12:1 In 1 the mean time, when there were gathered together a
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.
(1) The faithful teachers of God's word, who are appointed by
him for his people, must both take good heed of those who
corrupt the purity of doctrine with smooth speech, and also
take pains through the help of God to set forth sincere
doctrine, openly and without fear.
(a) Literally, "ten thousand of people", a certain number
which is given for an uncertain number.
12:42 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.
12:5 But I will b forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him,
which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell;
yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
(b) He warns them of dangers that presently hang over their
heads, for those that come upon one suddenly make a
greater wound.
12:83 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before
men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the
angels of God:
(3) Great is the reward of a constant confession: and horrible
is the punishment for denying Christ; yea, it will be
impossible to call the punishment back again, if on
purpose, both with mouth and heart we blaspheme a known
truth.
12:114 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and
[unto] magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or
what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
(4) It is a great and difficult conflict to confess the truth,
yet God who can do all things and is almighty will provide
strength to the weakest who struggle greatly and do battle
in God's appointed time.
12:135 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to
my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
(5) For three reasons Christ would not be a judge to divide an
inheritance. First, because he would not support and
uphold the fleshly opinion that the Jews had of Messiah:
secondly, because he wanted to distinguish the civil
government from the ecclesiastical: thirdly, to teach us to
beware of those which abuse the show of the gospel, and
also the name of ministers, for their own private
well-being.
12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of c
covetousness: for a man's life d consisteth not in the
abundance of the things which he possesseth.
(c) By covetousness is meant that greedy desire to get,
commonly causing hurt to other men.
(d) God is the author and preserver of man's life; goods
are not.
12:166 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The e
ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
(6) There are none more mad than rich men who depend upon their
riches.
(e) Or rather country, for here is set forth a man that
possesses not only a piece of ground, but a whole
country, as they do who join house to house, and field
to field; (Isa 5:8).
12:17 And he f thought within himself, saying, What shall I
do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
(f) Reckoned with himself, which is the characteristic of
covetous surly men who spend their life in those
trifles.
12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid
up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, [and] g
be merry.
(g) Be merry and make good cheer.
12:21 So [is] he that layeth up treasure h for himself, and is
not rich toward God.
(h) Caring for no man but for himself, and making sure to
trust in himself.
12:227 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto
you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat;
neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
(7) Earnestly thinking upon the providence of God is a present
remedy for this life against the most foolish and wasting
worry of men.
12:29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink,
neither i be ye of doubtful mind.
(i) A metaphor taken of things that hang in the air, for
those that care too much for this worldly life, and
rely upon the arm of man, always have wavering and
doubtful minds, swaying sometimes this way, and
sometimes that way.
12:318 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these
things shall be added unto you.
(8) They will lack nothing who are diligent for the kingdom of
heaven.
12:329 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good
pleasure to give you the kingdom.
(9) It is a foolish thing not to look for small things at the
hands of him who freely gives us the greatest things.
12:3310 Sell that ye have, and give k alms; provide
yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the
heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth,
neither moth corrupteth.
(10) A godly bountifulness is a proper way to get true riches.
(k) This is the figure of speech metonymy, for by this
word "alms" is meant that compassion and friendliness
of a heart that cares tenderly for the misery and poor
condition of a man, and shows this feeling by some
gift, and has the name given to it in the Greek language
of mercy and compassion: and therefore he is said to
give alms who gives something to another, and gives to
the poor, showing by this that he pities their poor
condition.
12:3511 Let your loins be girded about, and [your] lights
burning;
(11) The life of the faithful servants of God in this world is
certainly a diligent journey, having the light of the word
going before the journey.
12:4012 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh
at an hour when ye think not.
(12) None need to watch more than they that have some degree of
honour in the household of God.
12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise
steward, whom [his] lord shall make ruler over his
household, to give [them their] l portion of meat in due
season?
(l) That is, every month the measure of corn that was
given to them.
12:48 But 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 to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask
m the more.
(m) More than the one who did not receive as much.
12:4913 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I,
if it be already kindled?
(13) The gospel is the only reason of peace between the godly,
and so it is the occasion of great trouble among the
wicked.
12:5414 And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud
n rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh
a shower; and so it is.
(14) Men who are very quick to see with regard to earthly
things are blind with regard to those things which pertain
to the heavenly life, and this through their own malice.
(n) Which appears, and gathers itself together in that
part of the air.
12:5715 Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is
right?
(15) Men that are blinded with the love of themselves, and
therefore are detestable and stubborn, will bear the
punishment of their folly.
12:58 When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate,
[as thou art] in the way, give diligence that thou mayest
be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and
the judge deliver thee to the o officer, and the officer
cast thee into prison.
(o) To him that has to demand and gather the fines from
those who were fined at the discretion of the court,
people who had wrongly troubled men: moreover, the
magistrate's officers make those who are condemned pay
what they owe, yea and often if they are obstinate,
they not only take the fine, but also imprison them.
