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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 12:13-31

Worldliness. To the earnest teacher nothing can be more irritating than a half-attentive attitude or a remark which indicates preoccupation of mind with other and inferior things. Think of Christ, towards the close of a day of controversy with the Pharisees, and in the midst of solemn speech as to the duty of a true man, invited on a sudden to decide in a family quarrel, to settle a dispute about some money or some acres of soil. We know nothing about the person who appealed to him ( Luke... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 12:13

One of the company - One of the multitude. This man had probably had a dispute with his brother, supposing that his brother had refused to do him justice. Conceiving that Jesus had power over the people - that what he said must be performed - he endeavored to secure him on his side of the dispute and gain his point. From the parable which follows, it would appear that he had no “just” claim on the inheritance, but was influenced by covetousness. Besides, if he “had” any just claim, it might... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 12:14

Who made me a judge? - It is not my business to settle controversies of this kind. They are to be settled by the magistrate. Jesus came for another purpose - to preach the gospel, and so to bring people to “a willingness to do” right. Civil affairs are to be left to the magistrate. There is no doubt that Jesus “could” have told him what was right in this case, but then it would have been interfering with the proper office of the magistrates; it might have led him into controversy with the Jews;... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 12:13-15

Luke 12:13-15 . One said, Master, speak to my brother, &c. While Jesus was discoursing, as above related, to his disciple, one of the crowd, that was then collected about Jesus, requested that he would speak to his brother, and persuade him to divide their paternal inheritance, and give him his share. But, because judging in civil matters was the province of the magistrates, and foreign to the end of our Lord’s coming, he refused to meddle in their quarrel. It is not said which of these... 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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Luke 12:13

Master = Teacher. App-98 . divide. Compare Deuteronomy 21:15-17 . with. Greek. meta. App-104 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Luke 12:14

made = appointed, or constituted. Compare Exodus 2:4 . over. Greek. epi. App-104 . Not with the same case as in verses: Luke 12:42 , Luke 12:44 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Luke 12:13

And one of the multitude said unto him, Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me.Under Jewish law, the older brother would have inherited two-thirds of the estate, and the younger brother one-third; since the older brother would have been executor of the estate, the appeal here would seem to be that of the younger brother, implying either of two problems: (1) either the elder brother had not given him his share, or (2) the younger brother was thinking of breaking the ancient... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Luke 12:14

But he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness; for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth.Christ clearly implied by such a reply to the man who demanded redress against his brother that the problem was not social injustice, but covetousness, laying down the dictum that "a man's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he owns," a premise that flatly... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Luke 12:13-14

Luke 12:13-14. Master, speak to my brother, &c.— While Jesus was thus exhorting his disciples, a certain person in the crowd begged that he would persuade his brother, who probably was present, to divide their paternal inheritance, and give him his share. The appellant probably thought, that as the Messiah he would act in the character of a prince, who would decide controversies relating to property; but, because judging in civil matters was the province of the magistrate, and foreign to... read more

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