Luke 12:20

12:20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life 1  will be demanded back from 2  you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 3 

Luke 23:39

23:39 One of the criminals who was hanging there railed at him, saying, “Aren’t 4  you the Christ? 5  Save yourself and us!”

1 tn Grk “your soul,” but ψυχή (yuch) is frequently used of one’s physical life. It clearly has that meaning in this context.

2 tn Or “required back.” This term, ἀπαιτέω (apaitew), has an economic feel to it and is often used of a debt being called in for repayment (BDAG 96 s.v. 1).

3 tn Grk “the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” The words “for yourself” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.

4 tc Most mss (A C3 W Θ Ψ Ë1,13 33 Ï lat) read εἰ σὺ εἶ (ei su ei, “If you are”) here, while οὐχὶ σὺ εἶ (ouci su ei, “Are you not”) is found in overall better and earlier witnesses (Ì75 א B C* L 070 1241 pc it). The “if” clause reading creates a parallel with the earlier taunts (vv. 35, 37), and thus is most likely a motivated reading.

sn The question in Greek expects a positive reply and is also phrased with irony.

5 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

sn See the note on Christ in 2:11.