Be ye therefore ready also - It is pretty evident that what is related here, from Luke 12:35 ; to Luke 12:49 , was spoken by our Lord at another time. See Matthew 24:42 ; (note), etc., and the notes there. read more
Faithful and wise steward - See on Matthew 24:45 ; (note); where the several parts of the steward's office are mentioned and explained. Those appear to have been stewards among the Jews, whose business it was to provide all the members of a family, not only with food, but with raiment. read more
Begin to beat, etc. - See the different parts of this bad minister's conduct pointed out on Matthew 24:48 , Matthew 24:49 ; (note). read more
With the unbelievers - Or, rather, the unfaithful; των σπιϚων . Persons who had the light and knowledge of God's word, but made an improper use of the privileges they received. The persons mentioned here differ widely from unbelievers or infidels, viz. those who were in a state of heathenism, because they had not the revelation of the Most High: the latter knew not the will of God, Luke 12:48 , and, though they acted against it, did not do it in obstinacy; the former knew that will, and... read more
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
Lessons from the fowls and lilies Our Lord, having related the parable against covetousness, or the selfish use of money, proceeds in the present section to show how foolish the anxious thought is about these temporal things. And here we have to— I. CONSIDER HOW POOR THE LIFE IS . WHICH LAKES EATING AND DRESSING THE CHIEF THOUGHT . ( Luke 12:22 , Luke 12:23 .) A man's life is intended to be much more assuredly than this; and yet are there not some who... read more
Death a Divine visitation. To us the coming of the Son of mart means the hour of death; that is the practical view and therefore the wise view of the subject· And we may well regard our departure from this world as a coming of God to us. I. DEATH AS A DIVINE VISITATION . 1 . At death God comes to us all in judgment. Death is the appointed penalty of sin. It is true that the burden of that penalty is spiritual rather than material, and that God grants us a kind reprieve... read more
And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not . The Lord abruptly changes the scene of his parable imagery, and with another striking and vivid example enforces his teaching on the subject of the urgent necessity of his servants keeping a sleepless and diligent watch and ward against his... read more
Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? Peter's question here referred evidently to the longer and more important parable-story, where the reward which the faithful watchers were to receive is mentioned ( Luke 12:37 ). The grandeur of that reward seems deeply to have impressed the impulsive apostle. Some true conception of the heaven-life had entered into Peter's mind; we know, too, that now and again dimly Peter seemed to grasp the secret of his... read more
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John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 12:46
The Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him ,.... For, not coming as was expected, he gives over looking, and concludes he will not come at all; in which he will find himself mistaken, for he will come in the very day which is appointed, though men know not of it, and do not look for it: and at an hour when he is not aware ; for as neither the day, nor hour of Christ's coming are known to any man, it becomes men to look for it every day and hour, lest it come... read more