It is uncertain whether this form was once only or twice delivered by Christ to his disciples. (429) Some think that the latter is more probable; because Luke says that he was requested to do it, while Matthew represents him as teaching it of his own accord. But as we have said, that Matthew collect... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 11:5._Which of you shall have a friend, Luke _adds this comparison, which is not mentioned by Matthew. The general instruction conveyed by it is this: Believers ought not to be discouraged, if they do not immediately obtain their desires, or if they find them difficult to be obtained: for if, a... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 11:16._And others tempting sought from him a sign. _Something similar to this is afterwards related by Matthew, (Matthew 16:4,) and by Mark, (Mark 8:11.) Hence it is evident, that Christ repeatedly attacked them on this subject, so that there was no end to the wickedness of those men who had on... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 11:27._Blessed is the womb. _By this eulogium the woman intended to magnify the excellence of Christ; for she had no reference to Mary, (154) whom, perhaps, she had never seen. And yet it tends in a high degree to illustrate the glory of Christ, that she pronounces _the womb that bore him _to b... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 11:30._As Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites. _He declares that he will be _a sign _to them, as _Jonah _was to the inhabitants of Nineveh. But the word _sign _is not taken in its ordinary sense, as pointing out something, but as denoting what is widely removed from the ordinary course of nature.... [ Continue Reading ]
This narrative agrees in some respects, but not entirely, with the doctrine laid down by Matthew, (Matthew 10:1,) that Christ, in order to correct the superstition of the people, and particularly of the scribes, intentionally disregarded outward ceremonies of human invention, which the Jews were too... [ Continue Reading ]
39._Now you Pharisees _Christ does not here charge the _Pharisees, _as in Matthew, (Matthew 15:1,) and Mark, (Mark 12:2,) with serving God in an improper manner by human inventions, and breaking the law of God for the sake of their traditions; but merely glances at their hypocrisy, in having no desi... [ Continue Reading ]
41._But out of what you have, give alms. _Christ, according to his custom, withdraws the Pharisees from ceremonies to charity, declaring that it is not water, but liberality, (285) that cleanses both men and food. By these words he does not disparage the grace of God, or reject the ceremonies of the... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 11:53._And while he was saying these things to them. _I have formerly mentioned that the preceding sentences were not inserted by Luke in their proper place. For while he was relating that Christ at a dinner reproved the scribes, he introduced also the latest discourses by which, a little befor... [ Continue Reading ]