SUMMARY.--Teaching the Disciples to Pray.
Parable of the Three Loaves.
Earnestness in Prayer.
The Charge That Jesus Cast Out Demons by the Aid of Beelzebub.
The Sign of Jonas.
Dining with a Pharisee.
The Pharisees and Lawyers Denounced.
1-4. Praying in a certain place. Luke neither tells where nor
when.
Teach us to pray.Matt. 6:9-13,
gives the Lord's prayer, but does not say that the prayer was taught in
response to a request. See the notes on
Matthew.
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5-8. Friend, lend me three loaves. This parable is uttered to
teach earnestness in prayer.
My children are with me in bed. He could not rise to give the
bread without disturbing them.
Because of his importunity. When he should continue knocking
and asking. How much more will the loving Father yield to the
importunity of his children. Compare
Gen. 32:28;
Psa. 55:17; 1 Thess. 3:10 and 5:17; 1 Tim. 5:5; 2 Tim. 1:3.
9-13. Ask, and it shall be given. See notes on
Matt. 7:7-11.
These verses are a part of the Sermon on the Mount. It is probable that
Luke, who does not give a chronological history, incorporates them
here, though not the time when they were spoken. The same may be said
of various utterances given by Luke. Luke says instead of good
things
(Matthew)
that the Father will give the Holy Spirit,
the best possible gift.
14-26. He casteth out devils through Beelzebub. See notes on
Matt. 12:22-29;
43-45.
This discourse was given in Galilee
(Matthew).
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27, 28. Blessed is the womb that bare thee. This woman, in her
untaught enthusiasm, comes nearer the adoration of the mother of Jesus
than anything elsewhere in the New Testament. The Lord rebukes it by
saying: "Rather are they blessed who hear and keep the word of God."
Mariolatry is idolatry. There is not the slightest foundation for it in
the New Testament.
29-32. They seek a sign. See notes on
Matt. 12:38-42,
where we have the same language reported. [269]
33-36. When he hath lighted a lamp. See notes on
Matt. 5:15
and
6:22, 23.
If thy whole body be full of light. If it were thus the
whole body would be luminous, and if our souls be full of light, of the
light of Christ, then our light shall shine as that of a lamp.
37, 38. A certain Pharisee besought him. Jesus did not refuse
invitations of Pharisees, or of publicans and sinners.
Marvelled that he had not first washed. Dipped his hands.
The tradition of the elders required those who came in from without to
immerse their hands before eating. See
Matt. 15:2
and
Mark 7:2-5,
for notes.
39-52. The Lord said unto him. The denunciation of the Pharisees
and lawyers contained in these verses is found in similar language in
Matthew, chapter 23.
That address was spoken in the temple. [270]
There is no improbability about the Lord speaking the same discourse
twice to the same class of opposers. See the notes on
Matt. 23:1-36.
Verse 41
is peculiar to Luke.
Give for alms, etc. The Pharisees were careful for the outside;
careless for what was within; but the Lord says: "Give for alms the
within;" i. e., let your hearts and lives be full of
compassion, and it will make you clean.
Ye tithe mint. See note on
Matt. 23:23.
Ye love the uppermost seats. See note on
Matt. 23:6.
Ye build the sepulchres. See notes on
Matt. 23:29, 30.
Taken away the key of knowledge.Matt. 23:13,
in different words, gives the thought. See note
there.