Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Luke: Chapter 20].
middle of \epilamban•\, an old verb for seizing hold with the
hands and uses as here the genitive case. These spies are for the
purpose of (\hina\) catching hold of the talk of Jesus if they
can get a grip anywhere. This is their direct purpose and the
ultimate purpose or result is also stated, "so as to deliver him
up" (\h•ste paradounai auton\). Second aorist active infinitive
of \paradid•mi\, to hand over, to give from one's side to
another. The trap is all set now and ready to be sprung by these
"spies." {Of the governor} (\tou h•gemonos\). The Sanhedrin knew
that Pilate would have to condemn Jesus if he were put to death.
So then all their plans focus on this point as the goal. Luke
alone mentions this item here.
20:21 {Rightly} (\orth•s\). Matthew (Mt 22:16) notes that these
"spies" were "disciples" (students) of the Pharisees and Mark
(Mr 12:13) adds that the Herodians are also involved in the
plot. These bright theologues are full of palaver and flattery
and openly endorse the teaching of Jesus as part of their scheme.
{Acceptest not the person of any} (\ou lambaneis pros•pon\). Dost
not take the face (or personal appearance) as the test. It is a
Hebraism from which the word \pros•polempsia\ (Jas 2:1) comes.
Originally it meant to lift the face, to lift the countenance, to
regard the face, to accept the face value. See Mr 12:13-17; Mt
22:15-22 for discussion of details here. They both have
\blepeis\ here.
20:22 {Tribute} (\phoron\). Old word for the annual tax on land,
houses, etc. Mark and Matthew have \k•nson\, which see for this
Latin word in Greek letters. The picture on the coin may have
been that of Tiberius.
20:23 {Perceived} (\katano•sas\). From \katanoe•\, to put the
mind down on. Mark has \eid•s\, "knowing," and Matthew \gnous\,
coming to know or grasping (second aorist active participle of
\gin•sk•\). {Craftiness} (\panourgian\). Old word for doing any
deed. Matthew has "wickedness" (\pon•rian\) and Mark "hypocrisy"
(\hupokrisin\). Unscrupulous they certainly were. They would
stoop to any trick and go the limit.
20:26 {They were not able} (\ouk ischusan\). They did not have
strength. An old verb \ischu•\ from \ischus\ (strength). They
failed "to take hold (cf. verse 20) of the saying before the
people." These "crack" students had made an ignominious failure
and were not able to make a case for the surrender of Jesus to
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/LU20.RWP.html (4 of 7) [28/08/2004 09:05:51 a.m.]