SEV Biblia, Chapter 23:31
Porque si en el rbol verde hacen estas cosas, ¿en el seco, qu se har?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Luke 23:31
Verse 31. If they do these things in a green tree] This seems to be a proverbial expression, the sense of which is: If they spare not a tree which, by the beauty of its foliage, abundance and excellence of its fruits, deserves to be preserved, then the tree which is dry and withered will surely be cut down. If an innocent man be put to death in the very face of justice, in opposition to all its dictates and decisions, by a people who profess to be governed and directed by Divine laws, what desolation, injustice, and oppression may not be expected, when anarchy and confusion sit in the place where judgment and justice formerly presided? Our Lord alludes prophetically to those tribulations which fell upon the Jewish people about forty years after. See the notes on Matt. xxiv. 1-51.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 31. For if they do these things in a green tree , etc.] Or it may be rendered impersonally, if these things are done in a green tree; by which is meant the Lord Jesus Christ, who is often compared to a tree, as to a green fir tree, an apple tree, a vine, and is called the tree of life: and may be said to be a moist or green tree; because, as a green tree is full of juice, so is he of grace and goodness; as that is flourishing, so was he in the fame of his doctrine and miracles, in the spread of his Gospel, and in the increase of his kingdom and interest; and as that is fruitful and useful, so was he in preaching the Gospel, and healing diseases; and as that is not proper to be cut down, nor fit fuel for the fire, so he was not deserving of death, or to be used in the manner he was; the metaphor seems designed to express the righteousness and innocence of Christ; (see Ezekiel 20:47 24:4) who was pure in his nature, without sin in his life, harmless in his conversation, and did no hurt to any man's person or property: his enemies could find nothing, nor prove any thing against him; nor even the devil himself, but owned him to be the Holy One of God; and he was also declared innocent by his judge, the Roman governor: and yet, how many hard and grievous things were done unto him! He was persecuted in his infancy, and his life was sought for; he was despised and reproached by men all his days; he was apprehended as if he had been a thief, and was bound as a malefactor; and arraigned at the bar of men, as if he had been the greatest criminal on earth; he was mocked, buffeted, and spit upon in the palace of the high priest; be was scourged by Pilate, and misused by his soldiers, who arrayed him with a scarlet robe, put a crown of thorns on his head, and a reed in his hand, and in a mock way bowed the knee to him, and saluted him as King of the Jews; they crucified him between two thieves, and as he hung on the cross mocked him, and gave him gall and vinegar to drink. To which may be added, that he was forsaken by his God, and Father, and his wrath was poured out upon him, as he sustained the persons, and bore the sins of his people; the curse of the law was executed on him: and justice drew its sword, and sheathed it in him: and now if all these things were done to such an useful, holy, harmless, and innocent person, what shall be done in the dry? by whom wicked men are designed; who, as dry trees are without juice, so are they destitute of grace and righteousness, and all that is good, and bring forth no fruit, neither to God, nor themselves, nor others; but, like dead and withered trees, are dead in trespasses and sins, and full of all manner of sin, and rottenness, and impurity; and are deserving to be cut down, and are fit fuel for the fire of divine wrath and displeasure, both in this, and in the other world. The wicked Jews that rejected Christ, and crucified him, are particularly meant; and if such evil things were done by them to so just a person, what may not be expected will fall on them in retaliation for such usage? and if the Roman soldiers, under their encouragement acted such a part to Christ, who had never done them any injury, what will they not do to these men, when provoked by their insults and rebellions? and if such things were done to Christ by his Father, according to the requirement of the law, and the strictness of divine justice, when he was made sin for his people, though he knew none, nor committed any himself, what vengeance will fall on them, who must answer for their sins in their own persons? What devouring flames, and everlasting burnings, will such dry trees be exposed to, as being fit for them, and deserving of them? so the children of men are, by the Jews, in their writings, called, yby yx[ , dry trees f687 ; the Targumist on ( Ezekiel 17:24) paraphrases the words thus; I have humbled the kingdom of the nations, which was strong as a green tree, and I have strengthened the kingdom of the house of Israel, which was weak as a dry tree. It is a common proverb with the Jews f688 ; two dry sticks, or brands, and one green, the dry burn up the green: intimating, that a few righteous persons among wicked men suffer with them; but if righteous men suffer, how much more the wicked? (see Peter 4:17,18).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 26-31 - We have here the blessed Jesus, the Lamb of God, led as a lamb to the slaughter, to the sacrifice. Though many reproached and reviled him yet some pitied him. But the death of Christ was his victory an triumph over his enemies: it was our deliverance, the purchase of eternal life for us. Therefore weep not for him, but let us weep for our own sins, and the sins of our children, which caused his death; an weep for fear of the miseries we shall bring upon ourselves, if we slight his love, and reject his grace. If God delivered him up to suc sufferings as these, because he was made a sacrifice for sin, what wil he do with sinners themselves, who make themselves a dry tree, corrupt and wicked generation, and good for nothing! The bitte sufferings of our Lord Jesus should make us stand in awe of the justic of God. The best saints, compared with Christ, are dry trees; if he suffer, why may not they expect to suffer? And what then shall the damnation of sinners be! Even the sufferings of Christ preach terror to obstinate transgressors.
Greek Textus Receptus
οτι 3754 CONJ ει 1487 COND εν 1722 PREP τω 3588 T-DSN υγρω 5200 A-DSN ξυλω 3586 N-DSN ταυτα 5023 D-APN ποιουσιν 4160 5719 V-PAI-3P εν 1722 PREP τω 3588 T-DSN ξηρω 3584 A-DSN τι 5101 I-NSN γενηται 1096 5638 V-2ADS-3S
Vincent's NT Word Studies
31. Tree (xulw). Originally wood, timber. In later Greek, a tree. Used of the cross by Peter, Acts v. 30; x. 39; and 1 Pet. ii. 24. Compare Galatians iii. 13.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
23:31 {In the green tree} (en hugrwi xulwi). Green wood is hard to burn and so is used for the innocent. {In the dry} (en twi xerwi). Dry wood kindles easily and is a symbol for the guilty. this common proverb has various applications. Here the point is that if they can put Jesus to death, being who he is, what will happen to Jerusalem when its day of judgment comes? {What shall be done} (ti genetai). Deliberative subjunctive.
