Text -- Luke 20:45-47 (NET)

Jesus Warns the Disciples against Pride

20:45 As all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 20:46 “Beware of the experts in the law. They like walking around in long robes, and they love elaborate greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 20:47 They devour widows’ property, and as a show make long prayers. They will receive a more severe punishment.”

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Luk 20:45

¹ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

² tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

NET Notes: Luk 20:46

¹ tn Or “Be on guard against.” This is a present imperative and indicates that pride is something to constantly be on the watch against.

² tn Or “of the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 5:21.

³ tn Grk “who,” continuing the sentence begun by the prior phrase.

⁴ sn There is later Jewish material in the Talmud that spells out such greetings in detail. See D. L. Bock, Luke (BECNT), 2:1642; H. Windisch, TDNT 1:498.

⁵ sn See Luke 14:1-14.

⁶ sn See the note on synagogues in 4:15.

NET Notes: Luk 20:47

¹ tn Grk “who,” continuing the sentence begun in v. 46.

² sn How they were able to devour widows’ houses is debated. Did they seek too much for contributions, or take too high a commission for their work, or take homes after debts failed to be paid? There is too little said here to be sure.

³ tn Grk “houses,” “households”; however, the term can have the force of “property” or “possessions” as well (O. Michel, TDNT 5:131; BDAG 695 s.v. οἶκια 1.a).