Luke 9:62 NIV

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 9:62

No man, having put his hand ... - To put one’s hand to a plow is a proverbial expression to signify undertaking any business. In order that a plowman may accomplish his work, it is necessary to look onward - to be intent on his employment - not to be looking back with regret that he undertook it. So in religion. He that enters on it must do it with his whole heart, He that comes still loving the world - still looking with regret on its pleasures, its wealth, and its honors - that has not... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 9:57-62

Luke 9:57-62. And it came to pass as they went in the way This and the following seem to be the same occurrences with those mentioned by Matthew, which took place as Christ was in the neighbourhood of Capernaum, going from that town to the shore, where he proposed to embark, in order to cross the lake, and not on his way to Jerusalem through the country of the Samaritans. See notes on Matthew 8:19-22. And Jesus said to him, The foxes have holes, &c. Jesus, knowing that the man... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Luke 9:57-62

81. The cost of being a disciple (Matthew 8:18-22; Luke 9:57-62)Three men came to Jesus saying they wanted to be disciples, but they did not realize the sacrifices they would have to make in following Jesus. The first man was told to think seriously about his professed intentions, because following Jesus would bring with it physical hardship and discomfort (Luke 9:57-58). The second was warned that responsibilities towards Jesus must come before ordinary worldly responsibilities. The... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Luke 9:62

No man = no one. Compound of ou. App-105 . hand. Plough always held with one hand. looking. App-133 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Luke 9:62

Luke 9:62. No man, &c.— Hesiod has given it as the character of a good ploughman, that "he keeps his mind intent on his work, that he may make a straight furrow, and does not allow himself to gaze about on his companions." Our Lord, on the like obvious principle, may use the phrase, of one that looks behind him while his hand is on the plough, as a kind of proverbial expression for a careless, irresolute person, who must be peculiarly unfit forthe Christian ministry; or he might allude to... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Luke 9:62

62. No man, c.—As ploughing requires an eye intent on the furrow to be made, and is marred the instant one turns about, so will they come short of salvation who prosecute the work of God with a distracted attention, a divided heart. Though the reference seems chiefly to ministers, the application is general. The expression "looking back" has a manifest reference to "Lot's wife" ( :- and see on Luke 9:1). It is not actual return to the world, but a reluctance to break with it. (Also see on Luke... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Luke 9:57-62

2. The importance of self-denial 9:57-62 (cf. Matthew 8:19-22)Luke turned from a presentation of people who rejected Jesus to one in which three individuals wanted to become His disciples. Each of them underestimated the degree of commitment that Jesus required. Jesus’ words clarify the cost of discipleship (cf. Luke 9:23-26). Note the recurrence of the key word "follow" in Luke 9:57; Luke 9:59; Luke 9:61. The first two incidents evidently happened during Jesus’ ministry in Galilee (cf. Matthew... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Luke 9:61-62

Luke alone recorded this third conversation. It appears anticlimactic at first, but it is not because the man was asking Jesus for a lesser concession than his predecessor (Luke 9:59-60). A good-bye would only take a few minutes whereas burying a father would take an indefinite time. Perhaps he thought that if Elijah permitted Elisha to say farewell to his parents before he followed Elijah, Jesus would surely permit him to do the same (1 Kings 19:19-21). Yet even this concession was not one... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 9:1-62

Feeding the Five Thousand. Peter’s Confession. The Transfiguration1-6. Mission of the Twelve (Matthew 10:1, Matthew 10:5-15; Mark 6:7-13). See on Mt.7-9. Herod thinks that John is risen again (Matthew 14:1; Mark 6:14). See on Mt.10-17. Feeding of the five thousand (Matthew 14:13; Mark 6:30; John 6:1). See on Mt and Jn.18-27. Confession of Peter (Matthew 16:13; Mark 8:27). See on Mt. St. Luke’s account is the most imperfect. Why he omits to mention the locality (Cæsarea Philippi), and Christ’s... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Luke 9:62

(62) No man, having put his hand to the plough . . .—The image which our Lord used was, as usual, one that went home to the personal experience of His hearers. They were of the peasant class, and they knew that the eye of the ploughman if he is to do his work well, must look straight before him at the line of the furrow which he is making. To look back, while working, is to mar the work entirely. The man who so looks is therefore, ipso facto, disqualified for the work of God’s kingdom. read more