Luke 12

Chap. XIII. ver. 1.—of the Galileans, whose blood &c.] Who these Galileans were, is uncertain. It may be inferred from the expressions, that Pilate surprised them as they were offering sacrifices, fell upon them suddenly, and slew them. It is probable that they were the followers of Judas of Galilee, (Acts v. 37,) who taught the people that they were to acknowledge the Lord only as their king, and were not to pay tribute to Cesar, and thus spread sedition against the Roman government. Drs. Whitby, Hammond, and S. Clarke.

It seems that the slaughter of these Galileans, while they were performing the solemn offices of their religion, was thought to have the appearance of something extraordinary, different from common providences, and so gave occasion to a suspicion that the dreadful usage they had experienced was a judgment of God upon them for some great impieties. But our blessed Lord, having more humanity as well as a more true and exact judgment of things, took occasion to reprove their uncharitableness, and to correct their gross mistakes. He does not indeed deny that the Galileans were sinners, or that their sufferings were brought upon them for their sins: but He condemns those that censured them, yet more hardly for their groundless and ill-natured conclusion, that the suffering Galileans had been sinners above all the Galileans: and He further tacitly reproves their fond and partial conceits in their own favour, as if they were comparatively innocent and righteous, only because no such calamity had as yet befallen them. Dr. Waterland.

Luke 12:2

2.—Suppose ye that these Galileans &c.] Our Saviour here instructs His hearers not to judge harshly of those who suffer by the common accidents and misfortunes of life; but to let such examples teach them to amend their own lives, knowing how fearful a thing it is to die

Luke 12:4

4. — Be not afraid of them that kill the body, &c.] The expression has a comparative sense; Fear not men so much as God; fear Him infinitely more. It is very lawful for us to fear men, and to stand in awe of their power: but, when the power of man comes in competition with Omnipotency, and when what man can do to the body in this world is compared with what God can do to the body and soul in the other, there is no comparison between the terrour of the one and the other. Abp. Tillotson.

He commands His disciples to subdue the slavish fear of mortal men, which they are too apt to entertain, by opposing to it a stronger and a juster fear, a fear of that all-seeing and almighty Being, from whose presence we cannot flee, and from whose power even the grave cannot shelter us, and who can make death be to us, not the end, but the beginning of woe. Dr. Jortin.

Luke 12:6

6. — five sparrows &c.] It is thought that sparrows were the birds used in the temple for cleansing the lepers, Lev. xiv. 4; and therefore sold for that purpose. Dr. Lightfoot.

— not one of them is forgotten before God? If the meanest and most inconsiderable creatures be thus under the Divine protection, let us hence observe, that every act of cruelty towards any of them, and more especially towards such animals as are serviceable to man, must be highly displeasing to the Almighty, who

We must not be over careful of earthly things. Anno DOMINI 33.

saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

Luke 12:8

8. — shall confess me] Shall persevere resolutely in the profession and practice of the truth, notwithstanding the terrours of persecution. Dr. S. Clarke.

— before the angels of God:] When He shall come to judgment, attended by the holy angels, Mark viii. 38.

Bp. Mann.

Luke 12:14

14. — who made me a judge or a divider &c.] His meaning is, I was sent as a teacher of truth; I have no authority (not being a judge or magistrate) to decide quarrels, which is the office of those legally appointed to it.

Luke 12:15

15. And he said unto them, Take heed, &c.] From the incident just related, our Saviour takes occasion to warn His disciples and all the people of the evil of covetousness: Take heed that ye set not your heart on riches, as your principal source of happiness; for they are so far from being really such, that, on the contrary, the true enjoyment and comfort of life does not at all depend on a man’s having many and great possessions. For the illustration of this truth, He addressed to them the parable which follows. Dr. S. Clarke.

Luke 12:16

16. — The ground of a certain rich man &c.] The purport of this parable is to shew that wealth is no security to its possessors; that it is folly to pretend to arm ourselves against the accidents or casualties of life by heaping up treasures, for nothing can protect us against them, but the good providence and care of our heavenly Father. In this point all the circumstances of the parable meet; the rich man is represented as flowing in plenty; this plenty made him forget God, and vainly imagine that he had a security in his own hands against all the calamities of life. His riches made him promise himself many happy days and years, but God reproves him for his folly, and checks him in his presumptuous security. Bp. Sherlock.

commands them, when they are teaching others, to speak not for the applause of men, to conceal none of the things in which they were instructed, whether acceptable to men or not, but with courage and constancy to proclaim His doctrine; and to preach from henceforward in the most public places, and proclaim openly to all the world what they had hitherto learned and discoursed only privately among themselves. Dr. S. Clarke. “In darkness;” that is, in private: “In the light;” that is, in publick. Bp. Pearce.

Luke 12:20

20. But God said unto him, &c.] But now, said Jesus, mark the event, and observe the extreme folly of this man, and how fatally he deceived himself. For at the very instant that he was applauding himself in his own mind, promising himself much pleasure, and calling himself a happy man, God suddenly struck him with a mortal disease, and all his contrivances perished in a moment. Dr. S. Clarke.

— Thou fool, this night &c.] The truth suggested by these words lies level to every capacity; that the impenitent sinner is liable to be surprised by death every day, every hour, every moment, and in a thousand different ways. And then what becomes of this unhappy man? If under a danger of this nature he can be easy, careless, cheerful, in good humour, and given up to mirth and joy, what name can be bestowed on this indolent security? None will suit it, except folly or frenzy. Dr. Jortin.

Luke 12:21

21. So is he &c.] This is directly the case of every man who never thinks of employing the plenty which he possesses to the relief of the poor, or otherwise to the service of God. Dr. Hammond. See Prov. xix. 17. Who is anxious about the things of this life, and neglects to provide for eternity. Bp. Mann.

Luke 12:22

22. — Take no thought] Be not anxious. See note at Matt. vi. 25.

Luke 12:29

29.—neither be ye of doubtful mind.] Indulge not an anxious unsettled temper. Bp. Mann. The expression seems to denote a distracting unstable fluctuation of the

Luke 12:32

32. Fear not, little flock; for &c.] “Little flock;” an expression of tenderness. Dr. Campbell. Blessed and thrice happy are that little flock, that have such a Father, who will give them such a kingdom as is here promised, an everlasting kingdom in the heavens. What need they fear, if all the kingdoms of the earth be destroyed? Their almighty Father hath promised that He will give them this eternal kingdom, and therefore they may be certain that nothing can keep them from it, nothing can happen that will not help to bring them nearer to it. And what are all the kingdoms of the world, compared to that? Bp. Beveridge.

Luke 12:33

33. Sell that ye have, &c.] That is, Be ever ready so to do, when God calls, and the exigencies of Christ’s members require it. Dr. Whitby.

— bags which wax not old.] With what satisfaction does the good man look over into the other world, where he has provided for himself “bags which wax not old!” For, though our wealth will not follow us beyond the grave, our good works will; works of mercy and charity will comfort us at the hour of death, and plead for us at the day of judgment, and procure for us, through the merits of our Redeemer, at the hands of God, a glorious recompense at the resurrection of the just. Bp. Tillotson.

Anno DOMINI 33. Or, line not in careful response. Matt. 6. 26. Christ’s ministers are to see to their charge. Anno DOMINI 33.

Luke 12:35

35. Let your loins be girded about.] The Jews wore loose garments, which they were obliged to gird about them when they were preparing for any business. Our blessed Lord means, that we should be prepared and ready to receive Him at His coming to judgment; as diligent servants are when they wait to receive their master, at whatsoever hour he may come. Bp. Mann.

Luke 12:37

37. Blessed are those servants, &c.] Assuredly, I tell you, as an earthly master rewards such faithful and diligent servants with great honour and preferment in his family, so Christ shall reward the watchfulness of those disciples with a peculiar share of His own honour and glory in His kingdom, whom He shall find at all times prepared to receive Him when He comes. Dr. S. Clarke.

Vigilance is most frequently enjoined upon Christians, and comprehends under it the whole care of a Christian life; all that watchfulness and preparation which we ought to use, that we be not surprised by that terrible day of judgment; that we be not found in the condition of alothful and negligent servants, when their lord comes suddenly upon them, and finds all things in confusion and disorder. Abp. Tillotson.

— shall gird himself, &c.] The expression alludes to the honours paid to guests at a marriage feast, and implies, that, as a reward to the diligence of the servants, the bridegroom will entertain them, place them at his table, and wait on them himself. Dr. Hammond.

Luke 12:38

38. — in the second—or—third watch.] At midnight, or at three in the morning.

Luke 12:39

39. — the good man of the house] The master of the house. See note at Prov. vii. 19.

Luke 12:42

42. — Who then is that faithful &c.] Our Saviour answers, I speak to every faithful and wise servant, who wishes to recommend himself to his master’s favour. Bp. Mann.

— to give them their portion of meat] The highest office in the family was to distribute to the other servants their respective daily allowance. Bp. Mann.

Luke 12:46

46. — cut him in sunder.] See note at Matt. xxiv. 51.

Luke 12:47

47, 48. And that servant, which knew &c.] Our Saviour here affirms, that, according to the degree of knowledge which God has afforded to men, so will their crimes receive aggravation of guilt, and be visited with increase of punishment. And the more light and grace He bestows on any, the greater and more perfect Christian performances He will require of them. Dr. Hammond.

Luke 12:48

48. — unto whomsoever much is given, of him &c.] When we come into the other world, no consideration will sting us more than this, that we did wickedly, when we understood to do better; that we chose to make ourselves miserable, when we knew so well the way to make ourselves happy. Abp. Tillotson.

Luke 12:49

49. I am come to send fire &c.] See Matt. x. 34. I am come to publish that doctrine which will kindle great contentions in the world; yet so profitable is it to the world, that I wish it had already taken place, although attended with this disagreeable consequence. “What will I, if it be;” a phrase that signifies, I wish that it were, &c. Dr. Whitby, Bp. Pearce.

Anno DOMINI 33.

Luke 12:60

60.—I have a baptism] See note at Matt. xx. 22. I Myself must undergo the first effects of the persecution which will ensue, in suffering a cruel and ignominious death: and I am uneasy and straitened in My own mind with an earnest desire of having this great work finished. Dr. S. Clarke.

Luke 12:66

66.—ye do not discern this time?] Ye do not, from the predictions of the ancient Prophets, and from the present circumstances of things compared together, know the times and Person of the Messiah? Dr. S. Clarke.

Luke 12:67

67. Yes, and why even of yourselves &c.] Nay, though ye had none of these tokens to assist and direct you, why can ye not, even from your own consciences, and by the reason and equity of things, learn to judge what is fit and right? Dr. S. Clarke.

Luke 12:68

68. When thou goest with thine &c.] As when you see a legal action coming against you, in which you will certainly be cast, you set yourselves presently to reconcile the adversary; so now endeavour to make your peace with God by repentance, and to escape the danger of His wrath? Dr. Hammond.

Luke 12:69

69. I tell thee, thou shalt not depart &c.] As it is too late for a man to escape punishment when sentence is passed upon him, so will it be with those who die in a state of impenitence. Sentence will then be past, and it will be impossible to escape. Trust not then to the deceitful inventions of those who pretend to have power to control and set aside the just judgment of God; but repent in time, as the only way to avoid the Divine wrath. Bp. Mann.