18:18 Now 1 a certain ruler 2 asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 3
20:20 Then 4 they watched him carefully and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. 5 They wanted to take advantage of what he might say 6 so that they could deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction 7 of the governor. 20:21 Thus 8 they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach correctly, 9 and show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. 10
1:6 “A son naturally honors his father and a slave respects 17 his master. If I am your 18 father, where is my honor? If I am your master, where is my respect? The Lord who rules over all asks you this, you priests who make light of my name! But you reply, ‘How have we made light of your name?’
1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.
2 sn Only Luke states this man is a ruler (cf. the parallels in Matt 19:16-22 and Mark 10:17-22, where the questioner is described only as “someone”). He is probably a civic leader of some kind, a leader in the society.
3 sn The rich man wanted to know what he must do to inherit eternal life, but Jesus had just finished teaching that eternal life was not earned but simply received (18:17). See the similar question about inheriting eternal life in Luke 10:25.
4 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
5 tn Grk “righteous,” but in this context the point is their false sincerity.
6 tn Grk “so that they might catch him in some word.”
7 tn This word is often translated “authority” in other contexts, but here, in combination with ἀρχή (arch), it refers to the domain or sphere of the governor’s rule (L&N 37.36).
8 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “thus” to indicate the implied result of the plans by the spies.
9 tn Or “precisely”; Grk “rightly.” Jesus teaches exactly, the straight and narrow.
10 sn Teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Very few comments are as deceitful as this one; they did not really believe this at all. The question was specifically designed to trap Jesus.
11 tn Heb “as people come.” Apparently this is an idiom indicating that they come in crowds. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:264.
12 tn The word “as” is supplied in the translation.
13 tn Heb “do.”
14 tn Heb “They do lust with their mouths.”
15 tn Heb “goes after.”
16 tn The present translation understands the term often used for “unjust gain” in a wider sense, following M. Greenberg, who also notes that the LXX uses a term which can describe either sexual or ritual pollution. See M. Greenberg, Ezekiel (AB), 2:687.
17 tn The verb “respects” is not in the Hebrew text but is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons. It is understood by ellipsis (see “honors” in the preceding line).
18 tn The pronoun “your” is supplied in the translation for clarification (also a second time before “master” later in this verse).
19 tn Grk “and in your name do.” This phrase was not repeated here in the translation for stylistic reasons.
20 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.
21 sn Judas’ act of betrayal when he kissed Jesus is especially sinister when it is realized that it was common in the culture of the times for a disciple to kiss his master when greeting him.
22 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
23 tn Or “during the night.”
24 sn The reference to signs (σημεῖα, shmeia) forms a link with John 2:23-25. Those people in Jerusalem believed in Jesus because of the signs he had performed. Nicodemus had apparently seen them too. But for Nicodemus all the signs meant is that Jesus was a great teacher sent from God. His approach to Jesus was well-intentioned but theologically inadequate; he had failed to grasp the messianic implications of the miraculous signs.
25 tn Or “rightly.”
26 tn Grk “and I am these things.”