Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Luke: Chapter 12]
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12:1 {In the meantime} (\en hois\). It is a classic idiom to
start a sentence or even a paragraph as here with a relative, "in
which things or circumstances," without any expressed antecedent
other than the incidents in 11:53f. In 12:3 Luke actually
begins the sentence with two relatives \anth' h•n hosa\
(wherefore whatsoever). {Many thousands} (\muriad•n\). Genitive
absolute with \episunachtheis•n\ (first aorist passive participle
feminine plural because of \muriad•n\), a double compound late
verb, \episunag•\, to gather together unto. The word "myriads" is
probably hyperbolical as in Ac 21:20, but in the sense of ten
thousand, as in Ac 19:19, it means a very large crowd
apparently drawn together by the violent attacks of the rabbis
against Jesus. {Insomuch that they trode one upon another}
(\h•ste katapatein all•lous\). The imagination must complete the
picture of this jam. {Unto his disciples first of all} (\pros
tous math•tas autou pr•ton\). This long discourse in Lu 12 is
really a series of separate talks to various groups in the vast
crowds around Jesus. This particular talk goes through verse
12. {Beware of} (\prosechete heautois apo\). Put your mind
(\noun\ understood) for yourselves (dative) and avoid (\apo\ with
the ablative). {The leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy}
(\t•s zum•s h•tis estin hupocrisis t•n Pharisai•n\). In Mr 8:15
Jesus had coupled the lesson of the Pharisees with that of Herod,
in Mt 16:6 with that of the Sadducees also. He had long ago
called the Pharisees hypocrites (Mt 6:2,5,16). The occasion was
ripe here for this crisp saying. In Mt 13:33 leaven does not
have an evil sense as here, which see. See Mt 23:13 for
hypocrites. Hypocrisy was the leading Pharisaic vice (Bruce) and
was a mark of sanctity to hide an evil heart.
12:2 {Covered up} (\sugkekalummenon estin\). Periphrastic perfect
passive indicative of \sugkalupt•\, an old verb, but here only in
the N.T., to cover up on all sides and so completely. Verses
2-9 here are parallel with Mt 10:26-33 spoken to the Twelve
on their tour of Galilee, illustrating again how often Jesus
repeated his sayings unless we prefer to say that he never did so
and that the Gospels have hopelessly jumbled them as to time and
place. See the passage in Matthew for discussion of details.
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/LU12.RWP.html (1 of 12) [28/08/2004 09:05:39 a.m.]
Word Pictures in the New Testament
(Luke: Chapter 12)