Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 12:1-12

A call to courage. The commotion between the scribes and Pharisees and our Lord seems to have increased his audiences, as we find "an innumerable multitude," as the Authorized Version has it, or "the many thousands of the multitude,'' as the Revised has it, treading on one another in eagerness to hear him. And his subject at this time is important—a denunciation of Pharisaic hypocrisy and a call to courage under their certain opposition. And here we have to notice— I. THE CURE FOR... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 12:1-59

The Lord , after leaving the Pharisee ' s house , speaks at great length to a numerous crowd waiting for him , addressing his words principally to his own disciples. The foregoing scene ( Luke 11:1-54 .), when the Master addressed his bitter reproaches to the learned and cultivated of the great Pharisee party, took place in a private house belonging to an apparently wealthy member of this, the dominant class. The name of the large village or provincial town where all this... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 12:4

And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. All this the Master knew was true and would shortly happen, His words were verified before fifty years had passed. The triumphant success of the great Christian preachers and the discredited condition of the old rabbinic schools is testified to by snell words as we find in St. Paul's letters. "Where is the wise? where is the scribe?" ( 1 Corinthians 1:20 ). But this... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 12:4-5

The power to hurt and bless. We are admonished of— I. THE POWER WHICH MAN HAS TO HURT US . 1 . He can wound our body. He can smite, can wound, can slay us. The sad story of human persecution contains only too many illustrations of this fact. 2 . He can wound our spirit. This is a course he can, and still does very often take; he can mock, can sneer, can indulge in heartless ribaldry, can hold up our most sacred convictions to ridicule, and thus he can... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 12:5

But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; literally, into Gehenna. This is simply Gee-hinnom , "valley of Hinnom," translated into Greek letters· This valley was situated in the neighborhood of Jerusalem, and originally was noted for the infamous rites practiced there in the worship of Moloch, in the times of the idolatrous kings of Judah. King Josiah, to mark his abhorrence of the idol-rites, defiled it with corpses;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 12:6-7

Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows . Though persecution and bitter suffering, even death, may be the guerdon of the Lord's true servants here, none of these things can happen without the consent of God. This thought will surely give them courage to endure. Suffering undergone in God's service, inflicted, too, with his... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 12:2-9

Nothing covered - See the notes at Matthew 10:26-32.Luke 12:3Shall be proclaimed upon the housetops - See the notes at Matthew 10:27. The custom of making proclamation from the tops or roofs of houses still prevails in the East. Dr. Thomson (“The Land and the Book,” vol. i. p. 51, 52) says: “At the present day, local governors in country districts cause their commands thus to be published. Their proclamations are generally made in the evening, after the people have returned from their labors in... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 12:2-5

Luke 12:2-5. For there is nothing covered, &c. All your actions shall be brought to light, either in this world or in the next. Wherefore take great care never to do any thing which cannot bear the light, but let the whole of your behaviour be fair, honest, and good. This argument against hypocrisy he proceeded to improve as a reason for their acquiring another quality, which would serve all the ends they could propose by their hypocrisy, and to much better purpose; an undaunted... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 12:6-7

Luke 12:6-7. Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings Ασσαριων δυο , two pence, as Dr. Campbell translates it, or “three half-pence sterling;” and not one of them is forgotten before God As if he had said, But trust in as well as fear him, for remember, he is an infinitely more kind, as well as more powerful friend than man, and all things are in his hand and keeping. His providence extends itself to the meanest of his works: he numbers the very hairs of your head, and therefore... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Luke 12:4-21

63. Concern about safety and security (Luke 12:4-21)Some teaching that Jesus gave to the twelve apostles is repeated in other parts of the Gospels. This may have been given to the followers of Jesus in general, particularly those instructions and warnings that concerned putting loyalty to Jesus before the desire for personal safety (Luke 12:4-12; see notes on Matthew 10:28-33 above).On one occasion when a crowd was listening to such teaching from Jesus, there was one person who showed no... read more

Group of Brands