1InG1722 the mean timeG3739, when there was gathered togetherG1996 an innumerable multitudeG3461 of peopleG3793, so thatG5620 they trampledG2662 one upon anotherG240, he beganG756 to sayG3004 toG4314 hisG846 disciplesG3101 first of allG4412, BewareG4337 yeG1438 ofG575 the leavenG2219 of the PhariseesG5330, whichG3748 isG2076 hypocrisyG5272. 2ForG1161 there isG2076 nothingG3762 coveredG4780, thatG3739 shallG601 notG3756 be revealedG601; neitherG2532 hidG2927, thatG3739 shallG1097 notG3756 be knownG1097. 3ThereforeG473 G3739 whateverG3745 ye have spokenG2036 inG1722 darknessG4653 shall be heardG191 inG1722 the lightG5457; andG2532 that whichG3739 ye have spokenG2980 inG4314 the earG3775 inG1722 closetsG5009 shall be proclaimedG2784 uponG1909 the housetopsG1430. 4AndG1161 I sayG3004 to youG5213 myG3450 friendsG5384, BeG5399 notG3361 afraidG5399 of themG575 that killG615 the bodyG4983, andG2532 afterG3326 thatG5023 haveG2192 noG3361 G5100 moreG4055 that they can doG4160. 5ButG1161 I will forewarnG5263 youG5213 whomG5101 ye shall fearG5399: FearG5399 him, who afterG3326 he hath killedG615 hathG2192 powerG1849 to castG1685 intoG1519 hellG1067; yeaG3483, I sayG3004 to youG5213, FearG5399 himG5126. 6AreG4453 notG3780 fiveG4002 sparrowsG4765 soldG4453 for twoG1417 farthingsG787, andG2532 notG3756 oneG1520 ofG1537 themG846 isG2076 forgottenG1950 beforeG1799 GodG2316? 7ButG235 even the veryG2532 hairsG2359 of yourG5216 headG2776 areG705 allG3956 numberedG705. FearG5399 notG3361 thereforeG3767: ye are of more valueG1308 than manyG4183 sparrowsG4765. 8AlsoG1161 I sayG3004 to youG5213, WhoeverG3956 G3739 G302 shall confessG3670 G1722 meG1698 beforeG1715 menG1722 G444, himG846 shallG3670 the SonG5207 of manG444 alsoG2532 confessG3670 beforeG1715 the angelsG32 of GodG2316: 9ButG1161 he that deniethG720 meG3165 beforeG1799 menG444 shall be deniedG533 beforeG1799 the angelsG32 of GodG2316. 10AndG2532 whoeverG3956 G3739 shall speakG2046 a wordG3056 againstG1519 the SonG5207 of manG444, it shall be forgivenG863 himG846: butG1161 to him that blasphemethG987 againstG1519 the HolyG40 SpiritG4151 it shallG863 notG3756 be forgivenG863. 11AndG1161 whenG3752 they bringG4374 youG5209 toG1909 the synagoguesG4864, andG2532 before magistratesG746, andG2532 powersG1849, beG3309 notG3361 anxiousG3309 howG4459 orG2228 what thingG5101 ye shall answerG626, orG2228 whatG5101 ye shall sayG2036: 12ForG1063 the HolyG40 SpiritG4151 shall teachG1321 youG5209 inG1722 the sameG846 hourG5610 whatG3739 ye oughtG1163 to sayG2036. 13AndG1161 oneG5100 ofG1537 the companyG3793 saidG2036 to himG846, MasterG1320, speakG2036 to myG3450 brotherG80, that he divideG3307 the inheritanceG2817 withG3326 meG1700. 14AndG1161 he saidG2036 to himG846, ManG444, whoG5101 madeG2525 meG3165 a judgeG1348 orG2228 a dividerG3312 overG1909 youG5209? 15AndG1161 he saidG2036 toG4314 themG846, Take heedG3708, andG2532 bewareG5442 ofG575 covetousnessG4124: forG3754 a man’sG5100 G846 lifeG2222 consistethG2076 notG3756 inG1722 the abundanceG4052 ofG1537 the things which heG846 possessethG5224. 16AndG1161 he spokeG2036 a parableG3850 toG4314 themG846, sayingG3004, The groundG5561 of a certainG5100 richG4145 manG444 brought forth plentifullyG2164: 17AndG2532 he thoughtG1260 withinG1722 himselfG1438, sayingG3004, WhatG5101 shall I doG4160, becauseG3754 I haveG2192 noG3756 place whereG4226 to storeG4863 myG3450 fruitsG2590? 18AndG2532 he saidG2036, ThisG5124 will I doG4160: I will pull downG2507 myG3450 barnsG596, andG2532 buildG3618 greaterG3187; andG2532 thereG1563 will I storeG4863 allG3956 myG3450 fruitsG1081 andG2532 myG3450 goodsG18. 19AndG2532 I will sayG2046 to myG3450 soulG5590, SoulG5590, thou hastG2192 manyG4183 goodsG18 laid upG2749 forG1519 manyG4183 yearsG2094; take thy easeG373, eatG5315, drinkG4095, and be merryG2165. 20ButG1161 GodG2316 saidG2036 to himG846, Thou foolG878, thisG5026 nightG3571 thyG4675 soulG5590 shall be requiredG523 ofG575 theeG4675: thenG1161 whoseG5101 shall those things beG2071, whichG3739 thou hast providedG2090? 21SoG3779 is he that layeth up treasureG2343 for himselfG1438, andG2532 isG4147 notG3361 richG4147 towardG1519 GodG2316. 22AndG1161 he saidG2036 toG4314 hisG846 disciplesG3101, ThereforeG1223 G5124 I sayG3004 to youG5213, BeG3309 notG3361 anxiousG3309 for yourG5216 lifeG5590, whatG5101 ye shall eatG5315; neitherG3366 for the bodyG4983, whatG5101 ye shall put onG1746. 23The lifeG5590 isG2076 moreG4119 than foodG5160, andG2532 the bodyG4983 is more than raimentG1742. 24ConsiderG2657 the ravensG2876: forG3754 they neitherG3756 sowG4687 norG3761 reapG2325; whichG3739 neitherG3756 haveG2076 storehouseG5009 norG3761 barnG596; andG2532 GodG2316 feedethG5142 themG846: how muchG4214 moreG3123 areG1308 yeG5210 better thanG1308 the fowlsG4071? 25AndG1161 whichG5101 ofG1537 youG5216 by being anxiousG3309 canG1410 addG4369 toG1909 hisG846 statureG2244 oneG1520 cubitG4083? 26IfG1487 ye thenG3767 areG1410 notG3777 able to doG1410 that thing which is leastG1646, whyG5101 are ye anxiousG3309 forG4012 the restG3062? 27ConsiderG2657 the liliesG2918 howG4459 they growG837: they toilG2872 notG3756, they spinG3514 notG3761; and yetG1161 I sayG3004 to youG5213, that SolomonG4672 inG1722 allG3956 hisG846 gloryG1391 wasG4016 notG3761 arrayedG4016 likeG5613 oneG1520 of theseG5130. 28IfG1487 thenG1161 GodG2316 soG3779 clotheG294 the grassG5528, whichG5607 is to dayG4594 inG1722 the fieldG68, andG2532 to morrowG839 is castG906 intoG1519 the ovenG2823; how muchG4214 moreG3123 will he clothe youG5209, O ye of little faithG3640? 29AndG2532 seekG2212 yeG5210 notG3361 whatG5101 ye shall eatG5315, orG2228 whatG5101 ye shall drinkG4095 G2532, neitherG3361 be ye of doubtful mindG3349. 30ForG1063 allG3956 these thingsG5023 doG1934 the nationsG1484 of the worldG2889 seek afterG1934: andG1161 yourG5216 FatherG3962 knowethG1492 thatG3754 ye have needG5535 of these thingsG5130. 31But ratherG4133 seek yeG2212 the kingdomG932 of GodG2316; andG2532 allG3956 these thingsG5023 shall be addedG4369 to youG5213. 32FearG5399 notG3361, littleG3398 flockG4168; forG3754 it isG2106 yourG5216 Father’sG3962 good pleasureG2106 to giveG1325 youG5213 the kingdomG932. 33SellG4453 what yeG5216 haveG5224, andG2532 giveG1325 almsG1654; provideG4160 yourselvesG1438 bagsG905 which becomeG3822 notG3361 oldG3822, a treasureG2344 inG1722 the heavensG3772 that faileth notG413, whereG3699 noG3756 thiefG2812 approachethG1448, neitherG3761 mothG4597 corruptethG1311. 34ForG1063 whereG3699 yourG5216 treasureG2344 isG2076, thereG1563 willG2071 yourG5216 heartG2588 beG2071 alsoG2532. 35LetG2077 yourG5216 loinsG3751 beG2077 girtG4024, andG2532 your lampsG3088 burningG2545; 36AndG2532 ye yourselvesG5210 likeG3664 menG444 that waitG4327 for theirG1438 lordG2962, whenG4219 he will returnG360 fromG1537 the weddingG1062; thatG2443 when he comethG2064 andG2532 knockethG2925, they may openG455 to himG846 immediatelyG2112. 37BlessedG3107 are thoseG1565 servantsG1401, whomG3739 the lordG2962 when he comethG2064 shall findG2147 watchingG1127: verilyG281 I sayG3004 to youG5213, thatG3754 he shall gird himselfG4024, andG2532 makeG347 themG846 to sit down to eatG347, andG2532 will come forthG3928 and serveG1247 themG846. 38AndG2532 ifG1437 he shall comeG2064 inG1722 the secondG1208 watchG5438, orG2532 comeG2064 inG1722 the thirdG5154 watchG5438, andG2532 findG2147 them soG3779, blessedG3107 areG1526 thoseG1565 servantsG1401. 39AndG1161 thisG5124 knowG1097, thatG3754 ifG1487 the master of the houseG3617 had knownG1492 whatG4169 hourG5610 the thiefG2812 would comeG2064 G302, he would have watchedG1127, andG2532 G302 notG3756 have allowedG863 hisG846 houseG3624 to be broken intoG1358. 40BeG1096 yeG5210 thereforeG3767 readyG2092 alsoG2532: forG3754 G3739 the SonG5207 of manG444 comethG2064 at an hourG5610 when ye thinkG1380 notG3756. 41ThenG1161 PeterG4074 saidG2036 to himG846, LordG2962, speakest thouG3004 thisG5026 parableG3850 toG4314 usG2248, orG2228 evenG2532 toG4314 allG3956? 42AndG1161 the LordG2962 saidG2036, WhoG5101 thenG686 isG2076 that faithfulG4103 andG2532 wiseG5429 stewardG3623, whomG3739 his lordG2962 shall make rulerG2525 overG1909 hisG846 householdG2322, to giveG1325 them their portion of foodG4620 inG1722 due seasonG2540? 43BlessedG3107 is thatG1565 servantG1401, whomG3739 hisG846 lordG2962 when he comethG2064 shall findG2147 soG3779 doingG4160. 44TrulyG230 I sayG3004 to youG5213, thatG3754 he will make himG846 rulerG2525 overG1909 allG3956 that heG846 hathG5224. 45ButG1161 ifG1437 thatG1565 servantG1401 shall sayG2036 inG1722 hisG846 heartG2588, MyG3450 lordG2962 delayethG5549 his comingG2064; andG2532 shall beginG756 to beatG5180 the maleG3816 andG2532 female servantsG3814, andG5037 to eatG2068 andG2532 drinkG4095, andG2532 to be drunkG3182; 46The lordG2962 of thatG1565 servantG1401 will comeG2240 inG1722 a dayG2250 whenG3739 he lookethG4328 notG3756 forG4328 him, andG2532 atG1722 an hourG5610 whenG3739 he isG1097 notG3756 awareG1097, andG2532 will cutG1371 himG846 in twoG1371, andG2532 will appointG5087 him hisG846 portionG3313 withG3326 the unbelieversG571. 47AndG1161 thatG1565 servantG1401, whoG3588 knewG1097 hisG1438 lord’sG2962 willG2307, andG2532 preparedG2090 notG3361 himself, neitherG3366 didG4160 accordingG4314 to hisG846 willG2307, shall be beatenG1194 with manyG4183 stripes. 48ButG1161 he that knewG1097 notG3361, andG1161 committedG4160 things worthyG514 of stripesG4127, shall be beatenG1194 with fewG3641 stripes. ForG1161 to whomeverG3739 G3956 muchG4183 is givenG1325, ofG3844 himG846 shall much beG4183 requiredG2212: andG2532 to whom menG3739 have committedG3908 muchG4183, from himG846 they will askG154 the moreG4055. 49I am comeG2064 to sendG906 fireG4442 onG1519 the earthG1093; andG2532 whatG5101 will IG2309, ifG1487 it isG381 alreadyG2235 kindledG381? 50ButG1161 I haveG2192 a baptismG908 to be baptized withG907; andG2532 howG4459 am I constrainedG4912 tillG2193 G3739 it shall be accomplishedG5055! 51Suppose yeG1380 thatG3754 I am comeG3854 to giveG1325 peaceG1515 onG1722 earthG1093? I tellG3004 youG5213, NayG3780; butG235 ratherG2228 divisionG1267: 52ForG1063 fromG575 henceforthG3568 there shall beG2071 fiveG4002 inG1722 oneG1520 houseG3624 dividedG1266, threeG5140 againstG1909 twoG1417, andG2532 twoG1417 againstG1909 threeG5140. 53The fatherG3962 shall be dividedG1266 againstG1909 the sonG5207, andG2532 the sonG5207 againstG1909 the fatherG3962; the motherG3384 againstG1909 the daughterG2364, andG2532 the daughterG2364 againstG1909 the motherG3384; the mother in lawG3994 againstG1909 herG846 daughter in lawG3565, andG2532 the daughter in lawG3565 againstG1909 herG846 mother in lawG3994. 54AndG1161 he saidG3004 alsoG2532 to the peopleG3793, WhenG3752 ye seeG1492 a cloudG3507 risingG393 inG575 the westG1424, immediatelyG2112 ye sayG3004, There comethG2064 a showerG3655; andG2532 soG3779 it isG1096. 55AndG2532 whenG3752 ye see the south windG3558 blowingG4154, ye sayG3004 G3754, There will beG2071 heatG2742; andG2532 it cometh to passG1096. 56Ye hypocritesG5273, ye canG1492 discernG1381 the faceG4383 of the skyG3772 andG2532 of the earthG1093; butG1161 how is itG4459 that ye do notG3756 discernG1381 thisG5126 timeG2540? 57YeaG1161, and whyG5101 evenG2532 ofG575 yourselvesG1438 judge yeG2919 notG3756 what is rightG1342? 58WhenG5613 G1063 thou goestG5217 withG3326 thyG4675 adversaryG476 toG1909 the magistrateG758, as thou art inG1722 the wayG3598, giveG1325 diligenceG2039 that thou mayest be deliveredG525 fromG575 himG846; lestG3379 he dragG2694 theeG4571 beforeG4314 the judgeG2923, andG2532 the judgeG2923 deliverG3860 theeG4571 to the officerG4233, andG2532 the officerG4233 castG906 theeG4571 intoG1519 prisonG5438. 59I tellG3004 theeG4671, thou shaltG1831 notG3364 departG1831 from thereG2532 G1564, tillG2193 G3739 thou hast paidG591 the very lastG2078 miteG3016.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 WARNING AGAINST HYPOCRISY. (
Luke 12:1-
Luke 12:12)
meantime--in close connection, probably, with the foregoing scene. Our Lord had been speaking out more plainly than ever before, as matters were coming to a head between Him and His enemies, and this seems to have suggested to His own mind the warning here. He had just Himself illustriously exemplified His own precepts.
his disciples first of all--afterwards to "the multitudes" (
Luke 12:54).
covered--from the view.
2 hid--from knowledge. "Tis no use concealing anything, for all will one day come out. Give free and fearless utterance then to all the truth." (Compare
1Cor 4:3,
1Cor 4:5).
4 I say, &c.--You will say, That may cost us our life. Be it so; but, "My friends, there their power ends." He calls them "my friends" here, not in any loose sense, but, as we think, from the feeling He then had that in this "killing of the body" He and they were going to be affectingly one with each other.
5 Fear Him . . . Fear Him--how striking the repetition here! Only the one fear would effectually expel the other.
after he hath killed, &c.--Learn here--(1) To play false with one's convictions to save one's life, may fail of its end after all, for God can inflict a violent death in some other and equally formidable way. (2) There is a hell, it seems, for the body as well as the soul; consequently, sufferings adapted to the one as well as the other. (3) Fear of hell is a divinely authorized and needed motive of action even to Christ's "friends." (4) As Christ's meekness and gentleness were not compromised by such harsh notes as these, so those servants of Christ lack their Master's spirit who soften down all such language to please ears "polite." (See on
Mark 9:43-
Mark 9:48).
6 five . . . for two farthings--In
Matt 10:29 it is "two for one farthing"; so if one took two farthings' worth, he got one in addition--of such small value were they.
than many sparrows--not "than millions of sparrows"; the charm and power of our Lord's teaching is very much in this simplicity.
8 confess . . . deny--The point lies in doing it "before men," because one has to do it "despising the shame." But when done, the Lord holds Himself bound to repay it in kind by confessing such "before the angels of God." For the rest, see on
Luke 9:26.
10 Son of man . . . Holy Ghost--(See on
Matt 12:31-
Matt 12:32).
13 COVETOUSNESS--WATCHFULNESS--SUPERIORITY TO EARTHLY TIES. (Luke 12:13-53)
Master, &c.--that is, "Great Preacher of righteousness, help; there is need of Thee in this rapacious world; here am I the victim of injustice, and that from my own brother, who withholds from me my rightful share of the inheritance that has fallen to us." In this most inopportune intrusion upon the solemnities of our Lord's teaching, there is a mixture of the absurd and the irreverent, the one, however, occasioning the other. The man had not the least idea that his case was not of as urgent a nature, and as worthy the attention of our Lord, as anything else He could deal with.
14 Man, &c.--Contrast this style of address with "my friends," (
Luke 12:4).
who, &c.--a question literally repudiating the office which Moses assumed (
Exod 2:14). The influence of religious teachers in the external relations of life has ever been immense, when only the INDIRECT effect of their teaching; but whenever they intermeddle DIRECTLY with secular and political matters, the spell of that influence is broken.
15 unto them--the multitude around Him (
Luke 12:1).
of covetousness--The best copies have "all," that is, "every kind of covetousness"; because as this was one of the more plausible forms of it, so He would strike at once at the root of the evil.
a man's life, &c.--a singularly weighty maxim, and not less so because its meaning and its truth are equally evident.
16 a certain rich man, &c.--Why is this man called a "fool?" (
Luke 12:20) (1) Because he deemed a life of secure and abundant earthly enjoyment the summit of human felicity. (2) Because, possessing the means of this, through prosperity in his calling, he flattered himself that he had a long lease of such enjoyment, and nothing to do but give himself up to it. Nothing else is laid to his charge.
20 this night, &c.--This sudden cutting short of his career is designed to express not only the folly of building securely upon the future, but of throwing one's whole soul into what may at any moment be gone. "Thy soul shall be required of thee" is put in opposition to his own treatment of it, "I will say to my soul, Soul," &c.
whose shall those things be, &c.--Compare
Ps 39:6, "He heapeth up riches and knoweth not who shall gather them."
21 So is he, &c.--Such is a picture of his folly here, and of its awful issue.
and is not rich toward God--lives to amass and enjoy riches which terminate on self, but as to the riches of God's favor, which is life (
Ps 30:5), of "precious" faith (
2Pet 1:1;
Jas 2:5), of good works (
1Tim 6:18), of wisdom which is better than rubies (
Pro 8:11) --lives and dies a beggar!
22 (See on
Matt 6:25-
Matt 6:33).
25 which of you, &c.--Corroding solicitude will not bring you the least of the things ye fret about, though it may double the evil of wanting them. And if not the least, why vex yourselves about things of more consequence?
29 of doubtful, &c.--unsettled mind; put off your balance.
32 little flock, &c.--How sublime and touching a contrast between this tender and pitying appellation, "Little flock" (in the original a double diminutive, which in German can be expressed, but not in English)--and the "good pleasure" of the Father to give them the Kingdom; the one recalling the insignificance and helplessness of that then literal handful of disciples, the other holding up to their view the eternal love that encircled them, the everlasting arms that were underneath them, and the high inheritance awaiting them!--"the kingdom"; grand word; then why not "bread" (
Luke 12:31 [BENGEL]). Well might He say, "Fear not!"
33 Sell, &c.--This is but a more vivid expression of
Matt 6:19-
Matt 6:21 (see on
Matt 6:19-
Matt 6:21).
35 loins . . . girded--to fasten up the long outer garment, always done before travel and work (
2Kgs 4:29;
Acts 12:8). The meaning is, Be in readiness.
lights, &c.--(See on
Matt 25:1).
36 return from the wedding--not come to it, as in the parable of the virgins. Both have their spiritual significance; but preparedness for Christ's coming is the prominent idea.
37 gird himself, &c.--"a promise the most august of all: Thus will the Bridegroom entertain his friends (nay, servants) on the solemn Nuptial Day" [BENGEL].
38 second . . . third watch--To find them ready to receive Him at any hour of day or night, when one might least of all expect Him, is peculiarly blessed. A servant may be truly faithful, even though taken so far unawares that he has not everything in such order and readiness for his master's return as he thinks is due to him, and both could and would have had if he had had notice of the time of his coming, and so may not be willing to open to him "immediately," but fly to preparation, and let his master knock again ere he admit him, and even then not with full joy. A too common case this with Christians. But if the servant have himself and all under his charge in such a state that at any hour when his master knocks, he can open to him "immediately," and hail his "return"--that is the most enviable, "blessed" servant of all.
41 unto us or even to all?--us the Twelve, or all this vast audience?
42 Who then, &c.--answering the question indirectly by another question, from which they were left to gather what it would be:--To you certainly in the first instance, representing the "stewards" of the "household" I am about to collect, but generally to all "servants" in My house.
faithful and wise--Fidelity is the first requisite in a servant, wisdom (discretion and judgment in the exercise of his functions), the next.
steward--house steward, whose it was to distribute to the servants their allotted portion of food.
shall make--will deem fit to be made.
44 make him ruler over all he hath--will advance him to the highest post, referring to the world to come. (See
Matt 25:21,
Matt 25:23).
45 begin to beat, &c.--In the confidence that his Lord's return will not be speedy, he throws off the role of servant and plays the master, maltreating those faithful servants who refuse to join him, seizing on and revelling in the fulness of his master's board; intending, when he has got his fill, to resume the mask of fidelity ere his master appear.
46 cut him in sunder--a punishment not unknown in the East; compare
Heb 11:37, "sawn asunder" (
1Sam 15:33;
Dan 2:5).
the unbelievers--the unfaithful, those unworthy of trust (
Matt 24:51), "the hypocrites," falsely calling themselves "servants."
48 knew not--that is knew but partially; for some knowledge is presupposed both in the name "servant" of Christ, and his being liable to punishment at all.
many . . . few stripes--degrees of future punishment proportioned to the knowledge sinned against. Even heathens are not without knowledge enough for future judgment; but the reference here is not to such. It is a solemn truth, and though general, like all other revelations of the future world, discloses a tangible and momentous principle in its awards.
49 to send--cast.
fire--"the higher spiritual element of life which Jesus came to introduce into this earth (compare
Matt 3:11), with reference to its mighty effects in quickening all that is akin to it and destroying all that is opposed. To cause this element of life to take up its abode on earth, and wholly to pervade human hearts with its warmth, was the lofty destiny of the Redeemer" [OLSHAUSEN: so CALVIN, STIER, ALFORD, &c.].
what will I, &c.--an obscure expression, uttered under deep and half-smothered emotion. In its general import all are agreed; but the nearest to the precise meaning seems to be, "And what should I have to desire if it were once already kindled?" [BENGEL and BLOOMFIELD].
50 But . . . a baptism, &c.--clearly, His own bloody baptism, first to take place.
how . . . straitened--not, "how do I long for its accomplishment," as many understand it, thus making it but a repetition of
Luke 12:49; but "what a pressure of spirit is upon Me."
till it be accomplished--till it be over. Before a promiscuous audience, such obscure language was fit on a theme like this; but oh, what surges of mysterious emotion in the view of what was now so near at hand does it reveal!
51 peace . . . ? Nay, &c.--the reverse of peace, in the first instance. (See on
Matt 10:34-
Matt 10:36.) The connection of all this with the foregoing warnings about hypocrisy, covetousness, and watchfulness, is deeply solemn: "My conflict hasten apace; Mine over, yours begins; and then, let the servants tread in their Master's steps, uttering their testimony entire and fearless, neither loving nor dreading the world, anticipating awful wrenches of the dearest ties in life, but looking forward, as I do, to the completion of their testimony, when, reaching the haven after the tempest, they shall enter into the joy of their Lord."
54 NOT DISCERNING THE SIGNS OF THE TIME. (
Luke 12:54-
Luke 12:59)
to the people--"the multitude," a word of special warning to the thoughtless crowd, before dismissing them. (See on
Matt 16:2-
Matt 16:3).
56 how . . . not discern, &c.--unable to perceive what a critical period that was for the Jewish Church.
57 why even of yourselves, &c.--They might say, To do this requires more knowledge of Scripture and providence than we possess; but He sends them to their own conscience, as enough to show them who He was, and win them to immediate discipleship.
58 When thou goest, &c.--(See on
Matt 5:25-
Matt 5:26). The urgency of the case with them, and the necessity, for their own safety, of immediate decision, was the object of these striking words.
