¹ sn The tax collectors would bid to collect taxes for the Roman government and then add a surcharge, which they kept. Since tax collectors worked for Rome, they were viewed as traitors to their own people and were not well liked. Yet even they were moved by John’s call.

² tn Grk “Truly (ἀληθῶς, alhqw"), I say to you.”

³ tn Grk “he”; the referent (the master) has been specified in the translation for clarity. See also Luke 19:11-27.

⁴ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

⁵ sn Only Luke states this man is a ruler (cf. the parallels in Matt 19:16-22 and Mark 10:17-22, where the questioner is described only as “someone”). He is probably a civic leader of some kind, a leader in the society.

⁶ sn The rich man wanted to know what he must do to inherit eternal life, but Jesus had just finished teaching that eternal life was not earned but simply received (18:17). See the similar question about inheriting eternal life in Luke 10:25.

⁷ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context. Not all present are willing to join in the acclamation.

⁸ sn See the note on Pharisees in 5:17.

⁹ sn Teacher, rebuke your disciples. The Pharisees were complaining that the claims were too great.

¹⁰ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of Jesus’ comments about the temple’s future destruction.

¹¹ tn Grk “asked him, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in English and has not been translated.

¹² sn Both references to these things are plural, so more than the temple’s destruction is in view. The question may presuppose that such a catastrophe signals the end.

¹³ tn Grk “when.”