Lukas 18:31--19:27

Another Prediction of Jesus’ Passion

18:31 Then ¹  Jesus ²  took the twelve aside and said to them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, ³  and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. ⁴  18:32 For he will be handed over ⁵  to the Gentiles; he will be mocked, ⁶  mistreated, ⁷  and spat on. ⁸  18:33 They will flog him severely ⁹  and kill him. Yet ¹⁰  on the third day he will rise again.” 18:34 But ¹¹  the twelve ¹²  understood none of these things. This ¹³  saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp ¹⁴  what Jesus meant. ¹⁵ 

Healing a Blind Man

18:35 As ¹⁶  Jesus ¹⁷  approached ¹⁸  Jericho, ¹⁹  a blind man was sitting by the road begging. 18:36 When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was going on. 18:37 They ²⁰  told him, “Jesus the Nazarene is passing by.” 18:38 So ²¹  he called out, ²²  “Jesus, Son of David, ²³  have mercy ²⁴  on me!” 18:39 And those who were in front ²⁵  scolded ²⁶  him to get him to be quiet, but he shouted ²⁷  even more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 18:40 So ²⁸  Jesus stopped and ordered the beggar ²⁹  to be brought to him. When the man ³⁰  came near, Jesus ³¹  asked him, 18:41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, ³²  “Lord, let me see again.” ³³  18:42 Jesus ³⁴  said to him, “Receive ³⁵  your sight; your faith has healed you.” ³⁶  18:43 And immediately he regained ³⁷  his sight and followed Jesus, ³⁸  praising ³⁹  God. When ⁴⁰  all the people saw it, they too ⁴¹  gave praise to God.

Jesus and Zacchaeus

19:1 Jesus ⁴²  entered Jericho ⁴³  and was passing through it. 19:2 Now ⁴⁴  a man named Zacchaeus was there; he was a chief tax collector ⁴⁵  and was rich. 19:3 He ⁴⁶  was trying to get a look at Jesus, ⁴⁷  but being a short man he could not see over the crowd. ⁴⁸  19:4 So ⁴⁹  he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree ⁵⁰  to see him, because Jesus ⁵¹  was going to pass that way. 19:5 And when Jesus came to that place, he looked up ⁵²  and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, ⁵³  because I must ⁵⁴  stay at your house today.” ⁵⁵  19:6 So he came down quickly ⁵⁶  and welcomed Jesus ⁵⁷  joyfully. ⁵⁸  19:7 And when the people ⁵⁹  saw it, they all complained, ⁶⁰  “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” ⁶¹  19:8 But Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I now give ⁶²  to the poor, and if ⁶³  I have cheated anyone of anything, I am paying back four times as much!” 19:9 Then ⁶⁴  Jesus said to him, “Today salvation ⁶⁵  has come to this household, ⁶⁶  because he too is a son of Abraham! ⁶⁷  19:10 For the Son of Man came ⁶⁸  to seek and to save the lost.”

The Parable of the Ten Minas

19:11 While the people were listening to these things, Jesus ⁶⁹  proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, ⁷⁰  and because they thought ⁷¹  that the kingdom of God ⁷²  was going to ⁷³  appear immediately. 19:12 Therefore he said, “A nobleman ⁷⁴  went to a distant country to receive ⁷⁵  for himself a kingdom and then return. ⁷⁶  19:13 And he summoned ten of his slaves, ⁷⁷  gave them ten minas, ⁷⁸  and said to them, ‘Do business with these until I come back.’ 19:14 But his citizens ⁷⁹  hated ⁸⁰  him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man ⁸¹  to be king ⁸²  over us!’ 19:15 When ⁸³  he returned after receiving the kingdom, he summoned ⁸⁴  these slaves to whom he had given the money. He wanted ⁸⁵  to know how much they had earned ⁸⁶  by trading. 19:16 So ⁸⁷  the first one came before him and said, ‘Sir, ⁸⁸  your mina ⁸⁹  has made ten minas more.’ 19:17 And the king ⁹⁰  said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful ⁹¹  in a very small matter, you will have authority ⁹²  over ten cities.’ 19:18 Then ⁹³  the second one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has made five minas.’ 19:19 So ⁹⁴  the king ⁹⁵  said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ 19:20 Then another ⁹⁶  slave ⁹⁷  came and said, ‘Sir, here is ⁹⁸  your mina that I put away for safekeeping ⁹⁹  in a piece of cloth. ¹⁰⁰  19:21 For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe ¹⁰¹  man. You withdraw ¹⁰²  what you did not deposit ¹⁰³  and reap what you did not sow.’ 19:22 The king ¹⁰⁴  said to him, ‘I will judge you by your own words, ¹⁰⁵  you wicked slave! ¹⁰⁶  So you knew, did you, that I was a severe ¹⁰⁷  man, withdrawing what I didn’t deposit and reaping what I didn’t sow? 19:23 Why then didn’t you put ¹⁰⁸  my money in the bank, ¹⁰⁹  so that when I returned I could have collected it with interest?’ 19:24 And he said to his attendants, ¹¹⁰  ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has ten.’ ¹¹¹  19:25 But ¹¹²  they said to him, ‘Sir, he has ten minas already!’ ¹¹³  19:26 ‘I tell you that everyone who has will be given more, ¹¹⁴  but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. ¹¹⁵  19:27 But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be their king, ¹¹⁶  bring them here and slaughter ¹¹⁷  them ¹¹⁸  in front of me!’”

[18:31]  ¹ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[18:31]  ² tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[18:31]  ³ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[18:31]  ⁴ tn Or “fulfilled.” Jesus goes to Jerusalem by divine plan as the scripture records (Luke 2:39; 12:50; 22:37; Acts 13:29). See Luke 9:22, 44.

[18:32]  ⁵ sn The passive voice verb be handed over does not indicate by whom, but other passages note the Jewish leadership and betrayal (9:22, 44).

[18:32]  ⁶ sn See Luke 22:63; 23:11, 36.

[18:32]  ⁷ tn Or “and insulted.” L&N 33.390 and 88.130 note ὑβρίζω (Jubrizw) can mean either “insult” or “mistreat with insolence.”

[18:32]  ⁸ sn And spat on. Later Luke does not note this detail in the passion narrative in chaps. 22-23, but see Mark 14:65; 15:19; Matt 26:67; 27:30 where Jesus’ prediction is fulfilled.

[18:33]  ⁹ tn Traditionally, “scourge” (the term means to beat severely with a whip, L&N 19.9). BDAG 620 s.v. μαστιγόω 1. states, “Of the beating (Lat. verberatio) given those condemned to death…J 19:1; cf. Mt 20:19; Mk 10:34; Lk 18:33.” Here the term has been translated “flog…severely” to distinguish it from the term φραγελλόω (fragellow) used in Matt 27:26; Mark 15:15.

[18:33]  ¹⁰ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “yet” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

[18:34]  ¹¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast.

[18:34]  ¹² tn Grk “they”; the referent (the twelve, v. 31) has been specified in the context for clarity.

[18:34]  ¹³ tn Grk “And this.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[18:34]  ¹⁴ sn This failure of the Twelve to grasp what Jesus meant probably does not mean that they did not understand linguistically what Jesus said, but that they could not comprehend how this could happen to him, if he was really God’s agent. The saying being hidden probably refers to God’s sovereign timing.

[18:34]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “the things having been said.” The active agent, Jesus, has been specified for clarity, and “said” has been translated as “meant” to indicate that comprehension of the significance is really in view here.

[18:35]  ¹⁶ tn Grk “Now it happened that as.” 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.

[18:35]  ¹⁷ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

[18:35]  ¹⁸ tn The phrase is “he drew near to” (19:29; 24:28). It is also possible the term merely means “is in the vicinity of.” Also possible is a reversal in the timing of the healing and Zacchaeus events for literary reasons as the blind man “sees” where the rich man with everything did not.

[18:35]  ¹⁹ map For location see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.

[18:37]  ²⁰ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated. “They” could refer to bystanders or people in the crowd.

[18:38]  ²¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the blind man learning that Jesus was nearby.

[18:38]  ²² tn Grk “called out, saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[18:38]  ²³ sn Jesus was more than a Nazarene to this blind person, who saw quite well that Jesus was Son of David. He understood what Luke 7:22-23 affirms. There was a tradition in Judaism that the Son of David (Solomon) had great powers of healing (Josephus, Ant. 8.2.5 [8.42-49]).

[18:38]  ²⁴ sn Have mercy on me is a request for healing (cf. 17:13). It is not owed the man. He simply asks for God’s kind grace.

[18:39]  ²⁵ sn That is, those who were at the front of the procession.

[18:39]  ²⁶ tn Or “rebuked.” The crowd’s view was that surely Jesus would not be bothered with someone as unimportant as a blind beggar.

[18:39]  ²⁷ sn Public opinion would not sway the blind man from getting Jesus’ attention. The term shouted is strong as it can be used of animal cries.

[18:40]  ²⁸ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the beggar’s cries.

[18:40]  ²⁹ tn Grk “ordered him”; the referent (the blind beggar, v. 35) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[18:40]  ³⁰ tn Grk “he”; the referent (the beggar) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[18:40]  ³¹ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[18:41]  ³² tn Grk “said.”

[18:41]  ³³ tn Grk “Lord, that I may see [again].” The phrase can be rendered as an imperative of request, “Please, give me sight.” Since the man is not noted as having been blind from birth (as the man in John 9 was) it is likely the request is to receive back the sight he once had.

[18:42]  ³⁴ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[18:42]  ³⁵ tn Or “Regain” (see the note on the phrase “let me see again” in the previous verse).

[18:42]  ³⁶ tn Grk “has saved you,” but in a nonsoteriological sense; the man has been delivered from his disability.

[18:43]  ³⁷ tn Or “received” (see the note on the phrase “let me see again” in v. 41).

[18:43]  ³⁸ tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[18:43]  ³⁹ sn The presence of God’s work leads again to joy, with both the beggar and the people praising God (1:64; 2:20; 5:25-26; 7:16; 13:13; 17:15; 19:37).

[18:43]  ⁴⁰ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[18:43]  ⁴¹ tn The word “too” has been supplied for stylistic reasons.

[19:1]  ⁴² tn Grk “And entering, he passed through”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[19:1]  ⁴³ map For location see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.

[19:2]  ⁴⁴ tn Grk “And behold.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the introduction of a new character. The Greek word ἰδού (idou) at the beginning of this statement has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).

[19:2]  ⁴⁵ sn This is the one place in the NT the office of chief tax collector is noted. He would organize the other tax collectors and collect healthy commissions (see also the note on the word tax collector in 3:12).

[19:3]  ⁴⁶ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[19:3]  ⁴⁷ tn Grk “He was trying to see who Jesus was.”

[19:3]  ⁴⁸ tn Grk “and he was not able to because of the crowd, for he was short in stature.”

[19:4]  ⁴⁹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of Zacchaeus not being able to see over the crowd.

[19:4]  ⁵⁰ sn A sycamore tree would have large branches near the ground like an oak tree and would be fairly easy to climb. These trees reach a height of some 50 ft (about 15 m).

[19:4]  ⁵¹ tn Grk “that one”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[19:5]  ⁵² tc Most mss (A [D] W [Ψ] ˹³ 33^vid Ï latt) read “Jesus looking up, saw him and said.” The words “saw him and” are not in א B L T Θ Ë¹ 579 1241 2542 pc co. Both the testimony for the omission and the natural tendency toward scribal expansion argue for the shorter reading here.

[19:5]  ⁵³ tn Grk “hastening, come down.” σπεύσας (speusa") has been translated as a participle of manner.

[19:5]  ⁵⁴ sn I must stay. Jesus revealed the necessity of his associating with people like Zacchaeus (5:31-32). This act of fellowship indicated acceptance.

[19:5]  ⁵⁵ sn On today here and in v. 9, see the note on today in 2:11.

[19:6]  ⁵⁶ tn Grk “hastening, he came down.” σπεύσας (speusas) has been translated as a participle of manner.

[19:6]  ⁵⁷ tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[19:6]  ⁵⁸ tn The participle χαίρων (cairwn) has been taken as indicating manner.

[19:6]  sn Zacchaeus responded joyfully. Luke likes to mention joy as a response to what God was doing (1:14; 2:10; 10:20; 13:17; 15:5, 32; 19:37; 24:41, 52).

[19:7]  ⁵⁹ tn Grk “they”; the referent is unspecified but is probably the crowd in general, who would have no great love for a man like Zacchaeus who had enriched himself many times over at their expense.

[19:7]  ⁶⁰ tn This term is used only twice in the NT, both times in Luke (here and 15:2) and has negative connotations both times (BDAG 227 s.v. διαγογγύζω). The participle λέγοντες (legonte") is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[19:7]  ⁶¹ sn Being the guest of a man who is a sinner was a common complaint about Jesus: Luke 5:31-32; 7:37-50; 15:1-2.

[19:8]  ⁶² sn Zacchaeus was a penitent man who resolved on the spot to act differently in the face of Jesus’ acceptance of him. In resolving to give half his possessions to the poor, Zacchaeus was not defending himself against the crowd’s charges and claiming to be righteous. Rather as a result of this meeting with Jesus, he was a changed individual. So Jesus could speak of salvation coming that day (v. 9) and of the lost being saved (v. 10).

[19:8]  ⁶³ tn This is a first class condition in the Greek text. It virtually confesses fraud.

[19:9]  ⁶⁴ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative

[19:9]  ⁶⁵ sn This is one of the few uses of the specific term salvation in Luke (1:69, 71, 77), though the concept runs throughout the Gospel.

[19:9]  ⁶⁶ sn The household is not a reference to the building, but to the people who lived within it (L&N 10.8).

[19:9]  ⁶⁷ sn Zacchaeus was personally affirmed by Jesus as a descendant (son) of Abraham and a member of God’s family.

[19:10]  ⁶⁸ sn The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost is Jesus’ mission succinctly defined. See Luke 15:1-32.

[19:11]  ⁶⁹ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[19:11]  ⁷⁰ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[19:11]  ⁷¹ tn The present active infinitive δοκεῖν (dokein) has been translated as causal.

[19:11]  ⁷² sn Luke means here the appearance of the full kingdom of God in power with the Son of Man as judge as Luke 17:22-37 describes.

[19:11]  ⁷³ tn Or perhaps, “the kingdom of God must appear immediately (see L&N 71.36).

[19:12]  ⁷⁴ tn Grk “a man of noble birth” or “a man of noble status” (L&N 87.27).

[19:12]  ⁷⁵ sn Note that the receiving of the kingdom takes place in the far country. This suggests that those in the far country recognize and acknowledge the king when his own citizens did not want him as king (v. 14; cf. John 1:11-12).

[19:12]  ⁷⁶ sn The background to this story about the nobleman who went…to receive for himself a kingdom had some parallels in the area’s recent history: Archelaus was appointed ethnarch of Judea, Samaria, and Idumea in 4 b.c., but the people did not like him. Herod the Great also made a similar journey to Rome where he was crowned King of Judea in 40 b.c., although he was not able to claim his kingdom until 37 b.c.

[19:13]  ⁷⁷ tn See the note on the word “slave” in 7:2.

[19:13]  ⁷⁸ sn That is, one for each. A mina was a Greek monetary unit worth one hundred denarii or about four months’ wages for an average worker based on a six-day work week.

[19:14]  ⁷⁹ tn Or “subjects.” Technically these people were not his subjects yet, but would be upon his return. They were citizens of his country who opposed his appointment as their king; later the newly-appointed king will refer to them as his “enemies” (v. 27).

[19:14]  ⁸⁰ tn The imperfect is intense in this context, suggesting an ongoing attitude.

[19:14]  ⁸¹ tn Grk “this one” (somewhat derogatory in this context).

[19:14]  ⁸² tn Or “to rule.”

[19:15]  ⁸³ 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.

[19:15]  ⁸⁴ 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.”

[19:15]  ⁸⁵ 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.

[19:15]  ⁸⁶ sn The Greek verb earned refers to profit from engaging in commerce and trade (L&N 57.195). This is an examination of stewardship.

[19:16]  ⁸⁷ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the royal summons.

[19:16]  ⁸⁸ tn Or “Lord”; or “Master.” (and so throughout this paragraph).

[19:16]  ⁸⁹ tn See the note on the word “minas” in v. 13.

[19:17]  ⁹⁰ tn Grk “he”; the referent (the nobleman of v. 12, now a king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[19:17]  ⁹¹ tn See Luke 16:10.

[19:17]  ⁹² sn The faithful slave received expanded responsibility (authority over ten cities) as a result of his faithfulness; this in turn is an exhortation to faithfulness for the reader.

[19:18]  ⁹³ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[19:19]  ⁹⁴ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the second slave’s report.

[19:19]  ⁹⁵ tn Grk “he”; the referent (the nobleman of v. 12, now a king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[19:20]  ⁹⁶ sn Though ten were given minas, the story stops to focus on the one who did nothing with the opportunity given to him. Here is the parable’s warning about the one who does not trust the master. This figure is called “another,” marking him out as different than the first two.

[19:20]  ⁹⁷ tn The word “slave” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied for stylistic reasons.

[19:20]  ⁹⁸ tn Grk “behold.”

[19:20]  ⁹⁹ tn Or “that I stored away.” L&N 85.53 defines ἀπόκειμαι (apokeimai) here as “to put something away for safekeeping – ‘to store, to put away in a safe place.’”

[19:20]  ¹⁰⁰ tn The piece of cloth, called a σουδάριον (soudarion), could have been a towel, napkin, handkerchief, or face cloth (L&N 6.159).

[19:21]  ¹⁰¹ tn Or “exacting,” “harsh,” “hard.”

[19:21]  ¹⁰² tn Grk “man, taking out.” The Greek word can refer to withdrawing money from a bank (L&N 57.218), and in this context of financial accountability that is the most probable meaning. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation by supplying the pronoun “you” as subject and translating the participle αἴρεις (airei") as a finite verb.

[19:21]  ¹⁰³ tn The Greek verb τίθημι (tiqhmi) can be used of depositing money with a banker to earn interest (L&N 57.217). In effect the slave charges that the master takes what he has not earned.

[19:22]  ¹⁰⁴ tn Grk “He”; the referent (the nobleman of v. 12, now a king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[19:22]  ¹⁰⁵ tn Grk “out of your own mouth” (an idiom).

[19:22]  ¹⁰⁶ tn Note the contrast between this slave, described as “wicked,” and the slave in v. 17, described as “good.”

[19:22]  ¹⁰⁷ tn Or “exacting,” “harsh,” “hard.”

[19:23]  ¹⁰⁸ tn That is, “If you really feared me why did you not do a minimum to get what I asked for?”

[19:23]  ¹⁰⁹ tn Grk “on the table”; the idiom refers to a place where money is kept or managed, or credit is established, thus “bank” (L&N 57.215).

[19:24]  ¹¹⁰ tn Grk “to those standing by,” but in this context involving an audience before the king to give an accounting, these would not be casual bystanders but courtiers or attendants.

[19:24]  ¹¹¹ tn Grk “the ten minas.”

[19:25]  ¹¹² tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context. Those watching the evaluation are shocked, as the one with the most gets even more. The word “already” is supplied at the end of the statement to indicate this surprise and shock.

[19:25]  ¹¹³ tc A few mss (D W 69 pc and a few versional witnesses) omit this verse either to harmonize it with Matt 25:28-29 or to keep the king’s speech seamless.

[19:26]  ¹¹⁴ tn Grk “to everyone who has, he will be given more.”

[19:26]  sn Everyone who has will be given more. Again, faithfulness yields great reward (see Luke 8:18; also Matt 13:12; Mark 4:25).

[19:26]  ¹¹⁵ sn The one who has nothing has even what he seems to have taken away from him, ending up with no reward at all (see also Luke 8:18). The exact force of this is left ambiguous, but there is no comfort here for those who are pictured by the third slave as being totally unmoved by the master. Though not an outright enemy, there is no relationship to the master either. Three groups are represented in the parable: the faithful of various sorts (vv. 16, 18); the unfaithful who associate with Jesus but do not trust him (v. 21); and the enemies (v. 27).

[19:27]  ¹¹⁶ tn Grk “to rule over them.”

[19:27]  ¹¹⁷ tn This term, when used of people rather than animals, has some connotations of violence and mercilessness (L&N 20.72).

[19:27]  ¹¹⁸ sn Slaughter them. To reject the king is to face certain judgment from him.