Read The Jewish Annotated New Testament Online
Authors: Amy-Jill Levine
20.45
–47: Warnings concerning the scribes
(see Mt 23.6–7; Mk 12.37b–40).
46
:
In 11.43, Jesus places the same charge against Pharisees.
21.1
–4: The widow’s offering
(Mk 12.41–44).
1
:
Treasury
, a receptacle for free-will offerings (see
m. Seqal
. 2.1; 6.1; in Jn 8.20 the term refers to a room in the Temple).
2
:
Copper coin
(Gk “lepton”), see 12.59n.
4
:
All she had
, Jesus praises the women’s charity (see 6.30n.;
Lev. Rab
. 107a); he does not, contrary to some speculation, condemn the Temple for exploitation. Had Jesus wished to protect the woman, he could have advised her to keep her coins.
21.5
–6: Predicting the Temple’s destruction
(Mt 24.1–2; Mk 13.1–2).
5
:
Beautiful stones
, see Josephus,
Ant
. 15.392;
J.W
. 5.210f., 222.
6
:
See 19.43–44n.
21.7
–11: End
-
time signs
(Mt 24.3–8; Mk 13.3–8).
7
:
When will this be
, see 17.20–21n.; Acts 1.6.
10
:
Nation will rise against nation
, conventional language (Isa 19.2; 2 Chr 15.6).
11
:
Earthquakes
…
famines
…
plagues
, conventional apocalyptic language.
21.12
–19: Prediction of the disciples’ persecution
(Mt 24.9–14; Mk 13.9–13).
12
:
Synagogues
, 12.11n.
14–15:
12.11–12.
16
:
Parents and brothers
, 12.51n.
18
:
Hair of your head
, indicating immunity; see 12.7; Acts 27.34; 1 Sam 14.45; 2 Sam 14.11; 1 Kings 1.52.
19
:
Gain your souls
, have eternal life.
21.20
–24: The desolation of Jerusalem
(Mt 24.15–22; Mk 13.14–20).
20
:
Surrounded by armies
, see 19.43–44n.
22
:
Days of vengeance
, see Isa 63.4; Hos 9.7.
23
:
Pregnant
…
nursing
, see 12.51n.
24
:
Times of the Gentiles
, perhaps referring to the Gentile mission (see Rom 11.25); the period has no distinguishing markers or temporal limits.
21.25
–28: The coming of the Son of Man
(Mt 24.29–31; Mk 13.24–27).
25
–27:
Apocalyptic elements drawn from Joel 3.3–4; Isa 24.19 (LXX); Ps 65.8; 46.4; 89.10; Wis 5.22.
25
:
Isa 13.10; Joel 2.10; Zeph 1.15.
26
:
Powers of the heavens
, either celestial bodies or supernatural beings (see Rom 8.38; Eph 6.12; Col 1.16; Heb 6.4; 1 Pet 3.22).
27
:
Son of Man
, see 5.24n.
Cloud
, see Dan 7.13; Acts 1.9.
21.29
–33: Lesson of the fig tree
(Mt 24.32–36; Mk 13.28–32).
32
:
See 9.27n.
33
:
Cf. 16.17.
21.34
–36: Admonition to alertness
(cf. Mt 24.43–51; 25.13; Mk 13.33–37; see also Luke 12.35–48).
34
:
Drunkenness
, see Tob 4.15; Sir 31.30; Rom 13.13; Gal 5.21; 1 Pet 4.3.
36
:
Son of Man
, see 5.24n.; 21.25–28.
21.37
–38: Jesus’ Jerusalem activities. 37:
Mount of Olives
, 19.29n.
22.1
–6: Judas Iscariot. 1:
Festival of Unleavened Bread
(Mt 26.2–5; Mk 14.1–2; Jn 11.47–53), Ex 12.17; 23.15; 34.18; Lev 23.6; Num 28.17; Deut 16.16; 2 Chr 8.13; etc.
Called the Passover
, explanation for Gentile readers.
3
–6:
Mt 26.14–16; Mk 14.10–11.
Satan
, 4.2n.; his reappearance is the “opportune time” of 4.13; see also Jn 13.2.
Judas
, 6.16n.
Chief priests
, 19.47n.
22.7
–13: Passover preparations
(Mt 26.17–19; Mk 14.12–16; Jn 13.1).
7
:
Day of Unleavened Bread
, see 22.1n.
Passover lamb
, Ex 12.8,21. For
Passover
, see 2.41n.
10
:
A man carrying a jar of water
, contrary to popular readings, there is no clear indication this was women’s work. See 19.30n.
13
:
Prepared
, including obtaining a lamb sacrificed in the Temple, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs (details in
m. Pesah
.).
Passover meal
, according to the Synoptic Gospels, the Last Supper is a Passover meal; in John’s Gospel, it is not.
22.14
–20: The Last Supper
(Mt 26.26–29; Mk 14.22–25; cf. Jn 6.51–58).
14
:
The hour
, of the meal, after sundown.
17
:
Giving thanks
, blessing before drinking. Only Luke presents the cup prior to the bread as well as after.
18
:
Kingdom of God comes
, focusing on the future rather than present kingdom (contrast 17.21).
19
:
Loaf
, Gk “artos,” “bread,” could refer to unleavened bread.
Given thanks
, 9.14n.
This is my body
, see 1 Cor 11.23–26. Jews found the idea of eating human flesh abhorrent.
20
:
New covenant
, see Jer 31.31; 1 Cor 11.25; 2 Cor 3.6; Heb 8.8,13; 9.15; 12.24. On the connection of covenant and blood, see Ex 24.8.
22.21
–23: Predicting the betrayal
(Mt 26.21–25; Mk 14.18–21; Jn 13.21–30).
21
:
His hand is on the table
, possible allusion to Ps 41.9.
22
:
Son of Man
, 5.24n.
Woe to that one
, despite Jesus’ foreordained and willing death, Judas is still held responsible.
22.24
–30: Servant leadership
(Mt 20.24–28; Mk 10.41–45; cf. John 13.3–16).
25
:
Benefactors
(Gk “euergetai,” lit., “good works doers”), a title typically bestowed on kings.
27
:
See 12.37n.
30
:
At my table
, 11.3n.
Sit on thrones
, Mt 19.28.
22.31
–34: Predicting Peter’s denial
(Mt 26.30–35; Mk 14.26–31; Jn 13.36–38).
32
:
I have prayed
, 3.21n.
34
:
See vv. 54–62.
22.35
–38: Preparation for Jesus’ arrest. 35:
See 9.3; 10.4.
37
:
Isa 53.12.
38
:
Two swords
, Jesus’ followers are armed (see 22.49–50; Jesus rejects violent reprisal).
22.39
–46: Anguish on the Mount of Olives
(Mt 26.36–46; Mk 14.32–42; Jn 18.1–2; Luke avoids Aramaisms, like “Gethsemane”).
39
:
His custom
, 21.37.
Mount of Olives
, 19.29n. 40, 46:
Time of trial
, See 11.4.
41
:
Prayed
, 3.21n. 42:
Cup
, symbolizing destiny (Ps 11.6; 16.5) and divine wrath (Isa 51.17; Ps 75.8).
43
–44:
Major early manuscripts lack these verses.
45
:
Because of grief
, Luke tempers the disciples’ failure to remain awake.