Discovery BoxLuke 8:10 
Context8:10 He 1 said, “You have been given 2 the opportunity to know 3 the secrets 4 of the kingdom of God, 5 but for others they are in parables, so that although they see they may not see, and although they hear they may not understand. 6
Luke 12:48
Context12:48 But the one who did not know his master’s will 7 and did things worthy of punishment 8 will receive a light beating. 9 From everyone who has been given much, much will be required, 10 and from the one who has been entrusted with much, 11 even more will be asked. 12
Luke 13:25
Context13:25 Once 13 the head of the house 14 gets up 15 and shuts the door, then you will stand outside and start to knock on the door and beg him, ‘Lord, 16 let us in!’ 17 But he will answer you, 18 ‘I don’t know where you come from.’ 19
1 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
2 tn This is an example of a so-called “divine passive,” with God understood to be the source of the revelation (see ExSyn 437-38).
3 tn Grk “it has been given to you to know.” The dative pronoun occurs first, in emphatic position in the Greek text, although this position is awkward in contemporary English.
4 tn Grk “the mysteries.”
sn The key term secrets (μυστήριον, musthrion) can mean either (1) a new revelation or (2) a revealing interpretation of existing revelation as in Dan 2:17-23, 27-30. Jesus seems to be explaining how current events develop old promises, since the NT consistently links the events of Jesus’ ministry and message with old promises (Rom 1:1-4; Heb 1:1-2). The traditional translation of this word, “mystery,” is misleading to the modern English reader because this English word suggests a secret which people have tried to uncover but which they have failed to understand (L&N 28.77).
5 sn The kingdom of God is a major theme of Jesus. It is a realm in which Jesus rules and to which those who trust him belong. See Luke 6:20; 11:20; 17:20-21.
6 sn A quotation from Isa 6:9. Thus parables both conceal or reveal depending on whether one is open to hearing what they teach.
7 tn Grk “did not know”; the phrase “his master’s will” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the contemporary English reader.
8 tn Grk “blows.”
9 tn Grk “will receive few (blows).”
10 tn Grk “required from him”; but the words “from him” are redundant in English and have not been translated.
11 sn Entrusted with much. To be gifted with precious responsibility is something that requires faithfulness.
12 tn Grk “they will ask even more.”
13 tn The syntactical relationship between vv. 24-25 is disputed. The question turns on whether v. 25 is connected to v. 24 or not. A lack of a clear connective makes an independent idea more likely. However, one must then determine what the beginning of the sentence connects to. Though it makes for slightly awkward English, the translation has opted to connect it to “he will answer” so that this functions, in effect, as an apodosis. One could end the sentence after “us” and begin a new sentence with “He will answer” to make simpler sentences, although the connection between the two sentences is thereby less clear. The point of the passage, however, is clear. Once the door is shut, because one failed to come in through the narrow way, it is closed permanently. The moral: Do not be too late in deciding to respond.
14 tn Or “the master of the household.”
15 tn Or “rises,” or “stands up.”
16 tn Or “Sir.”
17 tn Grk “Open to us.”
18 tn Grk “and answering, he will say to you.” This is redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified to “he will answer you.”
19 sn For the imagery behind the statement “I do not know where you come from,” see Ps 138:6; Isa 63:16; Jer 1:5; Hos 5:3.
