Read The Jewish Annotated New Testament Online
Authors: Amy-Jill Levine
29
:
Moses and the prophets
, see v. 16n. Israel’s Scriptures provide needed guidance.
31
:
Rises from the dead
, evoking Jesus’ resurrection; see also Jn 11.45–46.
17.1
–4: Sin and forgiveness
(Mt 18.6–7; Mk 9.42).
1
:
Stumbling
(Gk “skandala”; cf. English “scandalize”); offense or cause of sin (see, e.g., Lev 19.14).
2
:
Millstone
, ca. 12–18 in (30–40 cm) in diameter and 2–4 in (5–10 cm) thick, for grinding grain.
Little ones
, disciples.
3
:
Rebuke the offender
, compare rabbinic injunctions to “tokhei ḥah,” “rebuke” (e.g., Lev 19.17;
Gen. Rab
. 54.3;
Sifra
89a–89b).
3
–4:
Must forgive
, see Mt 18.15,21–22.
17.5
–6: Saying concerning faith
(Mt 17.19–21; Mk 9.28–29).
5
:
Faith
(Gk “pistis”; Heb “‘emunah”).
6
:
Mustard seed
, see 13.19.
17.7
–10: Service without desire for reward. 7:
Would say to your slave
, see 14.11n. 10:
What we ought to have done
, obedience as a duty, but see 12.35–38. Compare
m. Avot
1.3: “Be not like slaves that serve the master for the sake of a reward….”
17.11
–19: Ten men with leprosy.
See 5.12–16.
12
:
Keeping their distance
, suggesting Lev 13.45–46.
14
:
Priests
, Lev 13.2–3; 14.2–32.
16
:
Samaritan
, see 9.52n. The Samaritan would have gone to the priest on Mount Gerizim in Samaria; the
other nine
(v. 17), presumably Jews, would go to Jerusalem.
18
:
Foreigner
(Gk “allogenēs”), see 7.9n.
19
:
Made you well
, lit., “saved you” (see 7.50; 8.48; 18.42).
17.20
–21: Kingdom of God. 20:
When the kingdom
…
was coming
, pressing question also for Jesus’ followers (19.11; 21.7; Acts 1.6).
21
:
Among you
, the Greek could also be translated “within you.” The kingdom, redefined away from traditional Jewish views of general resurrection, ingathering of the exiles, universal peace, is present in Jesus’ activities (see 11.20).
17.22
–37: The day of the Son of Man
(Mt 24.17–18,23,26–28,37–41; Mk 13.14–16,19–23).
22
:
Days are coming
, see 2 Kings 20.17; Isa 36.9; Jer 51.47.
Son of Man
, 5.24n.
25
:
Endure much suffering
, 9.22.
26
–27:
Noah
, see Gen 6–7.
28
–29:
Lot
, Gen 18.16–19.28.
32
:
Lot’s wife
, Gen 19.26.
33
:
9.24.
34
:
Two in one bed
, Mt 24.40 offers “two [men] in the field,” in parallel to the
two women grinding
of v. 35 (Mt 24.41).
[36]
:
A scribal addition of Mt 24.20.
37
:
Mt 24.28. On the unburied
corpse
, see “Parable of the Good Samaritan,” p.
123
.
Vultures
, Gk “aetoi,” can be translated “eagles,” a symbol of Rome.
18.1
–8: Parable of the unjust judge and persistent widow. 1:
Need to pray
, an allegorical interpretation (8.9n.; 15.7). For Luke’s interest in prayer, see 6.28; 11.1–2; 18.1–14; 22.40,46.
2
:
Neither feared
…
nor had respect
, negative traits rather than praise for objectivity (see Sir 35.14–26).
3
:
Grant me justice
, lit., “avenge me”; the widow need be neither poor nor righteous (Deut 27.19 is usually cited as background; the parable may overturn the stereotype).
5
:
Wear me out
, boxing term suggesting “punch in the eye” (see translators’ note
d
).
7
:
Chosen ones
, here, followers of Jesus (Mt 24.22,24,31; Mk 13.20,22; 27; Rom 8.33; Col 3.12; Titus 1.1; 1 Pet 2.9; Rev 17.14); the argument is a “qal vahomer” (13.15n.; if the unjust judge responds, so with the just judge).
8
:
Comes
, to judge (see 17.22–37; Dan 7.13–14).
18.9
–14: Parable of the Pharisee and tax collector.
See “Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector,” p.
138
.
9
:
Righteous
, see 1.16–17; 5.32; 15.7; 23.50.
10
:
Tax collector
, see 1.23n.
12
:
Fast twice a week
…
give a tenth of all
, supererogatory practice. For Jewish fasting practices, see
Pss. Sol
. 3.9;
Did
. 8; Tacitus,
Hist
. 5.4; Suetonius,
Aug
. 76.3;
Meg. Ta’an
.
13
:
Beating his breast
, indicating contrition (as Jews do on Yom Kippur when reciting the “‘al ḥet,” the litany of sins).
14
:
Justified
, restored to a right relationship with God.
Rather than
, the Greek could be translated “alongside,” indicating both were justified.
All who exalt
, see 13.30; 14.11; Mt 23.12.
18.15
–17: Little children
(Mt 19.13–15; Mk 10.13–16).
15
:
Bringing even infants
, see 9.42n.
Touch
, for a blessing.
17
:
As a little child
, with dependence, not pride.
18.18
–30: The rich ruler
(Mt 19.16–30; Mk 10.17–31).
18
:
Good teacher
, a respectful address.
Inherit eternal life
, see 10.25n.
19
:
Jesus distinguishes himself from God; see 1.17n.; 4.8; 5.25; 8.39.
20
:
Commandments
, Ex 20.12–16; Deut 5.16–20, following the Septuagint’s order.
22
:
Sell all that you own
, see 6.30n.; 14.33.
Treasure in heaven
, see 12.33–34.
23
:
Very rich
, see 12.16n.
24
:
Those who have wealth
, see 16.14n.
25
:
Eye of a needle
, contrary to popular legend, Jerusalem had no “needle gate” through which camels passed with difficulty.
27
:
Possible for God
, see 1.37; Gen 18.14; Jer 32.17; Job 42.2.
28
:
Lefy our homes
, 5.1–11.
29
:
Wife
, an addition to Matt 19.29; Luke continues the theme of familial disruption (see 12.51n.).
30
:
Age to come
, the “olam ha-ba,” see 11.2;
m. Avot
4.17: “Better is one hour of repentance and good works in this world than the whole life in the world to come, and better is one hour of bliss in the world to come than the whole life of this world.”
18.31
–34: Third Passion prediction
(Mt 20.17–19; Mk 10.32–34). See 9.22,44–45; 17.25.
31
:
Son of Man
, 5.24n. The passages usually cited as
written about
…
by the prophets
(e.g., Isa 53; Zech 13.7; Ps 22) do not use the phrase “Son of Man.” Most of these passages receive messianic interpretation only in Christian sources.