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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Luke 4:20 - 4:20
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
20. πτύξας. ‘Rolling up.’ Generally the Haphtarah consists of twenty-one verses, and is never less than three; but our Lord stopped short in the second verse, because this furnished sufficient text for His discourse, and because He wished these gracious words to rest last on their ears, rather than the following words, “the day of vengeance of our God.”
τῷ ὑπηρέτῃ. The Chazzan, or ‘attendant.’ The word ‘minister’ might be misunderstood by English readers to mean ‘clergyman.’ The Jews had no officials like our parochial clergy.
ἐκάθισεν. The ordinary Jewish attitude for the sermon (Mat 23:2).
ἀτενίζοντες. A favourite word of St Luke, who uses it eleven times; elsewhere it is only found in 2Co 3:7; 2Co 3:13. The attitude of Jesus shewed that now for the first time He intended not only to read but to preach.