Luke 12:39-48

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 12:47

And that servant which knew his Lord's will ,.... Not his secret, but his revealed will; the will of God, which lies in the declarations of his grace and mercy in the Gospel, and in the commands and ordinances expressed in his word; and which are the good, perfect, and acceptable will of God; the knowledge of which is necessary, in order to practice: and where there is a spiritual and saving knowledge, there will be practice: but there may be knowledge, where there is no practice, and which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 12:48

But he that knew not ,.... His Lord's will; either not having the means of knowing it, as the Heathens; or through neglect of them, not attending to them, and making use of them, which is the case of many, where the Gospel revelation is: and did commit things worthy of stripes ; or punishment; as the Gentiles, by sinning against the law, and light of nature; and those who might have the advantage of a divine revelation, but neglect it: the Septuagint in Deuteronomy 25:2 have the same... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 12:40

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 12:42

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 12:45

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 12:46

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 12:47

Shall be beaten with many stripes - Criminals among the Jews could not be beaten with more than forty stripes; and as this was the sum of the severity to which a whipping could extend, it may be all that our Lord here means. But, in some cases, a man was adjudged to receive fourscore stripes! How could this be, when the law had decreed only forty? Answer: By doubling the crime. He received forty for each crime; if he were guilty of two offenses, he might receive fourscore. See Lightfoot. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 12:48

Shall be beaten with few - For petty offenses the Jews in many cases inflicted so few as four, five, and six stripes. See examples in Lightfoot. From this and the preceding verse we find that it is a crime to be ignorant of God's will; because to every one God has given less or more of the means of instruction. Those who have had much light, or the opportunity of receiving much, and have not improved it to their own salvation, and the good of others, shall have punishment proportioned to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 12:47

Verse 47 Luke 12:47.But that servant. There is great weight in this circumstance, which is mentioned by Luke alone, that, in proportion as any man knowingly and willingly takes pleasure in despising the Lord, he deserves severer punishment. A comparison is made between the greater and the less to this effect: If punishment does not fail to be inflicted on a servant who errs through mistake, what shall become of the wicked and rebellious servant, who purposely, as it were, tramples under foot... read more

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