Luke 20:45-47

Jesus Warns the Disciples against Pride

20:45 As ¹  all the people were listening, Jesus ²  said to his disciples, 20:46 “Beware ³  of the experts in the law. ⁴  They ⁵  like walking around in long robes, and they love elaborate greetings ⁶  in the marketplaces and the best seats ⁷  in the synagogues ⁸  and the places of honor at banquets. 20:47 They ⁹  devour ¹⁰  widows’ property, ¹¹  and as a show make long prayers. They will receive a more severe punishment.”

[20:45]  ¹ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[20:45]  ² tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[20:46]  ³ tn Or “Be on guard against.” This is a present imperative and indicates that pride is something to constantly be on the watch against.

[20:46]  ⁴ tn Or “of the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 5:21.

[20:46]  ⁵ tn Grk “who,” continuing the sentence begun by the prior phrase.

[20:46]  ⁶ 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.

[20:46]  ⁷ sn See Luke 14:1-14.

[20:46]  ⁸ sn See the note on synagogues in 4:15.

[20:47]  ⁹ tn Grk “who,” continuing the sentence begun in v. 46.

[20:47]  ¹⁰ 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.

[20:47]  ¹¹ 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).