12:1 Meanwhile, 20 when many thousands of the crowd had gathered so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus 21 began to speak first to his disciples, “Be on your guard against 22 the yeast of the Pharisees, 23 which is hypocrisy. 24
1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
2 tn Grk “behold.”
3 tn Grk “this one”; the referent (the child) is supplied in the translation for clarity.
4 sn The phrase the falling and rising of many emphasizes that Jesus will bring division in the nation, as some will be judged (falling) and others blessed (rising) because of how they respond to him. The language is like Isa 8:14-15 and conceptually like Isa 28:13-16. Here is the first hint that Jesus’ coming will be accompanied with some difficulties.
5 tn Grk “and for a sign of contradiction.”
6 sn Elijah’s days. Jesus, by discussing Elijah and Elisha, pictures one of the lowest periods in Israel’s history. These examples, along with v. 24, also show that Jesus is making prophetic claims as well as messianic ones. See 1 Kgs 17-18.
7 tn Or “the heaven”; the Greek word οὐρανός (ouranos) may be translated “sky” or “heaven,” depending on the context. Since the context here refers to a drought (which produced the famine), “sky” is preferable.
8 tn Grk “as.” The particle ὡς can also function temporally (see BDAG 1105-6 s.v. 8).
9 sn Demons also came out. Note how Luke distinguishes healing from exorcism here, implying that the two are not identical.
10 tn Grk “crying out and saying.” The participle λέγοντα (legonta) is redundant in English and has not been translated here.
11 tc Most
12 tn Or “commanded,” but “rebuke” implies strong disapproval, which seems to be more in keeping with the context here (L&N 33.419).
13 sn Jesus would not allow the demons to speak because the time for such disclosure was not yet at hand, and such a revelation would have certainly been misunderstood by the people. In all likelihood, if the people had understood him early on to be the Son of God, or Messiah, they would have reduced his mission to one of political deliverance from Roman oppression (cf. John 6:15). Jesus wanted to avoid, as much as possible, any premature misunderstanding about who he was and what he was doing. However, at the end of his ministry, he did not deny such a title when the high priest asked him (22:66-71).
14 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
sn Note how Luke associates Son of God with Messiah (Christ) in this context, a regal connection with OT roots (Ps 2:7). Also, see the note on Christ in 2:11.
15 sn The necessity that the Son of Man suffer is the particular point that needed emphasis, since for many 1st century Jews the Messiah was a glorious and powerful figure, not a suffering one.
16 sn Rejection in Luke is especially by the Jewish leadership (here elders, chief priests, and experts in the law), though in Luke 23 almost all will join in.
17 tn Or “and scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 5:21.
18 sn The description of the Son of Man being rejected…killed, and…raised is the first of six passion summaries in Luke: 9:44; 17:25; 18:31-33; 24:7; 24:46-47.
19 sn This is what past prophets and kings had wanted very much to see, yet the fulfillment had come to the disciples. This remark is like 1 Pet 1:10-12 or Heb 1:1-2.
20 tn The phrase ἐν οἷς (en Jois) can be translated “meanwhile.”
21 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
22 tn According to L&N 27.59, “to pay attention to, to keep on the lookout for, to be alert for, to be on your guard against.” This is another Lukan present imperative calling for constant vigilance.
23 sn See the note on Pharisees in 5:17.
24 sn The pursuit of popularity can lead to hypocrisy, if one is not careful.
25 tn Grk “came to himself” (an idiom).
26 tn Grk “bread,” but used figuratively for food of any kind (L&N 5.1).
27 tn Grk “but answering, he said.” This is somewhat redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified to “but he answered.”
28 tn Or simply, “have served,” but in the emotional context of the older son’s outburst the translation given is closer to the point.
29 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “yet” to bring out the contrast indicated by the context.
30 sn You never gave me even a goat. The older son’s complaint was that the generous treatment of the younger son was not fair: “I can’t get even a little celebration with a basic food staple like a goat!”
31 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
32 tn Or “Be on guard.”
33 tn That is, “I am the Messiah.”