Luke 18
DOYLY— by false accusation.] By giving wrong information against him in respect to the duties payable to the government.
— fourfold.] Not by adding a fifth part, which the law required in case of theft, when the thing stolen was voluntarily restored, Numb. v. 7, nor by restoring double, as when what was taken was found in the trespasser’s hands, Exod. xxii. 4; but by restoring for money and goods what the rigour of the law only required when an ox or a sheep was killed after being stolen. Dr. Whitby.
One particular and eminent fruit of true repentance is the making satisfaction and restitution to those whom we have injured. To God, indeed, we can never make compensation for the injuries we have done to Him by our sins; all that we can do is, to confess our sins to Him, to make acknowledgment of our miscarriages, to be heartily troubled for what we have done, and not to do the like again. But for injuries done to men we may, in many cases, make reparation and satisfaction. And this, as it is one of the best signs and proofs of a true repentance, so is it one of the most proper and genuine effects of it: for this is, as much as in us lies, to undo what we have done, and to unsin our sins. Abp. Tillotson.
— is a son of Abraham.] Acts like a true son of Abraham, and ought to be regarded as one of God’s chosen servants. Bp. Mann.
Luke 18:3
3.—Avenge me of mine adversary.] Administer justice to me against my adversary. Dr. Whitby.
Luke 18:5
5.—because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her.] It is very far from our Lord’s intention, when He describes the unjust conduct of this judge, to recommend his behaviour to the imitation of His followers, or to imply that they should be overcome by mere importunity; but the moral of the parable was, that men should “always pray, and not faint,” because prayer in the end will prevail. Abp. Newcome.
Luke 18:6
6, 7. And the Lord said, Hear &c.] Jesus said, (applying the parable,) If an unjust and unmerciful man could not forbear being prevailed upon by the importunity of a poor despised woman, to do justice, contrary to his inclinations and passions; how much more will the just and merciful God, the righteous Judge of the world, certainly be moved by the earnest and continual prayers of His faithful and beloved servants, to vindicate them from the unjust oppressions and cruelty of their adversaries, though perhaps He does not answer their petitions immediately. Dr. S. Clarke.
- And he made haste.] By the great joy and eagerness which he displayed, he shewed what high esteem he had for that holy Jesus, whom the Scribes and Pharisees despised. Dr. Whitby.
Luke 18:7
7.—his own elect.] Christians chosen out of the world through faith in Christ, to be the Church and people of God. Dr. Whitby.
Luke 18:8
8.—shall he find faith on the earth?] How few will He find, who, by faith and patience, and perseverance
in welldoing, will appear worthy to be rescued and delivered by Him! Dr. S. Clarke. Or, shall He find a belief that He will come and execute vengeance on the Jews? The Christians, pressed with continual sufferings, began to grow weary in their minds, insomuch that many parts of the Epistles addressed to them, are manifestly intended to keep them stedfast in the faith. Dr. Whitby.
- — the half of my goods I give to the poor:] I now resolve to give to the poor, &c. He shews the sincerity of his reformation and conversion, by devoting so large a portion of his possessions to charitable purposes, and by his readiness to repair any injury he had
Anne DOMINI 33. The parable of the ten pieces of money. Anno DOMINI 33. any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
Luke 18:9
- — This day is salvation &c.] This day is this family received into the gracious covenant of mercy and salvation, and to a share in all the promises made by God to His peculiar people. For this man, by repentance, faith, and renewed obedience, is become truly and properly a son of Abraham, to all the purposes of religion and happiness. It is probable that Zaccheus was
Luke 18:10
- For the Son of man &c.] For a principal design of My coming into the world is to reclaim such persons as these from the ways of sin and misery, to repentance and obedience, and the hopes of eternal life. Dr. S. Clarke.
Luke 18:11
- The Pharisee stood and prayed] The Jews used to pray standing. See note at Matt. vi. 5. Under the term praying they included thanksgiving. The Pharisee probably stood in the court of the Israelites, the publican in that of the Gentiles. Grotins.
—God, I thank thee that I am not &c.] How insolent and boasting is this style: even the thanks, which he would seem to offer up, bespeak sufficiency and self-satisfaction, and do not so much render praise to God, as they proclaim his own merit. Dean Stanhope.
—or even as this publican.] What right had he to come before God with accusations in his mouth against other men; perhaps injurious and false, most certainly foreign and impertinent? The sins or failings of other men were no concern of his in his prayers: but self-accusation or self-humiliation, should rather have come from him in addressing an offended God. He dwelt only on his own imaginary perfections, and threw a vail over his sins. His self-flattery prompted him to magnify his own services, taking a false estimate of himself from an ill-natured comparison, which could serve only to deceive him, not in the least to justify him. For, what if others were really worse than he, in some respects; how would it follow that he was better than they upon the whole; still less, that he had any just pretence for boasting before God? Dr. Waterland.
- — because he was nigh to Jerusalem.] Being now not far from Jerusalem, the royal city of the Jews, His disciples thought that life would immediately take upon Him the regal authority, chap. xvii. 20. Dr. Hammond.
Luke 18:12
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I fast twice] The Jewish days of fasting in every week were the second and fifth days of the week, answering to our Monday and Thursday. Bp. Pearce. He says, I observe the law in its utmost rigour; nay, I even go beyond it; keeping two fasts in the week, for which I have only tradition, and paying tithe even of mint, anise, and cummin, (Matt. xxiii. 23,) the claim upon which was doubted. Dean Stanhope.
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— A certain nobleman &c.] The nobleman here represents Christ the Son of God, who, leaving heaven, travels “to a far country,” this world, in order to receive a spiritual kingdom from His Father; and then, after His resurrection, to return to heaven. The “ten servants,” among whom He distributed the sum of money to be put out to interest against His return, represent the Apostles and preachers of the Gospel. “His citizens, who hated Him” and rejected Him for their King, are the Jewish and other apostate nations. On His second appearance in glory He will reward or punish His servants according to their deserts, and will destroy His enemies. This awful prophecy, which was necessarily veiled in a parable, not then to be understood, began to be fulfilled at the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, and will be concluded in “the days of vengeance,” destined to precede His next approaching appearance. Dr. Hales.
— to receive for himself a kingdom.] It appears that our Saviour took the foundation of this parable from the custom, which was familiar in those days, that the kings of Judea, and other countries subject to the Roman power, usually went to Rome to have the kingdom confirmed to them by the Roman emperor, without whose permission and appointment they dared not take the government into their hands. This had occurred, in regard to Judea, in the case of Herod the Great, and of his son Archelaus. Dr. Whitby.
Luke 18:13
- And the publican, standing afar off, &c.] The publican, in all his expressions, in all his deportment, speaks nothing but shame and confusion, the most tender contrition, and most profound humility. He “stands
Children brought to Christ. Christ sheweth the danger of riches. Anno DOMINI 33. off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. b Matt. 23.17.
- — Occupy till I come.] Trade with it till I return. Dr. S. Clarke.
Anno DOMINI 33. || Mine, here translated a pound, is twelve ounces and an half, which he could not give to five shillings the ounce is three pounds two shillings and six pence.
Luke 18:14
- — justified] Pardoned and approved by God. Dr. Whitby. More acceptable in the sight of God. Dr. Hammond. The publican’s humility before God and man, though joined with an irregular life, was what gave him the preference in our Lord’s esteem; not that he could be justified in a loose course of life, but he was in a nearer way to the favour of God than the proud Pharisee, because nearer to repentance and reformation. This person durst not presume so much as to look up towards heaven, conscious of his own vileness: there was modesty; there was remorse and profound reverence to God, whom he had offended: he had no claims to make, no services to boast of, at least not before God, yet he cast not away all hopes of favour, while he smote upon his breast, and said, “God be merciful to me a sinner;” merciful, first, to give him grace to amend his life, and next to pardon all his offences duly repented of. Dr. Waterland. — for every one that exalteth himself &c.] The true instruction to be derived from this parable is, that, however men may mistake themselves or one another, God always has respect unto the lowly, but beholds the proud afar off; that no past offences, however heinous, however numerous, however inveterate and habitual, will shut out from His pardon any sinner, who humbly bewails and heartily forsakes them: that it behoves us to take especial heed lest even the most solemn duties of religion be abused by us and turned against us; and that he only attends on these as he ought, who really mortifies his vanity and his passions, and brings himself to be more humble, more charitable, more sensible of his own failings, and less severe upon those of others: lastly, that the proper method of the sinner’s applying for mercy and grace (and all of us are sinners) is, not arrogantly to thank God that we are not as other men are; but, as our Church has directed us, meekly to acknowledge our vileness, and truly to repent us of our faults. Dean Stanhope. Every one that exalteth himself will be abased by his own vanity, which blinds those whom it infects, and draws them into many errors and indiscretions pernicious to their worldly interest. He will be abased by men, who detest overbearing insolence, and seldom miss any fair opportunity of humbling such vain-glorious persons. He will be abased in the sight of God, who is constantly represented in Scripture as abhorring the proud; for pride of every kind is a direct offence against God; it is to forget, or practically to deny, that we receive every thing from Him; all the advantages of body, mind, birth, reputation, and fortunes, which we possess. Dr. Jortis.
Luke 18:18
- And a certain ruler &c.] Respecting this transaction, see notes at Matt. xix. 16—22.
He restoreth to sight a blind man. CHAP. XVIII, XIX. He visiteth Zaccheus the publican.
Anne DOMINI 32.
Luke 18:30
- — manifold more in this present time.] From the joys of a good conscience, the comforts of the Holy Spirit, the sense of God’s favour, the affections of other pious Christians, and the hope of everlasting treasures in heaven. Dr. Whitby.
Luke 18:32
- For he shall be delivered &c.] See notes at Matt. xx. 19.
Luke 18:34
- — they understood none of these things:] They knew not how to reconcile what He said with their apprehensions of His temporal kingdom, and their traditions that the Messiah should not die, John xii. 34. Dr. Whitby.
Luke 18:35
- — a certain blind man] See notes at Matt. xx. 30; Mark x. 46. Chap. XIX. ver. 4. — a sycomore tree] The syco-