Consider the ravens, they sow not, neither do they reap; which have no store-chamber nor barn; and God feedeth them: of how much more value are ye than the birds.This is another of the Saviour's illustrations teaching the same lesson as that based upon his reference to the sparrows (Luke 12:6-7). It is easy to see in these passages how the Lord varied and adapted his teaching at various times and places. read more
Luke 12:13-14. Master, speak to my brother, &c.— While Jesus was thus exhorting his disciples, a certain person in the crowd begged that he would persuade his brother, who probably was present, to divide their paternal inheritance, and give him his share. The appellant probably thought, that as the Messiah he would act in the character of a prince, who would decide controversies relating to property; but, because judging in civil matters was the province of the magistrate, and foreign to... read more
Luke 12:15. Take heed, and beware of covetousness:— See to it, and be upon your guard against covetousness. The original is very lively, and the full force of it not easy to be expressed. Some old versions, and very good copies, read, all covetousness. It is not said which of these brothers was in the wrong; only because the disposition which they discovered, afforded a fit opportunity for religious advice, our Lord embraced it, and cautioned his hearers in the most solemn manner against... read more
Luke 12:16. And he spake a parable unto them,— The first thing to be inquired into, is the true drift and meaning of this parable. In the 15th verse our Lord warns his hearers to beware of covetousness. In this parable, he represents the foolish rich man enlarging his barns,that he might heap up his goods in store: in the text he warns us of the danger of laying up treasures for ourselves, while we neglect being rich towards God, and Luk 12:33 he exhorts us to sell what we have, and give alms;... read more
Luke 12:18. All my fruits and my goods.— All my increase and good things: that is, "There will I collect and lay up all this year's increase, and likewise the produce of former years which I have in store." read more
Luke 12:19. Take thine ease, &c.— The original is remarkably lively and expressive, and contains one proof among a thousand, of the propriety and elegance of the scripture language: 'Αναπαυου, φαγε, πιε, ευφραινου : Take thy rest, eat, drink, be joyful. Nothing can more strongly express the self-satisfied hilarity of a sensualist. read more
Luke 12:20. Shall be required of thee:— It is in the original απαιτουσιν, they shall require; which Elsner thinks alludes to the messengers sent to fetch away the soul; and he produces a remarkable and well-known passage from Plato to prove that Socrates thought this the office of a spirit superior to men. Others, to preserve the literal meaning of the words, suppose, that thieves broke into this man's house, and robbed him of his life, together with his riches; but it is most probable that,... read more
Luke 12:21. And is not rich towards God.— There is a force and propriety in the phrase εις θεον, here rendered towards God, which our language will not exactly express; it represents God as a depositary, in whose hands the good man has lodged his treasure, and who has as it were made himself accountable for it in another and better world. See Proverbs 19:17. read more
Luke 12:22. Take no thought— Be not solicitous. Our Lord, having delivered the parable of the rich glutton, proceeded in the charge: and because a hurry of business is often a great enemy to religious dispositions, he cautioned his disciples against anxious cares about the world, from the consideration of God's providence, which is so extensively perfect, as to comprehend all his works, great and small, without exception. The caution to beware of covetousness, and the parable whereby he... read more
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Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Luke 12:23
And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. For the life is more than food, and the body than raiment.IV. Warning against anxieties.Much of the material in this paragraph is also found in Matthew in the sermon on the mount; but as Plummer noted:It does not follow, because this lesson was given immediately after the parable of the rich fool, that therefore it was not part of the sermon on... read more