concealed
, see 24.16. Faith in Jesus requires divine support.
9.46
–48: True greatness
(Mt 18.1–5; Mk 9.33–37).
47
:
Little child
, see 8.42n. A
child
is dependent on others and lacks patronage rights.
9.49
–50: The unknown exorcist
(Mk 9.38–41).
50
:
Whoever is not against you
, contrast 11.23; see also Num 11.26–29 (Elded and Medad).
9.51
–19.27: Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem
(Mt 19.1–20.34; Mk 10.1–52), a section substantially unique to Luke.
51
: The necessity of going to Jerusalem
(Mt 19.1–2; Mk 10.1).
Taken up
suggests both crucifixion and ascension.
He set his face
, a Semitic idiom (Isa 50.7).
9.52
–56: Samaritans’ rejection. 52–53:
See Mt 10.5.
Samaritans
, inhabitants of Samaria, the capital of the former Northern Kingdom of Israel conquered by Assyria in 722 BCE.
Samaritans
became a distinct ethnic group, in tension with Jews (Jn 4.9;
Ant
. 20.118).
54
:
Command fire
, like Elijah in 2 Kings 1.9–16; contrast Lk 9.3–5. See “Parable of the Good Samaritan,” p.
123
.
9.57
–62: Demands of discipleship
(Mt 8.18–22).
58
:
Son of Man
, see 5.14n.
59
:
Bury my father
, necessary filial piety (see Tob 4.3; 6.15;
b. Ber
. 18a); v. 60 suggests the father was not yet dead.
61
:
Let me first say farewell
, see 1 Kings 19.20. Separation from the natal family is a hallmark of Jesus’ teaching (see 4.11; 9.61; 14.26).
10.1
–12: Mission of the seventy
(Mt 9.37–38; 10.7–16).
1
:
Seventy
, see Gen 10.2–31 (LXX lists seventy-two names);
Jub
. 44.34; in the wilderness, Moses was aided by
seventy
elders (Ex 24.1,9; Num 11.16,24–25).
Sent them on ahead
, perhaps echoing Deut 1.22–25.
4
:
Carry no purse, See
9.3n.
Greet no one
, see 2 Kings 4.29.
5
:
Peace
, a standard greeting; see 24.36; 1 Sam 25.6; Tob 12.17.
7
:
Laborer deserves to be paid
, see Deut 24.15; classical rabbis were not paid for teaching.
8
:
Eat what is set before you
, anticipating Acts 10. Since no Gentile mission is yet enjoined, the context suggests kosher food.
11
:
Dust
, 9.5n.
12
:
Sodom
, see Gen 19.24–28; for the comparative fate, Ezek 16.45–58; Lam 4.6.
10.13
–16: Woes to unrepentant cities
(Mt 11.20–24).
13
:
Chorazin
, 2 miles (3 km) north of Capernaum.
Bethsaida
, see 9.10n.
Tyre and Sidon
, Gentile cities, originally Philistine, north of Galilee; see Isa 23; Ezek 26–28.
Sackcloth and ashes
, Isa 58.5; Esth 4.1,3; Dan 9.3.
15
:
Capernaum
, see 4.22n.
Hades
, hell, comparable to Heb “Sheol” (Isa 14; Tob 3.10; 4.19; Wis 1.14 and elsewhere). By the first century CE, the concept of “hell” as a permanent place of damnation had begun to develop.
16
:
Cf. Mt 10.40.
10.17
–20: The seventy return
(Mt 11.25–27).
17
:
Seventy
, see 10.1n.
18
:
Watched Satan fall
, a visionary experience (see Jn 12.31; Rev 12.7–12; cf. Isa 14.12). The Hebrew “Day Star” comes into Latin as “Lucifer” (lit., “light bringer”).
19
:
Snakes and scorpions
, see Ps 90.13 LXX.
Enemy
, Satan.
20
:
Written in heaven
, an ancient Mesopotamian idea found in Ex 32.32; Ps 69.28; Dan 12.1;
1 En
. 47.3; 104.1;
Jub
. 19.9; Rev 3.5; etc., and reflected in the traditional Rosh Ha-Shanah greeting: “May you be inscribed for a good year.”
10.21
–24: Knowledge of God
(Mt 11.25–27).
21
:
In the Holy Spirit
, in communion with God. See 1.15n.
Father
,
Lord
…, (Tob 7.17; Jdt 9.12).
22
:
Son
…
Father
, see Jn 3.35; 10.15; 17.21. Knowledge of God is only fully known by and through Jesus.
23
–24:
See Mt 13.16–17.
10.25
–28: Lawyer’s challenge
(Mt 22.34–40; Mk 12.28–34; cf. Lk 18.9–14).
25
:
Lawyer
, expert in Torah and a negative foil for Luke (see 7.30; 11.45–46,52; 14.3).
Test
, in the role of Satan, see 4.2; cf. 11.16.
Inherit eternal life
, eternal life was part of Israel’s covenant (see
m. Sanh
. 10.1).
26
:
Law
, Torah (2.22–24,27,39; 5.17; 16.16–17; 24.44).
27
:
Deut 6.5 (cf. Josh 22.5); Lev 19.18 (R. Akiva,
Sifre
on Lev 19.18, calls this the “greatest principle in the Law”). On combining the two commandments,
T. Dan
5.3;
T. Iss
. 5.2.
10.29
–37: Parable of the good samaritan.
See “Parable of the Good Samaritan,” p.
123
.
29
:
Justify himself
, present himself in the right.