LTSG Home

Greek Prep Index

Exegetical Considerations
Luke 12:32-40
10th Sunday after Pentecost/ August 8, 2004

1. How does this text relate to its literary context of 12:1-13:9 and its focus on eschatological ultimates?

2. How does the imperative me phobou in v. 32 relate to 1:13,30; 2:10; 5:10; 8:50; 12:4,7?

3. What is the significance of the aorist verb, eudokesen, in v. 32?
a. What is that saying about God’s decisions?

b. What is the impact of the “mistranslations” of that aorist in most English Bibles?

c. How does this relate to the same concept in Luke 2:14; 3:22; 10:21?

d. How does this involve Luke’s theological understanding of the basileia tou Theou?

4. What are the sources for the sayings in
a. V. 33a?

b. Vv. 33b-34?

c. Vv. 35-40?

d. What is the theological effect Luke has achieved by linking these separate sayings together in this context?

5. How do vv. 33-34 relate back to 6:35-36 and 12:15-21?

6. How does v. 35a echo Exod. 12:11?
a. What is the significance of the perfect, periphrastic participle in v. 35a (estosan…periezosmenai)?

7. How are first century social conventions being tipped upside down in
a. v. 33 regarding reciprocity and the giving to others?

b. v. 37 regarding service/servanthood within a household?

8. In vv. 35-40,
a. What are the images of alertness?

b. How do these relate to the uncertainty of the Parousia?

c. How do these relate to the certainty of the Parousia?

9. As a theological vision of life within the reign of God, how does this text relate to some of the prior co-texts from the Lukan lectionary including:
a. 10:25-37?

b. 10:38-42?

c. 11:1-13?