Luke 13:28-30

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Luke 13:28 sn Weeping and gnashing of teeth is a figure for remorse and trauma, which occurs here because of exclusion from God’s promise.
2. Luke 13:28 tn Grk “and Isaac and Jacob,” but καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
3. Luke 13:28 sn The kingdom of God is a major theme of Jesus’ teaching. See the note on this phrase in v. 18.
4. Luke 13:28 tn Or “being thrown out.” The present accusative participle, ἐκβαλλομένους (ekballomenous), related to the object ὑμᾶς (humas), seems to suggest that these evildoers will witness their own expulsion from the kingdom.
5. Luke 13:29 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events in the discourse.
6. Luke 13:29 tn Grk “they”; the referent (people who will come to participate in the kingdom) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
7. Luke 13:29 tn Grk “and recline at table,” as first century middle eastern meals were not eaten while sitting at a table, but while reclining on one’s side on the floor with the head closest to the low table and the feet farthest away. The phrase “take their places at the banquet table” has been used in the translation to clarify for the modern reader the festive nature of the imagery. The banquet imagery is a way of describing the fellowship and celebration of participation with the people of God at the end. Cf. BDAG 65 s.v. ἀνακλίνω 2, “In transf. sense, of the Messianic banquet w. the idea dine in style (or some similar rendering, not simply ‘eat’ as NRSV) Mt 8:11; Lk 13:29.”
8. Luke 13:29 sn The kingdom of God is a major theme of Jesus’ teaching. See the note on this phrase in v. 18.
9. Luke 13:30 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
10. Luke 13:30 tn Grk “behold.”
11. Luke 13:30 sn Some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last. Jesus’ answer is that some who are expected to be there (many from Israel) will not be there, while others not expected to be present (from other nations) will be present. The question is not, “Will the saved be few?” (see v. 23), but “Will it be you?”