(4-9) I say unto you my friends.—See Notes on Matthew 10:28-32. The opening words, however, in their tender sympathy, anticipating the language of John 15:14-15, may be noted as peculiar to St. Luke. read more
Luke 12:1 The words follow an account of the Pharisees' attempt to ensnare Jesus, and Weiss's contention is that Jesus warns His disciples, not against the 'simulatio' of the Pharisees, who 'cloaked their real disposition under the appearance of extreme piety, but simply against "dissimulatio" in the sense of Galatians 2:13 , i.e. the temper which would hide its true convictions owing to the fear of man'. The man who practises ὑπόκρισις of any kind plays a part. He is insincere. But his... read more
CHAPTER 12 1. Warning Against Hypocrisy. (Luke 12:1-3 ) 2. Encouragements. (Luke 12:4-14 ) 3. Warning Against Covetousness. (Luke 12:15-21 ) 4. Warning Against Anxiety. (Luke 12:22-31 ) 5. The Disciples Comfort and Hope. (Luke 12:32-40 ) 6. The Parable of the Steward. (Luke 12:41-48 ) 7. The Purpose of God and the Resulting Division. (Luke 12:49-53 ) 8. Concerning signs. (Luke 12:54-57 ) 9. The Failure of Israel. (Luke 12:58-59 .) Luke 12:1-31 Nearly all of the entire twelfth chapter... read more
12:4 {2} And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.(2) Although hypocrites have princes to execute their cruelty, yet there is no reason why we should be afraid of them, even by the smallest amount that may be, seeing that they can do nothing except that which pleases God, and God does not will anything that may be against the salvation of his elect. read more
THE PEOPLE WARNED AGAINST FALSE LEADERS (vs.1-12) At a time when the crowd was extremely large, the Lord addressed His disciples "first of all," warning them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. We have seen that their meticulous formality was only a coverup of inward evil. Why? Because their object was to impress the crowd. How great a danger this is even for true disciples! We like the recognition of others and forget to seek only the approval of God. Let us not be... read more
WARNINGS This chapter, almost entirely original with Luke, consists of four warnings against hypocrisy (Luke 12:1-12 ), covetousness (Luke 12:13-24 ), carelessness (Luke 12:25-48 ), and ignorance (Luke 12:49-59 ). HYPOCRISY (Luke 12:1-12 ) Note the fearlessness of Christ (Luke 12:1 ), and in the same verse the typical use of “leaven” in the sense of evil, which is never used otherwise in the Bible. Hypocrisy will not avail in the day of judgment (Luke 12:2-3 ), and one of its causes, the... read more
The Rich Fool Luk 12:16-20 Let us find out where this man, called a "fool," got wrong. There seem to be some points of common-sense in the man. One is, therefore, curious to know where he breaks away from good thinking into foolish planning, and where he proves himself to be an atheist. "The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully" ( Luk 12:16 ). There is nothing wrong in that. There is no harm in having good crops, fields beautiful with the produce of nature. You cannot... read more
(1) In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy: (2) For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. (3) Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness, shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets, shall be... read more
1-12 A firm belief of the doctrine of God's universal providence, and the extent of it, would satisfy us when in peril, and encourage us to trust God in the way of duty. Providence takes notice of the meanest creatures, even of the sparrows, and therefore of the smallest interests of the disciples of Christ. Those who confess Christ now, shall be owned by him in the great day, before the angels of God. To deter us from denying Christ, and deserting his truths and ways, we are here assured that... read more
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John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 12:1-59
The Leaven of the Pharisees. The Rich Fool1-12. Jesus warns His followers against Pharisaic hypocrisy, and exhorts them to be courageous in face of opposition. This speech is not unsuitable to the context in St. Luke, but the whole of the sayings are found also in St. Matthew’s Gospel, generally in a more natural connexion (mostly in the charge to the Twelve, Luke 10:5-42). Perhaps St. Luke here groups together savings spoken at different times.1. When there were] RV ’when the many thousands of... read more