Luke Chapter 12

From The Open Bible Project

12:1 Meanwhile, when a multitude of many thousands had gathered together, so much so that they trampled on each other, he began to tell his disciples first of all, "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

• (1) The faithful teachers of God’s word, who are appointed by him for his people, must both take good heed of those who corrupt the purity of doctrine with smooth speech, and also take pains through the help of God to set forth sincere doctrine, openly and without fear.
• (a) Literally, "ten thousand of people", a certain number which is given for an uncertain number.

12:2 But there is nothing covered up, that will not be revealed, nor hidden, that will not be known.

12:3 Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light. What you have spoken in the ear in the inner chambers will be proclaimed on the housetops.

12:4 "I tell you, my friends, don't be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

• (2) Although hypocrites have princes to execute their cruelty, yet there is no reason why we should be afraid of them, even by the smallest amount that may be, seeing that they can do nothing except that which pleases God, and God does not will anything that may be against the salvation of his elect.

12:5 But I will warn you whom you should fear. Fear him, who after he has killed, has power to cast into [29] Gehenna. [See Luke Footnotes 29] Yes, I tell you, fear him.

• (b) He warns them of dangers that presently hang over their heads, for those that come upon one suddenly make a greater wound.

12:6 "Aren't five sparrows sold for two [30] assaria coins [See Luke Footnotes 30]? Not one of them is forgotten by God.

12:7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore don't be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.

12:8 "I tell you, everyone who confesses me before men, him will the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God;

• (3) Great is the reward of a constant confession: and horrible is the punishment for denying Christ; yea, it will be impossible to call the punishment back again, if on purpose, both with mouth and heart we blaspheme a known truth.

12:9 but he who denies me in the presence of men will be denied in the presence of the angels of God.

12:10 Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

12:11 When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, don't be anxious how or what you will answer, or what you will say;

• (4) It is a great and difficult conflict to confess the truth, yet God who can do all things and is almighty will provide strength to the weakest who struggle greatly and do battle in God’s appointed time.

12:12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour what you must say."

12:13 One of the multitude said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."

• (5) For three reasons Christ would not be a judge to divide an inheritance. First, because he would not support and uphold the fleshly opinion that the Jews had of Messiah: secondly, because he wanted to distinguish the civil government from the ecclesiastical: thirdly, to teach us to beware of those which abuse the show of the gospel, and also the name of ministers, for their own private well-being.

12:14 But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?"

12:15 He said to them, "Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man's life doesn't consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses."

• (c) By covetousness is meant that greedy desire to get, commonly causing hurt to other men.
• (d) God is the author and preserver of man’s life; goods are not.

12:16 He spoke a parable to them, saying, "The ground of a certain rich man brought forth abundantly.

• (6) There are none more mad than rich men who depend upon their riches.
• (e) Or rather country, for here is set forth a man that possesses not only a piece of ground, but a whole country, as they do who join house to house, and field to field; (Isaiah 5:8).

12:17 He reasoned within himself, saying, 'What will I do, because I don't have room to store my crops?'

• (f) Reckoned with himself, which is the characteristic of covetous surly men who spend their life in those trifles.

12:18 He said, 'This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.

12:19 I will tell my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, be merry."'

• (g) Be merry and make good cheer.

12:20 "But God said to him, 'You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared--whose will they be?'

12:21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

• (h) Caring for no man but for himself, and making sure to trust in himself.

12:22 He said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, don't be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear.

• (7) Earnestly thinking upon the providence of God is a present remedy for this life against the most foolish and wasting worry of men.

12:23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.

12:24 Consider the ravens: they don't sow, they don't reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds!

12:25 Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height?

12:26 If then you aren't able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest?

12:27 Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

12:28 But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith?

12:29 Don't seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious.

• (i) A metaphor taken of things that hang in the air, for those that care too much for this worldly life, and rely upon the arm of man, always have wavering and doubtful minds, swaying sometimes this way, and sometimes that way.

12:30 For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things.

12:31 But seek God's Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.

• (8) They will lack nothing who are diligent for the kingdom of heaven.

12:32 Don't be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.

• (9) It is a foolish thing not to look for small things at the hands of him who freely gives us the greatest things.

12:33 Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don't grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn't fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth destroys.

• (10) A godly bountifulness is a proper way to get true riches.
• (k) This is the figure of speech metonymy, for by this word "alms" is meant that compassion and friendliness of a heart that cares tenderly for the misery and poor condition of a man, and shows this feeling by some gift, and has the name given to it in the Greek language of mercy and compassion: and therefore he is said to give alms who gives something to another, and gives to the poor, showing by this that he pities their poor condition.

12:34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

12:35 "Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning.

• (11) The life of the faithful servants of God in this world is certainly a diligent journey, having the light of the word going before the journey.

12:36 Be like men watching for their lord, when he returns from the marriage feast; that, when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him.

12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most certainly I tell you, that he will dress himself, and make them recline, and will come and serve them.

12:38 They will be blessed if he comes in the second or third watch, and finds them so.

12:39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not allowed his house to be broken into.

12:40 Therefore be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don't expect him."

• (12) None need to watch more than they that have some degree of honour in the household of God.

12:41 Peter said to him, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everybody?"

12:42 The Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the right times?

• (l) That is, every month the measure of corn that was given to them.

12:43 Blessed is that servant whom his lord will find doing so when he comes.

12:44 Truly I tell you, that he will set him over all that he has.

12:45 But if that servant says in his heart, 'My lord delays his coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken,

12:46 then the lord of that servant will come in a day when he isn't expecting him, and in an hour that he doesn't know, and will cut him in two, and place his portion with the unfaithful.

12:47 That servant, who knew his lord's will, and didn't prepare, nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes,

12:48 but he who didn't know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whoever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.

• (m) More than the one who did not receive as much.

12:49 "I came to throw fire on the earth. I wish it were already kindled.

• (13) The gospel is the only reason of peace between the godly, and so it is the occasion of great trouble among the wicked.

12:50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!

12:51 Do you think that I have come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, no, but rather division.

12:52 For from now on, there will be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

12:53 [31] They will be divided, father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against her mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law." [See Luke Footnotes 31]

12:54 He said to the multitudes also, "When you see a cloud rising from the west, immediately you say, 'A shower is coming,' and so it happens.

• (14) Men who are very quick to see with regard to earthly things are blind with regard to those things which pertain to the heavenly life, and this through their own malice.
• (n) Which appears, and gathers itself together in that part of the air.

12:55 When a south wind blows, you say, 'There will be a scorching heat,' and it happens.

12:56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how is it that you don't interpret this time?

12:57 Why don't you judge for yourselves what is right?

• (15) Men that are blinded with the love of themselves, and therefore are detestable and stubborn, will bear the punishment of their folly.

12:58 For when you are going with your adversary before the magistrate, try diligently on the way to be released from him, lest perhaps he drag you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.

• (o) To him that has to demand and gather the fines from those who were fined at the discretion of the court, people who had wrongly troubled men: moreover, the magistrate’s officers make those who are condemned pay what they owe, yea and often if they are obstinate, they not only take the fine, but also imprison them.

12:59 I tell you, you will by no means get out of there, until you have paid the very last [32] penny. [See Luke Footnotes 32]"