XII.
(1) IN THE MEAN TIME. — More literally, _When the myriads of the
multitude were gathered together._ The words must be taken in
immediate sequence with the close of the previous chapter. The dispute
that had begun in the Pharisee’s house, and had been carried on by
the lawyers and scribes as th... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THERE IS NOTHING COVERED. — More accurately, _but there is
nothing_... The Greek conjunction cannot possibly have the meaning of
“for,” and the latter word suggests a logical connection which is
different from that of the original. What our Lord seems to say is,
“Beware ye of... hypocrisy...; bu... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE WHATSOEVER YE HAVE SPOKEN IN DARKNESS. — See Note on
Matthew 10:27. There is, it will be noted, a difference of the same
character as in the last verse. As recorded in St. Matthew, it is
“What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light.” The
disciples were warned of their responsibilit... [ Continue Reading ]
(4-9) I SAY UNTO YOU MY FRIENDS. — See Notes on Matthew 10:28. The
opening words, however, in their tender sympathy, anticipating the
language of John 15:14, may be noted as peculiar to St. Luke.... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE NOT FIVE SPARROWS SOLD FOR TWO FARTHINGS? — The variation from
St. Matthew’s “two sparrows sold for a farthing,” seems to
reproduce the very bargains of the market-place. The sparrow was of so
little value that the odd bird was thrown in to tempt the purchasers.
Both this difference, and that be... [ Continue Reading ]
ALSO I SAY UNTO YOU. — Again we note another like variation between
St. Matthew’s “before My Father which is in Heaven,” and St.
Luke’s “before the angels of God.”... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHOSOEVER SHALL SPEAK A WORD AGAINST THE SON OF MAN. — See Note
on Matthew 12:32. Here the words which had first been uttered in
connection with the special charge of “casting out devils by
Beelzebub,” seem to be repeated in their more general bearing.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THEY BRING YOU UNTO THE SYNAGOGUES. — See Note on Matthew
10:18. What had been a special promise to the Twelve is now extended
to all whom the Lord calls His friends. Note, as characteristic of St.
Luke’s phraseology, the combination “magistrates” (better,
_principalities,_ or _authorities_... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ONE OF THE COMPANY. — Better, _one of the multitude._ The
request implied a recognition of our Lord’s character as a scribe or
Rabbi, but it was for the purpose of asking Him to assume that office
in its purely secular aspect. As interpreters of the Law, the scribes
were appealed to as advocates... [ Continue Reading ]
MAN, WHO MADE ME A JUDGE...? — This is the only instance of our
Lord’s so addressing one who had come to Him as a questioner. As in
Romans 2:1; Romans 2:3, the form, “O man,” was one which expressed
grave censure and indignation. Was it for this that men came to Him
instead of seeking for the kingdo... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE HEED, AND BEWARE OF COVETOUSNESS. — The better MSS. give, “of
all (_i.e.,_ every form of) -covetousness.” Our Lord’s words show
that He had read the secret of the man’s heart. Greed was there,
with all its subtle temptations, leading the man to think that
“life” was not worth living unless he h... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE THOUGHT WITHIN HIMSELF. — The parable, like that of the Good
Samaritan, is more than a similitude, and reads like an actual
history. There is an almost dramatic vividness in the rich man’s
soliloquy. It was the very “superfluity” of the man’s goods that
became a new cause of anxiety. In such... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL PULL DOWN MY BARNS. — The Greek noun (_apothekè,_ whence our
“apothecary,”) has a somewhat wider meaning, and includes
storehouses or warehouses of all kinds.
ALL MY FRUITS. — Here, too, the Greek word is somewhat wider.
Literally, _produce_ — _i.e._, crops of every kind.... [ Continue Reading ]
EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY. — The words remind us of St. Paul’s
“Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die” (1 Corinthians
15:32), and may possibly have suggested them. There is, however, a
suggestive difference in the context. Extremes meet, and the life of
self-indulgence may spring either from an... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT GOD SAID UNTO HIM. — The bold anthropomorphic language seems
intended to suggest the thought not only that death came suddenly, but
that the man felt that it came from God as the chastisement of his
folly.
THY SOUL SHALL BE REQUIRED. — Literally, _they require thy soul of
thee._ The idiom, as i... [ Continue Reading ]
SO IS HE THAT LAYETH UP TREASURE FOR HIMSELF. — See Note on Matthew
6:19. To be “rich towards God” finds its explanation in the
language, probably suggested by it, which bids us to be “rich in
good works” (1 Timothy 6:18).... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID UNTO HIS DISCIPLES. — The previous words had been spoken
generally to all who needed their warning against greed. What follows
is addressed to those who had already been called to the consciousness
of a higher life.
TAKE NO THOUGHT FOR YOUR LIFE. — Another reproduction, in a distinct
co... [ Continue Reading ]
CONSIDER THE RAVENS. — See Notes on Matthew 6:26. Here, however, we
have the more specific “ravens” instead of the wider “fowls of
the air,” as another example of independence. The choice of the
special illustration was possibly determined by the language of the
Psalmist, “He giveth to the beast his... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE THEN BE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT THING WHICH IS LEAST. — The words
are peculiar to St. Luke’s report. If no amount of anxious care can
add one cubit to our stature or the measure of our days (see Notes on
Matthew 6:27), how much less can we control all the myriad
contingencies upon which the happin... [ Continue Reading ]
(27-31) CONSIDER THE LILIES HOW THEY GROW. — See Notes on Matthew
6:28. There are, however, some noticeable variations, as (1) in Luke
12:27, in the better MSS., _they spin not, they weave not;_ (2) the
use in Luke 12:29 of a new verb, “Neither be ye of doubtful mind.”
The word is not found elsewher... [ Continue Reading ]
FEAR NOT, LITTLE FLOCK. — The words continue to be spoken to the
inner circle of the disciples. They are “_the_ little flock” (the
Greek has the article) to whom the Father was pleased to give the
kingdom which is “righteousness and peace and joy.” There is an
implied recognition of the fact, that t... [ Continue Reading ]
SELL THAT YE HAVE. — In its generalised form the precept is peculiar
to St. Luke, but it has its parallel in the command given to the young
ruler. (See Note on Matthew 19:21.) It was clearly one of the precepts
which his own characteristic tendencies led him to record (see
_Introduction_)_,_ and whi... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS. — See Note on Matthew 6:21.... [ Continue Reading ]
LET YOUR LOINS BE GIRDED... — To “gird up the loins” was, in
Eastern habits and with Eastern garments, the received symbol of
readiness for active service (Luke 12:37; Luke 17:8; 1 Kings 18:46; 2
Kings 1:8; John 13:4; 1 Peter 1:13). The “lights” are the lamps
(as in Matthew 5:15) which the watchful... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL GIRD HIMSELF. — The words give a new significance to the
act of our Lord in John 13:4. Their real fulfilment is to be found, it
need hardly be said, in the far-off completion of the Kingdom, or in
the ever-recurring experiences which are the foretastes of that
Kingdom; but the office which... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF HE SHALL COME IN THE SECOND WATCH. — In Mark 13:35 we have
the Roman four-fold division of the night. (See Note there.) Here we
find the older Jewish division into three watches. (Judges 7:19; 1
Samuel 11:11.)... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THIS KNOW, THAT IF THE GOODMAN OF THE HOUSE... — Better, “if
the _master_ of the house.” See Notes on Matthew 24:43, where the
words are almost identical.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN PETER SAID UNTO HIM. — The motive of Peter’s question is not
given. Interpreted by the like question in Matthew 19:27 (where see
Note), it is natural to suppose that he dwelt, not so much on the last
words of warning, as on the greatness of the promise which is held out
in Luke 12:37. Was that... [ Continue Reading ]
(42-46) WHO THEN IS THAT FAITHFUL AND WISE STEWARD? — See Notes on
Matthew 24:45. Here the words come as an answer to Peter’s question.
The promise was spoken, not for the Twelve only, but for every
faithful and wise steward. The words are as the germ of the parable
which sets forth the wisdom, thou... [ Continue Reading ]
TO BEAT THE MENSERVANTS. — Literally, _the boys,_ but in the sense
which the word had acquired, like the French _garçon,_ as used
generally for servants of any age. Note the more specific terms as
compared with the “fellow-servants” of St. Matthew.... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH THE UNBELIEVERS. — Better, perhaps, in a less technical sense,
_the unfaithful,_ the word affording sharp contrast with the
“faithful and wise steward” of Luke 12:42.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THAT SERVANT, WHICH KNEW HIS LORD’S WILL. — The verses that
follow (Luke 12:47) are peculiar to St. Luke, and every word is full
of profoundest interest. First there comes a warning to the disciples
who knew their Lord’s will, who had been told to watch for His
coming, to prepare themselves and... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT KNEW NOT. — The words manifest the tenderness of a
considerate equity, like that which uttered itself in our Lord’s
words as to Sodom and Tyre and Sidon, in Luke 10:12. Man’s knowledge
is the measure of his responsibilities; and in the absence of
knowledge, more or less complete, though stri... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM COME TO SEND FIRE ON THE EARTH. — There is a strange unique
abruptness in the utterance. We are compelled to assume a pause, a
moment’s thought, as in one whose gaze looks out into the future,
and who at once feels its terrors and yet accepts them. The fire which
He came to send is the fire of... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE A BAPTISM TO BE BAPTIZED WITH. — Here we have a point of
contact with the words spoken to the sons of Zebedee. (See Notes on
Matthew 20:22, and Mark 10:38.) The baptism of which the Lord now
speaks is that of one who is come into deep waters, so that the floods
pass over him, over whose head... [ Continue Reading ]
(51-53) SUPPOSE YE THAT I AM COME TO GIVE PEACE? — See Notes on
Matthew 10:34. The chief variations are “division” for
“sword,” and, in Luke 12:53, the doubled statement of reciprocated
enmity in each relationship.... [ Continue Reading ]
(54-56) WHEN YE SEE A CLOUD RISE OUT OF THE WEST. — See Notes on
Matthew 16:2. The differences in form are, however, noticeable enough
to suggest the impression here also of like teaching at a different
time. In St. Matthew the words come as an answer to the demand for a
sign, here without any such... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WILL BE HEAT. — See Note on Matthew 20:12. The word rendered
“heat” is probably used here as signifying the “burning wind,”
the _simoom,_ which, blowing over the desert, scorched and withered
all that was green and fresh. (Comp. James 1:11, where it is rightly
rendered “burning heat.”)... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW IS IT THAT YE DO NOT DISCERN THIS TIME? — What had been said
before to Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 16:3) is here repeated with
a wider application. It was true of the people, as of their teachers,
that they did not discern the true import of the time, the season, the
crisis in which they fo... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, AND WHY EVEN OF YOURSELVES JUDGE YE NOT WHAT IS RIGHT? —
Better, _judge that which is just._ The meaning of the words is not
that they did not know what was right, but that they did not act upon
their knowledge. They were passing an unrighteous judgment on the
preachers of repentance, on the Ba... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THOU GOEST WITH THINE ADVERSARY.... — Better, with all the
MSS., _For as thou goest...._ The conjunction would seem to have been
omitted by the translators because they did not see the sequence of
thought implied in it. There is, indeed, something at first strangely
abrupt in this reproduction... [ Continue Reading ]
I TELL THEE, THOU SHALT NOT DEPART THENCE... — See Note on Matthew
5:26. St. Luke substitutes the yet smaller coin, the “mite,” or
_half-quadrans_ (see Note on Mark 12:42), for the “farthing” of
St. Matthew.... [ Continue Reading ]