1Christ teacheth his disciples to avoid hypocrisy, and not to be fearful in publishing his doctrine: 13he refuseth to be judge in a civil cause, and warneth the people to beware of covetousness by the parable of a rich man, who boasted himself in his multiplied stores: 22he exhorteth not to be over anxious about the provisions of this life; but to seek the kingdom of God; 33to lay up treasure in heaven by giving alms; 35and to be always ready for our Lord's coming. 41By the parable of a good and a wicked steward he sheweth the duty of his ministers in particular: 49he foretelleth the divisions on account of the gospel: 54reproveth the people for not discerning the times: 57and sheweth the danger of neglecting the means of reconciliation offered them.
1IN 1the mean time, whena there were gathered together an 2innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, 3Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
1 Namely, while the Pharisees and scribes pressed upon Him with questions, as is to be seen Luke 11:53.
a Mat. 16:6; Mark 8:15.
2 Gr. ten thousands.
3 Namely, in order that you be not deceived thereby, or do not follow their example.
2Forb there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
b Job 12:22; Mat. 10:26; Mark 4:22; Luke 8:17.
3Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken 4in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closetsc shall be proclaimed 5upon the housetops.
4 That is, in secret.
c private rooms
5 That is, in public, before everyone. See the reason of this phrase in the annotations at Mat. 10 on verse 27.
4And I say unto you my friends, Bed not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have 6no more that they can do.
d Isa. 51:7; Jer. 1:8; Mat. 10:28.
6 Gr. have nothing more abundantly to do.
5But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into 7hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
7 Gr. gehenna. See thereof in Mat. 5:22.
6Aree not five sparrows sold for two 8farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
e Mat. 10:29.
8 Gr. assarion, the value of this piece of money see Mat. 10 on verse 29.
7Butf even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: 9ye are of more value than many sparrows.
f 1 Sam. 14:45; 2 Sam. 14:11; 1 Kings 1:52; Luke 21:18.
9 Gr. ye differ from many sparrows.
8Alsog I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
g Mat. 10:32.
9Buth he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
h Mat. 10:33; Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26; 2 Tim. 2:12; 1 John 2:23.
10And whosoever shall speak 10a word 11against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: buti unto him that blasphemeth 12against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.
10 That is, anything.
11 That is, he, who out of human frailty, fear or ignorance, speaks against or blasphemes Christ’s Person, office and doctrine.
i 1 John 5:16.
12 That is, he, who willfully and out of malice against the conviction of the Holy Ghost, shall have denied or blasphemed Me. See a more detailed exposition of it in Mat. 12 on verse 32.
11Andj when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, 13take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
j Mat. 10:19; Mark 13:11; Luke 21:14.
13 See the exposition hereof, Mat. 10 on verse 19.
12For the Holy Ghost shall 14teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
14 Mat. 10:19 states give, that is, prompt.
13¶And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
14And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
15And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware ofk15covetousness: 16for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
k 1 Tim. 6:7.
15 The Greek word signifies an insatiable desire to have always more.
16 Gr. for not in the abundance to anyone is his life out of his goods.
16And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The 17ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 Gr. region, that is, a great deal of land which this man possessed.
17And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19And I will say to my soul, Soul,l thou hast much goods 18laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
l Eccl. 11:9; 1 Cor. 15:32; James 5:5.
18 Gr. lying.
20But God said unto him, Thoum fool, this night thy soul 19shall be required of thee: then whosen shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
m Psalm 52:5; Jer. 17:11.
19 Gr. they shall ask thy soul of thee, that is, fetch away, or, take away.
n Psalm 39:6.
21So is he that layeth up 20treasure for himself, and is 21not rich toward God.
20 Namely, to use for his own ease and pleasure.
21 That is, which is not furnished with the true knowledge and fear of God, and with confidence in Him. See 1 Tim. 6:17, 18.
22¶And he said unto his disciples, Thereforeo I say unto you, Take 22no thought for your 23life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
o Psalm 55:22; Mat. 6:25; Philip. 4:6; 1 Tim. 6:8; 1 Peter 5:7.
22 Namely, with too great and anxious care, Mat. 6:25.
23 Gr. soul.
23The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24Considerp the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: 24how much more are ye better than the fowls?
p Job 38:41; Psalm 147:9.
24 Gr. how much more do you differ from the fowls?
25Andq which of you with taking thought can add to his stature 25one cubit?
q Mat. 6:27.
25 Or, one ell. See Mat. 6 on verse 27.
26If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the 26rest?
26 Gr. remaining, namely, those that belong to the sustentation of the body and of this life.
27Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28If then God so clothe 27the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
27 See hereof Mat. 6 on verse 30.
29And 28seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither 29be ye of doubtful mind.
28 Or, ask not.
29 Or, of a doubtful mind. Gr. move not hither and thither, namely, with your care and thoughts. A phrase taken from the clouds, which, high in the air, drive this way and that way.
30For all these things do 30the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
30 Or, gentiles, that is, worldly people.
31¶Butr rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be 31added unto you.
r 1 Kings 3:13; Psalm 37:25.
31 Gr. adjoined, or cast.
32Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you 32the kingdom.
32 Namely, of God, or of heaven.
3333Sells that ye have, and give alms; providet yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
33 Namely, rather than that you would forsake the poor in their necessity. See Acts 4:34.
s Mat. 19:21; Luke 16:9.
t Mat. 6:20; 19:21; Luke 16:9; 1 Tim. 6:19.
34For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
35Letu34your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
u Eph. 6:14; 1 Peter 1:13.
34 That is, be ye prepared. A phrase taken from the manner of that country, where both men and women wore long garments, which they trussed up when they prepared themselves to travel or to do anything.
36And ye yourselves like unto men that 35wait for their lord, when he will 36return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
35 This is taken from the similitude of weddings, which were kept by night, Mat. 25:1, 6.
36 Gr. shall part from the wedding, shall be loosed, or discharged.
37Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
38Andv if he shall come in the second 37watch,w or come in the third watch,x and find them so, blessed are those servants.
v Mat. 24:42.
37 The night was divided into four watches, that one after the other might keep the watch. See of these watches, Mat. 14:25.
w second – 9.00 PM to midnight*
x third – midnight to 3.00 AM*
39Andy this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
y Mat. 24:43; 1 Thes. 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10; Rev. 3:3; 16:15.
40Bez ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man 38cometh at an hour when ye think not.
z Mat. 24:44; 25:13; Mark 13:33; Luke 21:34; 1 Thes. 5:6.
38 Namely, to judgment, 1 Thes. 3:13; 2 Peter 3:10; Rev. 3:3; 16:15.
41¶Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
42And the Lord said, Whoaa then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their 39portion of meat in due season?
aa Mat. 24:45; 25:21; 1 Cor. 4:2.
39 Gr. measured meat, or corn.
43Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
44Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
45But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
46The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will 40cut him in sunder,ab and will appoint him his portion with the 41unbelievers.
40 Namely, from his family. Other: cut him in two. See Mat. 24 on verse 51.
ab pieces, parts*
41 Or, unfaithful. Mat. 24:51 states hypocrites.
47Andac that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
ac James 4:17.
48But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and 42to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
42 Or, with whom men have laid up much.
49¶I am come to send 43fire on the earth; and 44what will I, if it be already kindled?
43 That is, the doctrine of the Gospel, which, in itself and in respect of the faithful, is a doctrine of peace, but through the wickedness of men, which will not endure the same, it is a fire of persecution and occasion of discord. See verse 51. Jer. 23:29; 1 Peter 1:7.
44 Or, what will I more, seeing it is already kindled?
50Butad I have a 45baptism to be baptized with; and how am I 46straitened till it be accomplished!
ad Mat. 20:22; Mark 10:38.
45 That is, with grievous suffering. See Mat. 20:22.
46 Namely, either with distress, or with desire until it be accomplished.
51Supposeae ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; butaf rather division:
ae Mat. 10:34.
af Micah 7:6.
52For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
53The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
54¶And he said also to the people, Whenag ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.
ag Mat. 16:2.
55And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.
56Ye hypocrites, ye can 47discern the 48face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern 49this time?
47 That is, distinguish, as is expounded, Mat. 16:3.
48 That is, that state or appearance.
49 That is, the condition of this time, in which came to pass so many signs of the presence of the Messiah, which hereafter is called the time of visitation, Luke 19:44.
57Yea, and why even 50of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
50 Namely, before you are compelled thereto, as is to be seen in the following verse.
58¶Whenah thou goest with thine adversaryai to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be 51delivered from him; lest he haleaj thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to 52the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.
ah Prov. 25:8; Mat. 5:25.
ai opponent in law-suit*
51 Namely, by pacifying and satisfying your adversary.
aj haul, drag
52 Gr. practor, that is, claimant, or exactor of the fine imposed by the judge.
59I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last 53mite.
53 How much such a mite was worth, see Mark 12 on verse 42.