Read The Jewish Annotated New Testament Online
Authors: Amy-Jill Levine
5
:
Hell
, Gk/Heb “Gehenna”; see 2 Kings 23.10; see also 10.15n.
6
:
Penny
(“assarion”), one-sixteenth of a denarius (see 12.59n.).
8
:
Son of Man
, 5.24n.; 9.26; Mk 8.38.
10
:
Blasphemes against the Holy Spirit
(Mt 12.31–32; Mk 3.28–30), attributing the Spirit’s works to Satan; see 1.15n. and Isa 63.10–11.
11
:
Bring you before the synagogues
, for discipline (see 21.12; Mt 10.17; 23.34; Mk 13.9; Acts 22.19; 26.11).
12
:
Holy Spirit will teach you
(Mt 10.19–20; Mk 13.11), no rehearsed speeches are needed.
12.13
–21: Warnings against wealth. 13:
Divide the family inheritance
, Deut 21.17 mandates that the oldest sons receive a double portion, but postbiblical practice allowed parents freedom in bequests.
14
:
Cf. Ex 2.14.
16
:
Rich man
, parables with this phrase are critical of wealth not used to support the poor (16.1–19).
19
:
Eat, drink, and be merry
, a proper response to God’s good gifts: Eccl 8.15; Tob 7.10;
1 En
. 97.8–9.
20
:
Cf. 12.33–34; Jer 17.11.
Is being demanded
, lit., “they demand”; the antecedent may be God, angels, or the man’s possessions.
21
:
Store up treasures
, see 12.33; Tob 4.9–11; Mt 6.19–20;
t. Pe’ah
4.18.
12.22
–32: Lessons from nature
(Mt 6.25–34).
24
:
Ravens
, scavengers (Lev 11.15; Deut 14.14; cf. Job 38.41).
27
:
Solomon in all his glory
, see 1 Kings 10.
32
:
Flock
, those shepherded by the messiah (Ezek 34.23).
Father
, see 10.21n. For illustrations from nature, see Prov 30.24–28 and elsewhere.
12.33
–34: Treasure in heaven
(Mt 6.19–21). Cf. Mk 10.21; Lk 18.22; Acts 2.45; 4.32–35.
33
:
Sell your possessions
, see 6.30n.
Unfailing treasure in heaven
, 12.21n.
12.35
–48: Watchfulness and prudence
(Mt 24.42–51).
35
:
Dressed for action
, lit., “your loins girded.”
36
:
Master
, Gk “kyrios,” 1.17n.
Wedding banquet
, a messianic image (see 5.34–35).
37
:
Serve them
, see 17.7–8; 22.27; Jn 13.3–16.
39
:
Thief
, 1 Thess 5.2; 2 Pet 3.10; Rev 16.15.
40
:
Son of Man
, 5.24n.
Unexpected hour
, see Mk 13.35.
46
:
Cut him in pieces
, eschatological punishment.
48
:
See 8.18; 19.26.
12.49
–53: Familial division
(Mt 10.34–36).
49
:
Fire
, symbolizing judgment (Mt 3.11; 7.19; Mk 9.48; Lk 3.16).
50
:
Baptism
, here, Jesus’ death.
51
:
Division
, 8.21; 9.61; 18.29.
53
:
See Mic 7.6.
12.54
–56: Interpreting signs
(Mt 16.2–3).
56
:
Hypocrites
, see 13.15.
12.57
–59: Avoiding litigation
(Mt 5.25–26).
59
:
Penny
, Gk “lepton,” the smallest Greek coin. Two “lepta” make a “quadrans” (Mt 5.26; Mk 12.42), eight an assarion (12.6n.).
13.1
–5: Understanding evil occurrences. 1:
Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled
, the event is unknown; on Pilate’s ruthless treatment of those he governed see, e.g., Philo,
Leg. Gai
. 37–38; Josephus,
J.W
. 2.9.2–4;
Ant
. 18.2.2; 18.3.1–2; 18.4.
1–2.
With their sacrifices
, Galileans fully participated in Temple worship. Tragic death does not indicate a sinful life.
4
:
Tower of Siloam
, another unknown accident. Siloam, southwest Jerusalem (Isa 8.6; Neh 3.15; Jn 9.7).
13.6
–9: The unfruitful fig tree
(Mt 21.18–19; Mk 11.12–14).
7
:
Cut it down
, see 3.9.
8
:
One more year
, limited time le for the people to repent.
13.10
–17: Sabbath healing
(see 4.31–37n.).
14
:
Leader of the synagogue
, see 8.41n.
Sabbath
, see Ex 20.9–10; Lev 23.3; Deut 5.13–14; see 6.1–11n.
15
:
Untie his ox
, a rabbinic “qal vahomer” (from lesser to greater) argument.
16
:
Daughter of Abraham
, Jewish woman (4 Macc 15.28; 17.6; 18.20; cf. Lk 19.9).
17
:
Entire crowd was rejoicing
, the people celebrate the healing; they correctly find no violation of halakhah.
13.18
–19: Parable of the mustard seed
(Mt 13.31–32; Mk 4.30–32).
19
:
Became a tree
, an exaggeration.
Made nests in its branches
, see Ps 104.12; Dan 4.12,21.
13.20
–21: Parable of the yeast
(Mt 13.33).
21
:
Yeast
, see 12.1n.
Mixed
(Gk “enegkrypsen”), lit., “hid.”
Three measures
, 50–60 pounds. Another parable of hyperbole, contrast, growth, and transformation of domestic images (mustard seed, yeast).
13.22
–30: Who will be saved
(Mt 7.13–14,22–23; 8.11–12; 19.30; Mk 10.31).
23
:
A few be saved
, a concern of much apocalyptic literature (see especially
4 Ezra
), but not rabbinic literature, which takes a generous view of salvation (e.g.,
m. Sanh
. 10.1).
24
:
Will not be able
, restricted access to salvation.
28
:
Weeping and gnashing of teeth
, Mt 8.12; 13.42,50; 22.13; 24.51; 25.30.
Abraham and Isaac and Jacob
, unity with the ancestors in the world-to-come.
29
:
People will come
, perhaps originally referring to the ingathering of the exiles, a sign of the messianic age (see Isa 60.4; Zech 10.6–10; Ps 107.3); for Luke, a hint of the Gentile mission.
Eat in the kingdom
, the messianic banquet (11.3n.).
13.31
–33: Herod’s threat. 31:
See “Pharisees in Luke,” p.
110
.
Here
, Galilee and Perea (see 3.1n.).
32
:
Go and tell
, Jesus presumes Pharisees have access to Herod.
Fox
, an insult.
33
:
Prophet
, Jesus accepts this designation.
13.34
–35: Lament over Jerusalem
(Mt 23.37–39; see also Lk 18.41–42).
34
:
City that kills the prophets
, see 6.23; 11.47–50. The lament anticipates Stephen’s death (Acts 7).
Gather
, perhaps referring to the ingathering of the exiles (see v. 29n.).
35
:
House
, Temple, see Jer 22.5.
Blessed is the one who comes
, Ps 118.26, from the Hallel Psalms (113–18), recited on festivals, including Passover; see Lk 19.37–38.
14.1
–6: Sabbath healing.
1
:
Eat a meal
, see 7.36n.