21:20 “But when you see Jerusalem 3 surrounded 4 by armies, then know that its 5 desolation 6 has come near.
1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “yet” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
2 sn Given v. 16, the expression not a hair of your head will perish must be taken figuratively and refer to living ultimately in the presence of God.
3 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
4 sn See Luke 19:41-44. This passage refers to the events associated with the fall of Jerusalem, when the city is surrounded by armies.
5 tn Grk “her,” referring to the city of Jerusalem (the name “Jerusalem” in Greek is a feminine noun).
6 sn The phrase its desolation is a reference to the fall of the city, which is the only antecedent present in Luke’s account. The parallels to this in Matt 24:15 and Mark 13:14 refer to the temple’s desolation, though Matthew’s allusion is clearer. They focus on the parallel events of the end, not on the short term realization in
5 tn Grk “does not do [them].”
6 tn Grk “against which”; because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative clause was converted to a temporal clause in the translation and a new sentence started here.
7 tn Grk “it”; the referent (that house) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
8 tn Grk “and its crash was great.”
7 tn Grk “a man,” but ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used in a generic sense here to refer to both men and women.
9 sn And destroyed them all. The coming of the Son of Man will be like the judgment on Sodom, one of the most immoral places of the OT (Gen 19:16-17; Deut 32:32-33; Isa 1:10).
11 sn Wineskins were bags made of skin or leather, used for storing wine in NT times. As the new wine fermented and expanded, it would stretch the new wineskins. Putting new (unfermented) wine in old wineskins, which had already been stretched, would result in the bursting of the wineskins.
13 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate a conclusion and transition in the narrative.
14 tn The words “of pigs” are supplied because of the following verb in English, “were drowned,” which is plural.
15 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
16 sn Jesus here demonstrated the absurdity of the thinking of those who maintained that he was in league with Satan and that he actually derived his power from the devil. He first teaches (vv. 17-20) that if he casts out demons by the ruler of the demons, then in reality Satan is fighting against himself, with the result that his kingdom has come to an end. He then teaches (v. 21-22) about defeating the strong man to prove that he does not need to align himself with the devil because he is more powerful. Jesus defeated Satan at his temptation (4:1-13) and by his exorcisms he clearly demonstrated himself to be stronger than the devil. The passage reveals the desperate condition of the religious leaders, who in their hatred for Jesus end up attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan.
17 tn Or “is left in ruins.”
18 tn Grk “and house falls on house.” This phrase pictures one house collapsing on another, what is called today a “house of cards.”
17 tn Grk “They.” The plural in Greek is indefinite, referring to people in general.
18 tn These verbs (“eating… drinking… marrying… being given in marriage”) are all progressive imperfects, describing action in progress at that time.
19 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
20 sn Like that flood came and destroyed them all, the coming judgment associated with the Son of Man will condemn many.
19 sn The statement that the owner will come and destroy those tenants is a promise of judgment; see Luke 13:34-35; 19:41-44.
20 sn The warning that the owner would give the vineyard to others suggests that the care of the promise and the nation’s hope would be passed to others. This eventually looks to Gentile inclusion; see Eph 2:11-22.
21 tn Grk “they”; the referent (the people addressed in v. 9) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
22 sn May this never happen! Jesus’ audience got the point and did not want to consider a story where the nation would suffer judgment.
21 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
22 tn The participle προσελθόντες (proselqonte") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
23 tn The double vocative shows great emotion.
24 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate the connection to the preceding events.
25 tn Or “commanded” (often with the implication of a threat, L&N 33.331).
26 sn Who has authority over the seas and winds is discussed in the OT: Ps 104:3; 135:7; 107:23-30. When Jesus rebuked the wind and the raging waves he was making a statement about who he was.
23 sn The call to sell your possessions is a call to a lack of attachment to the earth and a generosity as a result.
24 tn Grk “give alms,” but this term is not in common use today.
25 tn Grk “in the heavens.”
26 tn Or “an unfailing treasure in heaven,” or “an inexhaustible treasure in heaven.”
27 tn The term σής (shs) refers to moths in general. It is specifically the larvae of moths that destroy clothing by eating holes in it (L&N 4.49; BDAG 922 s.v.). See Jas 5:2, which mentions “moth-eaten” clothing.