11:29 As 6 the crowds were increasing, Jesus 7 began to say, “This generation is a wicked generation; it looks for a sign, 8 but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 9
1 sn The background to the image pressed down, shaken together, running over is pouring out grain for measure in the marketplace. One often poured the grain into a container, shook it to level out the grain and then poured in some more. Those who are generous have generosity running over for them.
2 tn Grk “they will give”; that is, “pour.” The third person plural has been replaced by the passive in the translation.
3 tn Grk “by [the measure] with which you measure it will be measured back to you.”
4 sn This verse has been noted for its conceptual similarity to teaching in John’s Gospel (10:15; 17:2). The authority of the Son and the Father are totally intertwined.
5 tn Or “wishes”; or “intends”; or “plans” (cf. BDAG 182 s.v. βούλομαι 2.b). Here it is the Son who has sovereignty.
6 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
7 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
8 sn The mention of a sign alludes back to Luke 11:16. Given what Jesus had done, nothing would be good enough. This leads to the rebuke that follows.
9 sn As the following comparisons to Solomon and Jonah show, in the present context the sign of Jonah is not an allusion to Jonah being three days in the belly of the fish, but to Jesus’ teaching about wisdom and repentance.
10 tn Grk “They.” The plural in Greek is indefinite, referring to people in general.
11 tn These verbs (“eating… drinking… marrying… being given in marriage”) are all progressive imperfects, describing action in progress at that time.
12 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
13 sn Like that flood came and destroyed them all, the coming judgment associated with the Son of Man will condemn many.
14 tn Grk “And it happened that when.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
15 tn Grk “he said for these slaves to be called to him.” The passive construction has been translated as an active one and simplified to “he summoned.”
16 tn Grk “in order that he might know” (a continuation of the preceding sentence). Due to the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation by supplying the pronoun “he” as subject and the verb “wanted” to convey the idea of purpose.
17 sn The Greek verb earned refers to profit from engaging in commerce and trade (L&N 57.195). This is an examination of stewardship.
18 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
19 tc Some important Western
20 sn The language of the phrase given for you alludes to Christ’s death in our place. It is a powerful substitutionary image of what he did for us.