Help with Greek grammar

Leigh Johnson

Just noticed today that in Matt. 19:18-19, the commands Jesus names are all future indicative except for 'honor your father and mother' which is present imperative.  Anyone have any idea why this is and if it has any significance?  I've checked all my commentaries and none of them deal with this.  Also did a library search on those verses with no luck?  Any suggestions?

Justin Cofer

Just noticed today that in Matt. 19:18-19, the commands Jesus names are all future indicative except for 'honor your father and mother' which is present imperative.  Anyone have any idea why this is and if it has any significance?  I've checked all my commentaries and none of them deal with this.  Also did a library search on those verses with no luck?  Any suggestions?

 

The future indicative is due to a literal translation of the Hebrew. 

 

See the excerpt from Wallace below.  (BTW, I recommend this grammar.)

http://www.logos.com/product/8286/greek-grammar-beyond-the-basics

 

 

II. Imperatival Future

A. Definition

The future indicative is sometimes used for a command,
almost always in OT quotations (due to a literal translation of the Hebrew).
However, it was used in this manner even in classical Greek, though sparingly.
Outside of Matthew, this usage is not common.⁵

B. Semantics

The force of the imperatival future is not identical with an
imperative. Gener­ally speaking, it has a universal, timeless, and/or solemn
force to it.⁶ One reason for this is that most
of the NT examples are quotations from the OT, especially from the legal
literature of the Pentateuch. The nature of the commandments in the Pentateuch
is often well suited to such a solemn notion, and hence it would be natural to
carry this over into the NT. But even when the OT is not behind the command, the
force of the imperatival future is emphatic. This is in keeping with the
combined nature of the indicative mood and future tense. “It is not a milder or
gentler imperative. A prediction may imply resistless power or cold
indifference, compulsion or concession.”⁷

C. Illustrations

Matt 19:18	οὐ φονεύσεις, οὐ μοιχεύσεις, οὐ κλέψεις, οὐ ψευδομαρτυρήσεις
	You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness.
Matt 6:5	οὐκ ἔσεσθε ὡς οἱ ὑποκριταί8
	You shall not be like the hypocrites.

This is an example of the imperatival future that is other
than an OT quotation.

Matt 20:27	ὃς ἂν θέλῃ ἐν ὑμῖν εἶναι πρῶτος ἔσται ὑμῶν δοῦλος9
	Whoever wants to be first among you shall be your servant.
Matt 22:37	ἀγαπήσεις κύριον τὸν θεόν σου
	You shall love the Lord your God

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1 Pet 1:16	ἅγιοι ἔσεσθε, ὅτι ἐγὼ ἅγιός εἰμι10
	You shall be holy, because I am holy.