Luk 11:53-54 | RWP | e4.org | From thence ( κ'ακειθεν ). Out of the Pharisee's house. What became of the breakfast we are not told, but the rage of both Pharisees and lawyers knew no bounds. To press upon him ( ενεχειν ). An old Greek verb to hold in, to be enraged at, to have it in for one. It is the same verb used of the relentless hatred of Herodias for John the Baptist ( ). To provoke him to speak ( αποστοματιζειν ). From απο and στομα (mouth). Plato uses it of repeating to a pupil for him to recite from memory, then to recite by heart (Plutarch). Here (alone in the N.T.) the verb means to ply with questions, to entice to answers, to catechize. Of many things ( περ πλειονων ). "Concerning more (comparative) things." They were stung to the quick by these woes which laid bare their hollow hypocrisy.

‏ Luke 11:53-54

From thence ( κ'ακειθεν ). Out of the Pharisee's house. What became of the breakfast we are not told, but the rage of both Pharisees and lawyers knew no bounds.

To press upon him ( ενεχειν ). An old Greek verb to hold in, to be enraged at, to have it in for one. It is the same verb used of the relentless hatred of Herodias for John the Baptist (Mr 6:19).

To provoke him to speak ( αποστοματιζειν ). From απο and στομα (mouth). Plato uses it of repeating to a pupil for him to recite from memory, then to recite by heart (Plutarch). Here (alone in the N.T.) the verb means to ply with questions, to entice to answers, to catechize.

Of many things ( περ πλειονων ). "Concerning more (comparative) things." They were stung to the quick by these woes which laid bare their hollow hypocrisy.

Laying wait for him ( ενεδρευοντες αυτον ). An old verb from εν and εδρα, a seat, so to lie in ambush for one. Here only and Ac 23:21 in the N.T. Vivid picture of the anger of these rabbis who were treating Jesus as if he were a beast of prey.

To catch something out of his mouth ( θηρευσα το εκ του στοματος αυτου ). An old Greek verb, though here only in the N.T., from θηρα (cf. Ro 11:9), to ensnare, to catch in hunting, to hunt. These graphic words from the chase show the rage of the rabbis toward Jesus. Luke gives more details here than in 20:45-47; Mt 23:1-7, but there is no reason at all why Jesus should not have had this conflict at the Pharisee's breakfast before that in the temple in the great Tuesday debate.