Luke 18:9-17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 18:15

And they brought unto him also infants ,.... As well as grown persons, that were sick, to be healed by him: that he would touch them ; in order, as some learned men think, to cure them of diseases that attended them; for one of the ways by which Christ healed persons, was by touching them; nor do we read of his touching in common for any other purpose, or of persons desiring him to touch them, or theirs, but for this end; in Matthew 19:13 it is read, "that he should put his hands on... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 18:16

But Jesus called them unto him ,.... Not the disciples, as the Ethiopic version reads, nor the persons that brought the children, but the children themselves; for the antecedent to the relative αυτα , "them", can be no other; which shows, that these infants were not new born babes, or children at the breast, but such as were more grown up, since they were capable of being called to, and of coming to Christ: and said ; that is, to the disciples; so the Persic version expresses it: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 18:17

Verily I say unto you ,...., Christ takes an occasion from hence to teach his disciples humility, and guard them against pride and vanity: whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God ; the King Messiah, the doctrines of the Gospel, and the ordinances of it, even the whole Gospel dispensation; as a little child ; without prejudice, pride, ambition, and vanity, with meekness, and humility: shall in no wise enter therein ; a very unfit and improper person to be a professor of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 18:9

Despised - Εξουθενουντας , Disdained, made nothing of others, treated them with sovereign contempt. Our Lord grants that the Pharisees made clean the outside: but, alas! what pride, vain glory, and contempt for others, were lodged within! read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 18:10

A Pharisee - For a description of the Pharisees and their tenets, see on Matthew 16:1 ; (note). Publican - See an account of these on Matthew 5:46 ; (note). Both these persons went to the temple to pray, i.e. to worship God: they were probably both Jews, and felt themselves led by different motives to attend at the temple, at the hour of prayer: the one to return thanks for the mercies he had received; the other to implore that grace which alone could redeem him from his sins. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 18:11

Stood and prayed thus with himself - Or, stood by himself and prayed, as some would translate the words. He probably supposed it disgraceful to appear to have any connection with this penitent publican: therefore his conduct seemed to say, "Stand by thyself; I am more holy than thou." He seems not only to have stood by himself, but also to have prayed by himself; neither associating in person nor in petitions with his poor guilty neighbor. God, I thank thee, etc. - In Matthew 5:20 ,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 18:12

I give tithes of all that I possess - Or, of all I acquire, κτωμαι . Raphelius has well observed, that this verb, in the present tense, signifies to acquire - in the preter, to possess: the Pharisee's meaning seems to be, "As fast as I gain any thing, I give the tenth part of it to the house of God and to the poor." Those who dedicate a certain part of their earnings to the Lord should never let it rest with themselves, lest possession should produce covetousness. This was the Pharisee's... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 18:13

The publican, standing afar off - Not because he was a heathen, and dared not approach the holy place; (for it is likely he was a Jew); but because he was a true penitent, and felt himself utterly unworthy to appear before God. Would not lift up - his eyes - Holding down the head, with the eyes fixed upon the earth, was, A sign of deep distress. Of a consciousness and confession of guilt. And, It was the very posture that the Jewish rabbins required in those who prayed to God. ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 18:14

Went down to his house justified - His sin blotted out; and himself accepted. Rather than the other - Η εκεινος : that is, the other was not accepted, because he exalted himself - he made use of the mercies which he acknowledged he owed to God, to make claims on the Divine approbation, and to monopolize the salvation of the Most High! He was abased, because he vainly trusted that he was righteous, and depended on what he had been enabled to do, and looked not for a change of heart, nor... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 18:15-17

They brought unto him also infants - On these verses the reader is requested to consult the notes on Matthew 19:13 ; (note), Matthew 19:14 ; (note), and on Mark 10:16 ; (note). When a spiritual guide (a gooroo) visits his disciple, the latter takes his child to him for his blessing, forcing the head of the child down to the gooroo's feet, who gives what is called his blessing in some such words as these, Live long! - Be learned! - Be rich! read more

Group of Brands