Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Luke 22:66 - 22:71
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Luk_22:66-71
66When it was day, the Council of elders of the people assembled, both chief priests and scribes, and they led Him away to their council chamber, saying, 67"If You are the Christ, tell us." But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe; 68and if I ask a question, you will not answer. 69But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God." 70And they all said, "Are You the Son of God, then?" And He said to them, "Yes, I am." 71Then they said, "What further need do we have of testimony? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth."
Luk_22:66 "When it was day" If the night trial occurred on Thursday (Nisan 14), then this occurred on the Friday morning (Nisan 14). Jesus will be crucified by noon (Nisan 14, cf. Luk_23:44) and buried before the beginning of the Sabbath at twilight on Friday (Nisan 15, cf. Luk_23:54).
The timing and order of these trials vary from Gospel to Gospel. We must remember these are not western histories or biographies, but salvation tracts targeted to certain people groups. The variety does not diminish the inspiration or trustworthiness of the events themselves!
▣ "the Council of elders of the people assembled" This was done by the Sanhedrin (See Special Topic at Luk_9:22) to give a semblance of legality to the illegal nighttime trial.
hyperlink
Luk_22:67 "If" The first "if" in this verse is a First class conditional. It usually denotes the reality of a statement, but here it is used sarcastically, which shows how literary context affects grammatical form. There are no hard and fast rules. Context, context, context is crucial!
NASB, NKJV
NJB "the Christ"
NRSV, TEV "the Messiah"
Here is a good example of Aramaic speakers being recorded in Greek. They are asking Jesus if He is the promised Anointed One of God—the Messiah!
▣ "tell us" This is an aorist active imperative. They want a clear "yes" or "no."
▣ "if" The second "if" in this verse is a third class conditional, which denotes potential action.
▣ "you will not believe" The Sanhedrin did not want information about Jesus. They wanted to condemn Him. Remember this encounter was after two lengthy night trials before Annas and Caiaphas (Luk_22:54). Whatever Jesus said, their minds and hearts were already hardened. No faith response was possible. The unpardonable sin had occurred. See Special Topic at Luk_11:19.
This verse (as does Luk_22:68) has the grammatical form of the strongest negation in Koine Greek.
1. the double negative, ou + mç
2. Aorist subjunctive
Luk_22:68 "if" This is another third class conditional sentence. Jesus had tried, on many occasions, to enter into a dialog with the Jerusalem leadership, but they would not or could not answer His questions. Jesus knew them well!
▣ "not" This is a strong double negative with the aorist subjunctive, which is emphatic negation!
Luk_22:69 "the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God" This is an incomplete sentence which is a reference to Psa_110:1, a specifically Messianic text, related to "the" special descendant of David linked to the coming Messiah.
The phrase "at God's right hand" is an anthropomorphic phrase speaking of God as if He were a man. In reality God is Spirit and has no body and, therefore, no need of a physical throne or hand (see Special Topic at Luk_1:51). Jesus answered their question in unmistakable OT prophetic terms!
Luk_22:70 "and they all said" Notice the plural. Those present spoke with one voice!
▣ "Are You the Son of God, then" We learn from Mar_14:55-59 that the false witnesses had failed in their accusations. At this point the Sandehrin tried to get Jesus to incriminate Himself. This was illegal in Jewish Law. The phrase "Son of God" is used in the OT for the nation of Israel, the king of Israel, and the Messiah. It definitely had Messianic connotations. See Special Topic at Luk_1:35.
NASB "Yes, I am"
NKJV "You rightly say that I am"
NRSV, TEV,
NET"you say that I am"
NJB, REB"it is you who say I am"
NIV"you are right in saying I am"
Jesus, in a round-about way, affirms that He is the Messiah (cf. Mar_14:62). He knew they would take this title in such a way as to accuse him before Rome.
Moffat's translation at this point is very helpful to catch the subtle connotation of this phrase. "That is your word, not mine, I would not put it like that, but since you have, I cannot deny it" (cf. Mat_26:64).
A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures In the New Testament, vol. 2, p. 277, makes the pertinent analysis that Jesus admits to being
1. the Christ (Messiah), Luk_22:67
2. the Son of Man at God's right hand, Luk_22:69
3. the Son of God, Luk_22:70
All of these phrases are used in a parallel way.
Luk_22:71 This verse shows the purpose of their questioning. They wanted Him to admit to what they considered blasphemy. They were attempting to justify their attitudes and actions!
Copyright © 2013 hyperlink