Luke 12:42-51

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 12:49

I am come to send fire on the earth ,.... Meaning either the Gospel, which is as fire, that gives both light and heat, warms the hearts of God's people, and causes them to burn within them; though very distressing and torturing to wicked men; so the word of God is compared to fire, in Jeremiah 20:9 . Or else zeal for it, and which would be opposed with sharp contentions by others; or rather persecution for the sake of the Gospel, called sometimes the fiery trial; which tries men, as gold... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 12:50

But I have a baptism to be baptized with ,.... Not water baptism, for he had been baptized with that already; nor the baptism of the Spirit, which he had also received without measure; though the Ethiopic version reads it actively, "with which I shall baptize", referring doubtless to that; but the baptism of his sufferings is meant, which are compared to a baptism, because of the largeness and abundance of them; he was as it were immersed, or plunged into them; and which almost all... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 12:51

Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth ?.... To set up a temporal kingdom, in great pomp, and outward peace and tranquility? Christ came to make peace with God for men, and to give the Gospel of peace, and spiritual and eternal peace to men; but not external peace, especially that, which is not consistent with the preservation of truth: I tell you, nay ; whatever suppositions you have made, or whatever notions you have entertained, I solemnly affirm, and you may depend upon it,... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 12:49

I am come to send fire - See this subject largely explained on Matthew 10:34 ; (note), etc. From the connection in which these words stand, both in this place and in Matthew, it appears as if our Lord intended by the word fire, not only the consuming influence of the Roman sword, but also the influence of his own Spirit in the destruction of sin. In both these senses this fire was already kindled: as yet, however, it appeared but as a spark, but was soon to break out into an all-consuming... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 12:50

But I have a baptism - The fire, though already kindled, cannot burn up till after the Jews have put me to death: then the Roman sword shall come, and the Spirit of judgment, burning, and purification shall be poured out. read more

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