Bible Commentaries

Impossible ( ἀνένδεκτον )

Inadmissible. Only here in New Testament. See on it cannot be, Luke 13:33.

Offences

See on offend, Matthew 5:29; and compare on Matthew 16:23.

It were better ( λυσιτελεῖ )

Only here in New Testament. The verb means to pay what is due, and is equivalent to our phrase, it pays.

Millstone

Compare Matthew 18:6. The correct reading here is λίθος μυλικός , a millstone; not a great millstone as Matthew

Thrown ( ἔῤῥιπται )

Hurled: with an underlying sense of violence, called out by so great an outrage.

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Rebuke

See on straitly charged, Luke 9:21.

Sycamine

Or mulberry. Luke distinguishes between this and συκομορέα , the fig-mulberry (Luke 19:4). The names were sometimes confused, but a physician would readily make the distinction, as both were used medicinally.

I trow not

Omitted by the best texts.

Unprofitable ( ἀχρεῖοι )

From χρεία , requirement; something which the master must pay. Not useless, but having rendered no service beyond what was due. “The profit does not begin until the servant goes beyond his obligation” (Meyer). “A servant owes all things ” (Bengel).

Through the midst of

It may also mean between or on the borders of. The Am. Rev. insists on the latter.

Lepers

See on Luke 5:12.

With observation ( μετὰ παρατηρήσεως )

Only here in New Testament. The progress of the kingdom cannot be defined by visible marks like that of an earthly kingdom. Its growth in the world is a process of pervasion, like the working of the leaven through the lump.

Within

Better, in the midst of. Meyer acutely remarks that “you refers to the Pharisees, in whose hearts nothing certainly found a place less than did the ethical kingdom of God.” Moreover, Jesus is not speaking of the inwardness of the kingdom, but of its presence. “The whole language of the kingdom of heaven being within men, rather than men being within the kingdom, is modern” (Trench, after Meyer).

Lighteneth ( ἀστράπτουσα )

Only here and Luke 24:4.

Rejected

See on disallowed, 1 Peter 2:4; and tried, 1 Peter 1:7.

Goods

See on Matthew 12:29.

On the house-top

See on Matthew 24:17.

Shall preserve ( ζωογονήσει )

Only here and Acts 7:19. Originally to engender; thence to produce alive or endue with life, and so to preserve alive. Wyc., shall quicken it.

Eagles

See on Matthew 24:28.