17:14 Lord, use your power to deliver me from these murderers, 2
from the murderers of this world! 3
They enjoy prosperity; 4
you overwhelm them with the riches they desire. 5
They have many children,
and leave their wealth to their offspring. 6
21:34 “But be on your guard 12 so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day close down upon you suddenly like a trap. 13
1 tn Or “if you have ordinary lawsuits, appoint as judges those who have no standing in the church!” This alternative reading (cf. KJV, NIV) takes the Greek verb καθίζετε (kaqizete) as an ironic imperative instead of a question. This verb comes, however, at the end of the sentence. It is not impossible that Paul meant for it to be understood this way, but its placement in the sentence does not make this probable.
2 tc Heb “from men [by] your hand,
3 tn Heb “from men, from [the] world.” On the emendation of “men” to “murderers,” see the preceding note on the word “murderers.”
4 tn Heb “their portion, in life.”
5 tn Heb “and [with] your treasures you fill their belly.”
6 tn Heb “they are satisfied [with] sons and leave their abundance to their children.”
7 tn Grk “What”; the referent (the seed) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
8 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
9 sn That is, their concern for spiritual things is crowded out by material things.
10 sn On warnings about the dangers of excessive material attachments, described here as the worries and riches and pleasures of life, see Luke 12:12-21; 16:19-31.
11 tn The verb τελεσφορέω (telesforew) means “to produce mature or ripe fruit” (L&N 23.203). Once again the seed does not reach its goal.
12 tn Grk “watch out for yourselves.”
13 sn Or like a thief, see Luke 12:39-40. The metaphor of a trap is a vivid one. Most modern English translations traditionally place the words “like a trap” at the end of v. 34, completing the metaphor. In the Greek text (and in the NRSV and REB) the words “like a trap” are placed at the beginning of v. 35. This does not affect the meaning.
14 sn These two small copper coins were lepta (sing. “lepton”), the smallest and least valuable coins in circulation in Palestine, worth one-half of a quadrans or 1/128 of a denarius, or about six minutes of an average daily wage. This was next to nothing in value.
15 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the consequential nature of the action.
16 sn On Nazareth see Luke 1:26.
17 tn Or “town.” The translation “city” is used here because of its collocation with “of David,” suggesting its importance, though not its size.
18 sn The journey from Nazareth to the city of David called Bethlehem was a journey of about 90 mi (150 km). Bethlehem was a small village located about 7 miles south-southwest of Jerusalem.
19 sn Luke’s use of the term “house” probably alludes to the original promise made to David outlined in the Nathan oracle of 2 Sam 7:12-16, especially in light of earlier connections between Jesus and David made in Luke 1:32. Further, the mention of Bethlehem reminds one of the promise of Mic 5:2, namely, that a great king would emerge from Bethlehem to rule over God’s people.
20 tn Or “family,” “lineage.”
21 sn A quotation from Ps 91:11 by the devil. This was not so much an incorrect citation as a use in a wrong context (a misapplication of the passage).