Luke 12:1-12. WARNING AGAINST HYPOCRISY. Comp. the various parallel passages in Matthew. The connection: ‘Beware of hypocrisy (Luke 12:1), for all shall be made evident in the end (Luke 12:2), and ye are witnesses and sharers in this unfolding of the truth (Luke 12:3). In this your work, ye need not... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:1. IN THE MEAN TIME. Literally: in which things, _i.e.,_ during those just related. WHEN MANY THOUSANDS, lit., ‘the myriads,' etc. ‘Myriads' is used indefinitely here. FIRST. May join this with what follows: ‘first of all beware,' but we prefer the usual connection with ‘said,' etc. He s... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS division of the Gospel of Luke, embracing nearly one third of the whole, contains for the most part matter peculiar to this Evangelist. A number of the incidents probably belong to an earlier period of the history. A few of these are mentioned by Matthew and Mark, though the greater number even... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER 12 is made up of a series of discourses following each other in immediate succession, but with less of unity and logical connection than are found in most of our Lord's recorded sermons. Some have therefore thought that Luke here records a compilation of our Lord's teachings, delivered on ve... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:2-9. See on Matthew 10:26-33, which was also spoken to the disciples. MY FRIENDS (Luke 12:4) is peculiar, see John 15:13-15. FEAR HIM (Luke 12:5). This refers to God, we hold POWER (Luke 12:5), or ‘authority.'... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:10. See on Matthew 12:31, in regard to the sin against the Holy Spirit.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:11-12. See on Matthew 10:19-20.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:13. AND ONE OUT OF THE MULTITUDE. An ordinary hearer in the crowd. His request may have been suggested by our Lord's previous declarations about Providential care, or by his notion that the Messiah would set all things right. So that he manifested some confidence in the Lord by thus addressi... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:13-21. WARNING AGAINST COVETOUS-NESS. Peculiar to Luke.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:14. MAN. In a tone of reproof, as in Romans 2:1; Romans 9:20. WHO MADE ME A JUDGE? etc. Moses assumed this position and was reproached for it by one of his countrymen in language closely resembling this (Exodus 2:14); Christ expressly rejects it. The one was the founder of a state, the oth... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:15. UNTO THEM. Evidently the crowd. KEEP YOURSELVES FROM ALL COVETOUSNESS. Our Lord saw that this was the man's motive, and grounds His lesson upon it. From the one form manifested by the man He warns against ‘all' kinds. FOR EVEN WHEN ONE HAS ABUNDANCE, HIS LIFE IS NOT FROM HIS POSSESSIO... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:16. A PARABLE. Yet a true history constantly repeated. THE GROUND, lit., ‘place,' _i.e.,_ estate. BROUGHT FORTH PLENTIFULLY. By God's blessing, not by fraud or injustice, did this man's wealth increase. The seeming innocence of the process is its danger; there is nothing to awaken qualms... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:17. WHAT SHALL I DO? He does not appear as a grasping speculator, but as one whom wealth, by a very natural process, made discontented, anxious, and perplexed. The proper answer to his question is found in Luke 12:33. But this prosperous man says, ‘my fruits,' not God's gifts; that too when... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:19. SOUL, THOU HAST MANY GOODS LAID UP FOR MANY YEARS. He was no unusual and hardened sinner, because he thus thought. Yet he made two mistakes: (1) He thought that his many goods could satisfy his ‘soul;' degrading it to the level of materialism; (2) He spoke of ‘many years,' forgetting tha... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:20. BUT GOD SAID UNTO HIM. In contrast with what he had said to himself. God is represented as audibly uttering this judgment, to bring before the man the certainty of approaching death. Often in real life some messenger of death comes to impress the same fact upon those here represented.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:21. SO, thus foolish and destitute, even though the hour of his awaking from the dream of wisdom and wealth has not yet come, IS, not ‘will be,' for a terrible every-day fact is set forth, HE THAT LAYETH UP TREASURE FOR HIMSELF. The folly and sin and real destitution springs from the _selfis... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:22-34. WARNING AGAINST WORLDLY CARE, or lessons of trust in God. These verses were addressed to the disciples (Luke 12:22), and the connection with what precedes is close. THEREFORE, since worldly riches are of so little use, be not anxious; God who cares for your higher life will provide... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:23. THE LIFE IS MORE, etc. ‘You turn it exactly round: food is meant to serve life, but life forsooth serves food; clothes are to serve the body, but the body forsooth must serve the clothing; and so blind is the world that it sees not this,' (Luther.)... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:24. CONSIDER THE RAVENS. Comp. Job 38:41; Psalms 147:9; the thought here is more general, however. The word translated ‘consider' is stronger than that used in the sermon on the Mount; it implies observation and study. ‘In the example borrowed from nature, it is important to mark how all the... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:29. NEITHER BE YE OF DOUBTFUL MIND. The word in the original is derived from ‘meteor,' and is explained by some: do not rise in fancy to high demands, creating imagined necessities, thus making yourselves more ill-contented and more disposed to unbelieving anxiety. Others interpret (as in E.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:32. FEAR NOT. Peculiar to Luke. The fear forbidden, is that which interferes with proper seeking of the kingdom of God (Luke 12:31), including fear about losing earthly things and fear about not obtaining the heavenly riches. Such encouragement was needed by the disciples, who were outwardly... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:33. SELL WHAT YE HAVE, AND GIVE ALMS. Comp. Matthew 6:19-21, but this is stronger. The connection of thought is with Luke 12:17 (‘what shall I do?'), telling how earthly riches should be invested. But there is also a close connection with what precedes: Since God provides for our temporal wa... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:35. LET YOUR LOINS BE GIRDED ABOUT. Unless the long garments of the Orientals were thus girt up, it was impossible to walk or to serve at table. AND YOUR LAMPS BURNING, _i.e.,_ in readiness for the master returning at night. Be in continual readiness to receive the returning Messiah, your... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:35-48. EXHORTATIONS TO WATCHFULNESS. The connection is with Luke 12:32: ‘It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom,' let that free you from anxiety; but let it be the motive to labor and watch for the coming of the King. The passage resembles Matthew 24:42-51, but the close c... [ Continue Reading ]
CONTENTS. A continuation of the discourse. Luke 12:35-48 contain exhortations to _watchfulness;_ the difference between the faithful and unfaithful servant suggests a difficulty in the way of faithfulness (Luke 12:49-53), namely, the antagonism developed in the establishment and progress of Christ's... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:36. WHEN HE WILL RETURN FROM THE MARRIAGE FEAST. The main thought is simply that He is away at a feast, and expected to return. In the parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), the return of the Bridegroom is the main thought. STRAIGHTWAY OPEN UNTO HIM. Because they are ready, and have... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:37. BLESSED, etc. The blessedness of these faithful servants is set forth in a figure. GIRD HIMSELF, to serve them. Comp. John 13:4, which foreshadows the ministering condescension of the master, at His return. SHALL COME FORWARD. A peculiar expression, describing His approach to the gue... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:38. IN THE SECOND WATCH in the third watch (from 9 P.M. to 3 A.M.). The first and fourth watches are not mentioned (as in Mark 13:35). The middle watches are the time of soundest sleep. Even if our Lord delays longer than the servants thought (Luke 12:45), a faithful servant can thus show h... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:39. BUT KNOW THIS, etc. A new figure (of the thief in the right) brings out the unexpected return. See on Matthew 24:43-44.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:41. THIS PARABLE. Of the watchful servants. TO US, OR EVEN TO ALL? The question was probably put in a wrong spirit, with reference to the high reward promised, rather than to the duty enjoined. The early date renders this the more likely. The language is so characteristic of Peter as to fu... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:42-46. See on Matthew 24:45-51, which corresponds exactly. ‘Jesus continues His teaching as if He took no account of Peter's question; but in reality He gives such a turn to the warning which follows about watchfulness, that it includes the precise answer to the question.' (Godet.) Faithfuln... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:47. AND THAT SERVANT WHO KNEW, etc. The verse states a general principle, which serves to explain the severity of the punishment spoken of in Luke 12:46. Peter's distinction (Luke 12:41) between us' and ‘all' corresponds with that between the ‘servant who knew,' and the servant ‘that knew no... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:49. I CAME TO CAST FIRE UPON THE EARTH. This is explained by most, as referring to the gift of the Holy Spirit. This was a baptism (Luke 12:50) with fire, resulting in the ‘division' spoken of in Luke 12:51-53. Others refer it to the word of God. The view that the ‘fire' means the ‘division'... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:49-53. Having shown the awful difference between the faithful and unfaithful servant, and the great responsibility resting upon His disciples, our Lord points out that the difference begins here and is manifested in the antagonism which the establishment of His kingdom develops. While this r... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:50. BUT. Before my wish will be fulfilled. I HAVE A BAPTISM, etc. Our Lord here refers to His own sufferings, and especially to His death. We may find in the figure either a reference to His burial, or to the depth and intensity of His sufferings, when the waters roll over His soul. Before... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:51-53. See on Matthew 10:34-36, which however was probably spoken later than this. DIVISION is equivalent to ‘a sword' (Matthew). This would be the effect of the ‘fire' He would send. His own coming indeed resulted in antagonism, but the gift of the Holy Ghost increased it, and the measure... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:54-59. REPROACH OF THE PEOPLE, for blindness and want of prudence with respect to the signs of the times. The connection with what precedes is close: the discord, as already begun, arises from the fact that the mass of the people do not discern the time. The very turning to the people, after... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:57. AND WHY, etc. A further reproach for want of knowledge of personal duty, which involved great want of prudence (Luke 12:58-59). EVEN OF YOURSELVES. Either independently of their teachers, or independently of the plain signs of the times. WHAT IS RIGHT, namely repentance, as appears f... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:58. FOR AS THOU ART GOING, etc. Act as in such a case; the implied thought being that they were thus going. WITH THINE ADVERSARY. The ‘adversary' is the holy law of God, since ‘what is right' had just been spoken of; in the parallel passage, Matthew 5:25-26, the connection points rather to... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 12:59. THEN SHALT BY NO MEANS COME OUT THENCE. Comp. Matthew 5:26. This figure represents the danger of punishment in view of failure to know and do what is right, and it must have an important and definite meaning. Those who come unreleased before the Judge at the last day, will be punished fo... [ Continue Reading ]