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William Burkitt's Expository Notes

Luke 6:39

Our Saviour doubtless applied these words to the scribes and Pharisees, the Jewish leaders, doctors, and teachers, who being ignorant of the spiritual sense of the law, (interpreting it only to the restraining of the outward man,) were very unfit to instruct and lead others; for where one blind man leads another, both are in danger of the ditch; that is to run into ruin and destruction.

Learn, 1. That ignorant, erroneous, or unfaithful ministers, are the greatest plague, and sorest punishment, that can befall. people.

2. That Christ having forewarned us of such guides, to follow them will be an inexcusable sin and folly, and never free us from the danger of destruction, but rather be an aggravation of our condemnation: If the blind follow the blind, both will, inevitably yet inexcusably, fall into the ditch.

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See also Luke 6:39 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 39. _CAN THE BLIND LEAD THE BLIND?_] This appears to have been a general proverb, and to signify that a man cannot teach what he does not understand. This is strictly true in spiritual matters....

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    See this passage fully illustrated in the sermon on the mount, in Matt. 5–7. Luke 6:21 THAT HUNGER NOW - Matthew has it, “that hunger and thirst after righteousness.” Matthew has expressed more full...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 6 _ 1. The Son of Man the Lord of the Sabbath. (Luke 6:1)_ 2. The Man with the Withered Hand Healed. (Luke 6:6) 3. The Twelve Apostles Chosen. (Luke 6:12) 4. Blessing and Woe. ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    THE SERMON ON THE LEVEL PLACE. This is much briefer than Matthew 5-7. The sections in Mt. that illustrate the fulfilment of the Law are omitted; more stress is laid on love and mercy. Other parallels...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    AGAINST JUDGING (Matthew 7:1 *). Lk. skips Matthew 6 and connects these sayings with love of enemies. It is not clear whether the reference is to law-courts or to general behaviour. Note the different...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE INCREASING OPPOSITION (Luke 6:1-5)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    Jesus spoke a parable to them: "Surely a blind man cannot lead a blind man? If he tries to do so will not both fall into the ditch? The disciple cannot advance beyond his teacher, but every disciple w...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    CAN THE BLIND... ?. Is. blind [man] able to lea,. blind [man]? SHALL. will....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    39-45. Sincerity. Four Comparisons. 39. _Can the blind lead the blind?_ Matthew 15:14; Proverbs 19:27, "Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err." St Paul taunts the Jew with profess...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    SINCERITY. FOUR COMPARISONS...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΜΉΤΙ ΔΎΝΑΤΑΙ ΤΥΦΛῸΣ ΤΥΦΛῸΝ ὉΔΗΓΕΙ͂Ν; Matthew 15:14; Proverbs 19:27, “Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err.” St Paul taunts the Jew with professing to be “a guide of the blind,” R...

  • Catena Aurea Commentary

    Ver 39. And he spoke a parable to them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? 40. The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his m...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

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  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 1496 THE BLIND LEADING THE BLIND Luke 6:39. _And he spake a parable unto them; Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? _ IGNORANCE is, in itself, more excusa...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    BUTLER'S COMMENTS SECTION 4 Magnanimous (Luke 6:27-45) 27 But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29T...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    APPLEBURY'S COMMENTS _Four Concise Statements Scripture_ Luke 6:39-45 And he spake also a parable unto them, Can the blind guide the blind? shall they not both fall into a pit? 40 The disciple is not...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? AND HE SPAKE A PARABLE UNTO THEM: CAN THE BLIND LEAD THE BLIND? SHALL THEY NOT BOTH FALL IN...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    32-36 Compare Mat_5:44-48. 35 We have here the substance of the new covenant which the Lord will make with Israel when He restores them to their land and to His favor (Jer_31:27-34). After those days,...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    CHOICE OF THE TWELVE. SERMON IN THE PLAIN 1-5. Plucking the ears of corn (Matthew 12:1; Mark 2:23). See on Mt and Mk....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    GREAT SERMON TO THE DISCIPLES AND IN PART TO THE MULTITUDES. It forms here the ordination address of the Twelve. In what sense it is identical with the Sermon on the Mount is explained on Matthew 5:1....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    St. Matthew gives this saying in a much more suitable connexion (Matthew 15:14), where it is applied to the Pharisees. Here it appears to mean that before judging others we must judge ourselves, other...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

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  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    AND HE SPAKE A PARABLE UNTO THEM. — The verse is noticeable (1) as causing a break in the discourse which has no parallel in the Sermon on the Mount; (2) as giving an example of the wider sense of the...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 15 THE KINGDOM OF GOD. IN considering the words of Jesus, if we may not be able to measure their depth or to scale their height, we can with absolute certainty discover their drift, and see i...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    _Proverbial lore_....

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    εἶπε δὲ : the Speaker is represented here as making a new beginning, the connection of thought not being apparent. Grotius says plainly that there is no connection, and that Lk. has deemed it fitting...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    _The Sermon_ (Matthew 5-7). That it is the same sermon as Mt. reports in Chapter s 5 7 may be regarded as beyond discussion. How, while the same, they came to be so different, is a question not quite...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE TEST THAT REVEALS CHARACTER Luke 6:39-49 Yes, it is true! Some day we shall be perfected. The long discipline will be over, and we shall be able to close our lesson books and go home. We shall t...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    In a synagogue our Lord healed the man with a withered hand, and the religious watchers were filled with anger because, according to their view, our Lord had desecrated the Sabbath. Surely, there is n...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (7) And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? (7) Unskillful reprehenders hurt both themselves and others: for as the teacher is, so is...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    CHAPTER 20 CRITICISM Luke 6:37; Matthew 7:1. _“Criticize not, in order that you may not be criticized; for with whatsoever criticism you criticize, you shall be criticized; and with whatsoever measur...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    CHAPTER 16 SERMON ON THE MOUNT Matthew 5-7, and Luke 6:20-49. A few days ago it was my privilege to spend two beautiful bright days at the sea of Galilee, sailing over it, and visiting the places of...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    5 _th. Love, the principle of all beneficent moral action on the world: Luke 6:37-45_. The disciples of Jesus are not only called to practise what is good themselves; they are charged to make it preva...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    2 _d. Luke 6:20-49_. _The Sermon._ The aim, prevailing thought, and plan of this discourse have been understood in many different ways. The solution of these questions is rendered more difficult by th...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    THIRD CYCLE: FROM THE ELECTION OF THE TWELVE TO THEIR FIRST MISSION, LUKE 6:12 TO LUKE 8:56. In the following section we shall see the Galilean ministry reach its zenith; it begins with the institutio...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    VERS. 39 AND 40. “ _And He spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? Shall they not both fall into the ditch?_ 40. _The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect s...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (20) And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor; for your's is the kingdom of God. (21) Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep n...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The preface of Luke's gospel is as instructive as the introduction of either of the two preceding gospels. It is obvious to any serious reader that we enter a totally different province, though all be...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _DIVINE PRECEPTS_ ‘Be ye therefore merciful.… Judge not; … Condemn not.… Give.… Cast out first the beam.’ Luke 6:36 Our Lord dwells here on _ what we are to do_, not _ what we are to believe_ (John...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    Luke 6:39._And he spake to them a parable. _Luke relates this saying without mentioning any occurrence, but states generally, that Christ made use of this _parable; _as in recording many of Christ’s d...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    The circumstances related in Luke 6:1-10 have reference to the same truth, and in an important aspect. The sabbath was the sign of the covenant between Israel and God rest after finished works. The Ph...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND HE SPAKE A PARABLE UNTO THEM,.... The Vulgate Latin reads, "he spake also a parable unto them"; besides what he said; and the Arabic version renders it, "another similitude", parable, or proverb,...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? Ver. 39. See Matthew 15:14 ....

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _And he spake a parable_, &c. Our Lord sometimes used parables, when he know plain and open declarations would too much inflame the passions of his hearers. It is for this reason that he uses this par...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    BLESSED BE YE POOR; for the meaning of these beatitudes and their opposite woes, ver Luke 6:20-26, see notes on the beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12. See sermon on mount. Matthew 5:39-48;...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    AND HE SPAKE A PARABLE UNTO THEM, CAN THE BLIND LEAD THE BLIND? SHALL THEY NOT BOTH FALL INTO THE DITCH?...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Parabolic sayings:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

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  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

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  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    By A PARABLE here is to be understood a proverbial saying, which hath some darkness in it, as being brought to express or signify more than the words naturally do express. Proverbial speeches are appl...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Tertullian Against Marcion Book IV Let the Marcionites therefore make their choice: Will it not be just the same inconsistency to desert the prescription of their master, as to have Christ teaching i...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Luke 6:39 And G1161 spoke G2036 (G5627) parable G3850 them G846 G3385 Can G1410 (G5736) blind...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    JESUS PROCLAIMS THE NEW LAW OF THE KINGLY RULE OF GOD (6:20-49). Like Matthew 5-7 this ‘sermon' or ‘address' is carefully put together and patterned, but, in spite of similarities, we would be mistake...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE GENEROSITY THAT SHOULD RESULT FROM THIS KIND OF LOVE AND THE ASSURANCE OF GOD'S RECIPROCAL GENEROSITY (6:38-40). q Give, and it shall be given to you (Luke 6:38 a), r Good measure, pressed down,...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And he spoke also a proverb (parable) to them,' THE IMPORTANCE OF FINDING THE RIGHT TEACHER AND RESPONDING TO HIM (6:39B-40). ‘And he spoke also a proverb (or ‘a parable' - that is, ‘parabolically'...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    S Can the blind guide the blind? (Luke 6:39 a). t Shall they not both fall into a pit? (Luke 6:39 b). u The disciple is not above his teacher (Luke 6:40 a), v But every one, when he is perfected, sh...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    DISTINGUISHING THE GENUINE FROM THE FAKE (6:39-49)....

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Luke 6:39. AND HE SPAKE ALSO A PARABLE TO THEM. This indicates plainly that the connection with what precedes is broken off. Luke 6:39-40 are not found in Matthew's report of the sermon on the mount,...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    ON THE PLAN of the Sermon on the Mount, see the Chapter comments on Matthew 5. The subject both here and in Matthew is the state and duties of a citizen of the kingdom of heaven. Van Oosterzee gives t...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    ALSO A PARABLE (κα παραβολην). Plummer thinks that the second half of the sermon begins here as indicated by Luke's insertion of "And he spake (ειπεν δε) at this point. Luke has the word parable som...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Jesus and the Sabbath. Healing of a withered hand. Choosing of the twelve. Sermon on the Mount. Parable of the house built on a rock. CHARACTERS: God, Jesus, disciples, Pharisees, David, ma...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Luke 6:1. _On the second sabbath after the first._ The Hebrew law is, Leviticus 23:11, on the morrow after the sabbath, the priest shall wave the sheaf east and west, north and south, to denote the un...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    ONE BLIND MAN CANNOT LEAD ANOTHER ONE. See note on Matthew 15:14....

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Can the blind lead the blind?_ Shall they not both fall into the ditch? The suggestive supposition is made by Dr. Reid (“Inquiry into the human mind”) that it had been as uncommon to be born with t...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 6:39 The PARABLE speaks of being BLIND to one’s own faults while judging others (compare Romans 2:19)....

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 6:12 Jesus appoints 12 apostles, then gives extended teaching to a large group of disciples, including what is often called the “Sermon on the Plain” (vv. Luke 6:20; compare the “Ser...

  • The Gospels Compared

    JESUS TEACHES ABOUT CRITICIZING OTHERS MATTHEW 7:1-6; LUKE 6:37-42; MATTHEW 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not b

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    CHAPTER 6 VER. 1. _And it came to pass on the second Sabbath after the first._ On the second Sabbath. The Arabic version. What was this Sabbath? 1. The eighth day of unleavened bread or the last day...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL NOTES_ Luke 6:20.—Though various opinions have been held on the subject, the balance of probabilities seems in favour of the supposition that the discourse commonly known as the Sermon on th...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION LUKE 6:1 _The Lord_'_s teaching on the question of the observance of the sabbath._ LUKE 6:1 AND IT CAME TO PASS ON THE SECOND SABBATH AFTER THE FIRST. The expression accompanying this n...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now it came to pass on the second Sabbath (Luke 6:1) Now He is going to deal with a couple of instances on the Sabbath day. We've been introduced now to the Pharisees; they're beginning to really get...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Timothy 6:3; 2 Timothy 3:13; Isaiah 56:10; Isaiah 9:16; Jeremia

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Can the blind [μ η τ ι δ υ ν α τ α ι τ υ φ λ ο ς] ? The interrogative particle expects a negative reply. Surely the blind cannot, etc. Lead [ο δ η γ ε ι ν]. Better, guide, as Rev., since the word com...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    He spake a parable — Our Lord sometimes used parables when he knew plain and open declarations would too much inflame the passions of his hearers. It is for this reason he uses this parable, Can the b...

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Old Testament