Luke 12)
1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trampled one another down,
U K -1-12. To the Disciples.
L 13-21. To the People.
K 22-53. To the Disciples.
L 54-59. To the People
He began to say to His disciples first of all, "Take heed to yourselves of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. (Doctrines, teachings, and traditions of men. You think you are hearing the truth, but you're not. See 11:44. Matt. 13:33. You find the doctrine you should learn in God's Word)
2 For there is nothing concealed, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not become known.
3 Instead of which whatsoever you spoke in the darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which you spoke to the ear in the chambers shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. (Cp. Matt. 24:17. You should be helping bringing light to our brothers and sisters who are in darkness.)
4 And I say to you (always introduces an important matter) my friends, Be not afraid from [the hands of] them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. (Don't fear men. Revere God.)
5 But I will show (or warn) you whom you shall fear: Fear Him, which (i.e. God Who) after He has killed has power to cast into hell (= the Gehenna. See 2 Kings 23:10. Matt. 5:3final death); yes, I say to you, Fear him.
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings (see Matt. 10:29), and not one out of them is forgotten in the sight of God? (God doesn't forget one sparrow, He certainly will not forget you.)
7 But even the very hairs of your head have been all numbered (if He knows this much about you, why worry?). Fear not therefore: you are of differ from (i.e. excel) than many sparrows.
8 Also I say to you, Whosoever may confess in Me (i.e. in My name) in the presence of men, in him will the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: (You are a child of the living God. When you do righteous things and make Father proud, even the angels applaud.)
9 But he that has disowned Me in the sight of men shall be utterly disowned before the angels of God.
10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man (while in the flesh), it shall be forgiven him: but to him that blasphemes against the Holy Spirit it shall not be forgiven. (Absolute death. Unpardonable sin. This won't happen because these are God's elect. We do not find Satan tempting. We find him to be an abomination, and are ready and willing for Father to speak through us against him.)
11 And when they bring you before the synagogues, and to magistrates, and authorities (world leaders and powers on high), be not anxious how or what thing you shall reply in defense (see Acts 6:8,10. 2 Tim. 4:17. 1 Pet. 3:15. Cp. Dan. 3:16), or what you shall say:
12 For the Holy Spirit shall teach you in the same hour what you should to say." (The hour of temptation, we don't find him, Satan, the anti-Christ, tempting.)
L e 13,14. A Man's request. Made.
f 15. Covetousness. Warning.
f 16-20. Covetousness. Parable.
e 21. The Man's request. Application.
13 And one of the company said to him, "Teacher, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me." (Cp. Deut. 21:15-17)
14 And He said to him, "Man, who appointed (or constituted. Cp. Ex. 2:14) Me a judge or a divider over you?"
15 And He said to them, "See, and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for to any one life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses."
16 And He spoke a parable to them, saying, "The estate of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he was reasoning within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, because I have not room where to gather together (or lay up) my fruits?'
18 And he said, 'This will I do: I will pull down my granaries, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my produce and my good things.
19 And I will say to my soul (idiom for "myself"), 'Soul, you have much goods laid up for many years (cp. Prov. 27:1); take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.' '
20 But God said to him, "You fool, this very night your soul life they demand of you (referring to some invisible agencies which carry out God's judgment of Satan's will. Cp. Ps. 49:15. Job 4:19; 18:18; 19:26; 34:20. In a good sense cp. Isa. 60:11): then whose shall those things be, which you have prepared?
21 So is he that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
K O 22-32. Solicitude. Discouraged. Negative.
P Fear of Man. Discouraged. "
O 33,34. Liberality. Encouraged. Positive.
P Watchfulness for the Lord. "
O Q 22,23. Solicitude. Dehortation.
R g 24-. Ravens.
h -24-26. Application.
R g 27. Lilies.
h 28. Application.
Q 29-31. Solicitude. Dehortation.
22 And He said to His disciples (not a crowd), "On this account I say to you, Take no thought for your life (don't worry), what you shall eat (There's more than feeding your body); neither for the body, what you shall put on. (God will take care of it.)
23 For the life is more than food (cp. Matt. 6:25-34), and the body is more than clothing. (i.e. than putting clothing on it. It is the home of your eternal soul, its for vv.8-12.)
24 Consider the ravens (see Matt. 7:3. Job 38:41. Ps. 147:9): for they sow not nor reap; which have not storehouse nor granary; and God feeds them: (Through nature. Your soul is precious to God. You will be spiritually fed, if you go to His Word for your meals.)
how much more are you better than the birds?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his age one cubit? (as in John 9:21,23. Heb. 11:11, referring to fullness of growth. A "cubit" could not be "the least" of v.25. It must be put for length generally" either the least measure [an inch] to his height, or a moment to his age [or life]. Worrying about it will take away from it.)
26 If you then be not able to do that thing which is least (this determines the meaning of "cubit" in v.25, or it would nullify the Lord's argument), why take you thought for the rest? (No faith in small things, how will they handle the big things?)
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, that not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed like one of these. (1 Kings 3:13; 10:1-29. Song 3:6-11. God is able to make your life beautiful, if you love and serve Him.)
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is today in the field (cp. Isa. 40:6. 1 Pet. 1:24. Jas. 1:10,11), and tomorrow is cast into the oven (i.e. for fuel, "oven" put for the furnace; as we say the Kettle boils" or "light the fire"); how much more will He clothe you (Don't you think He can care for you? He can make your life beautiful), O you of little faith? (Doubters)
29 And seek not you what you shall eat, or what you shall drink (Amos 8:8. Don't spend all your time doing this), and not be you excited. (Don't worry. Trust Him.)
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knows that you have need of these things. (Father knows what you need, and He will provide your needs, if you are doing His will.)
31 But rather seek you the kingdom of God (and His dominion); and all these things shall be added to you. (He'll show you how)
32 Fear not, little flock (disciples. cp. Ps. 23:1. Isa. 40:11. Matt. 26:31. John 10:12-16); for your Father took delight to give you the kingdom. (The King was present: what could He not supply? It pleases God to provide for those that Seek Him.)
33 Sell your possessions (If you have a bunch of stuff and it causes you to worry and to blunder and to just lose sleep, get rid of it, you're better off without it. God will never give an individual more than he/she can handle or take care of. If you can't take care of it, somebody will take care of it, they will rip you off.cp. Acts 2:44; 45; 4:37. Phil. 3:20), and give alms; provide yourselves purses which never wear out (Invest that truth He gives you), a treasure in the heavens unfailing, where no thief approaches, neither moth (cp. Jas. 5:2) destroys. (As in Rev. 8:9; 11:18. Your real riches are those tucked away in your mind that can change someones life. Spend those riches freely. Plant seeds of truth.)
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart (mind) also be. (That's all that you will have on your mind. I hope you can truly say that your most valued treasure is your relationship with God. If it is, no thief can steal your treasure, and no moth can corrupt it. Don't buy the chaff of the false teachers. Give the wheat of God's truth to others freely. God will make sure you never run out.)
P S 35-48. His Servants.
T 49. Effect of His coming. Fire.
S 50. His own sufferings.
T 51-53. Effect of His coming. Sword.
S U 35-38. Watchfulness.
V 39,40. Parable. Thief.
W 41. Peter's question.
V 42-46. Parable. Servants.
U 47,48. Preparedness.
35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lamps burning; (Ready for action, disciplined, at the least instant to serve God, you are there and ready to go with your light shining as to to teach the light. Which Christ is that light, and He happens to be the Word of God. Then you're ready at a moments notice to do battle, or to teach. Matt. 25, remember the 10 virgins.)
36 And you yourselves like unto men that waiting (or looking) for their lord, whensoever he may return [back] (see gen. 3:19. 1 Tim. 4:6) out of the marriage feast (the feast was 1st. Feast on His Word); that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately.
37 Happy are those bondmen, whom the lord when he comes shall find watching (watching events of the times. You don't have to wait for the wedding): truly I say to you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat (truth), and will come forth and serve them.
38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them thus, happy are those servants. (To be ready at any time)
39 And this know, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched (watch for your family also), and not have suffered his house to be dug through. (Such as the false "rapture" doctrine)
40 Become you therefore ready also: for the Son of man comes at an hour when you think not." (Ezek. 13:18-22)
41 Then Peter said to Him, "Lord, do You speak this parable to us, or even to all?"
V i 42-. The Steward. Faithful and wise.
k -42. Servants. Well-treated.
l 43. The Lord's coming.
m 44. His reward.
i 45-. The Steward. Evil.
k -45. Servants. Ill-treated.
l 46-. The Lord's enemy.
m -46. His punishment.
42 And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful steward and prudent [man], whom his lord shall set over his household,
to give them their measure of food in due season?
43 Happy is that servant, whom his lord when he comes shall find so doing. (You're a worker and watcher, staying in the field doing God's work.)
44 Of a truth I say to you, that he will make him ruler over all that he has. (See Ezek 40-48, pay special att. to chapter 44)
45 But and if that servant say in his heart, 'My lord delays his coming;' (It aint gonna happen.)
and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; (Take unfair advantage)
46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looks not for him, and in an hour (hour of temptation) when he knows not,
and will cut him in sunder (cp. Dan. 2:5. Heb. 11:37), and will appoint him his portion with the unfaithful. (Biblically illiterate)
47 But that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. (Severely punished. If He gives you a truth, share it.)
48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For to whomsoever much is committed, from him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much (entrusted), of him they will ask the more. (All God's news is good news.)
49 I came to send fire (the Holy Spirit is that fire. God is a consuming fire. Heb. 12:29. It warms the true Christian inside when He touches you. But that that is evil it burns) into the earth (see Joel 2:30,&c. Had the nation received Him, all that the prophets had spoken would have been fulfilled. So would it have been had Peter's proclamation been received [Acts 3:18-26]. See v.51); and what I wish, if it be already kindled? (The Lord was "being pressed" [v.50]. The nation had not yet finally rejected Him. See Acts 2:1-6,16-21. This earth age is about division. It is about separating the wheat from the chaff. It is about separating good from evil. The evil also have the opportunity to change their lot. Why? Because they too are God's children. Each of His children have the opportunity to follow Him or Satan.)
50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with (referring to the sufferings which had to be first accomplished. See 24:26. Acts 3:18); and how am I being pressed (The prayer in Gethsemane shows how this was. See 22:41,42. Heb. 5:7) till it be accomplished! (See 9:31. John 19:28. Christ was anxious to pay the price on the cross. He was anxious to suffer for each and every one of us to cover our sins with His blood.That is love.)
51 Suppose you that I became present (as in Acts 21:18) to give peace in the earth? (this was the object of His coming [Isa. 9:6,7]: but the effect of His presence would bring war. He came not to judge [John 12:47] as to this object, but the effect of his coming was judgment John 9:39]) I tell you, No; but rather disunion: (Again, we see the purpose of this earth age. The wheat must be divided from the chaff. Its going to happen. See v.1)
52 For from now (explaining the effect) there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. (Referring to Mic. 7:6.)
53 The 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." (See Ezek. 44:25. The division must occur, even among relatives. Love them and pray for them, but don't preach at them. Think about the season Christ is referring to in this verse. Mark 13 should come to mind. Christ is talking about you and the generation of the fig tree.)
54 And He said to the crowds also, "When you see a cloud rise from the west, straightway you say, 'There comes a shower;' and so it happens.
55 And when you see the south wind blow, you say, 'There will be heat;' and it comes to pass. (God's Word is just this simple. Many are able to discern the weather, but they don't realize God uses the heavens and weather phenomenon as signs to those watchmen that realize that 3 x 6 equals 18.)
56 You hypocrites (play actors), you know [how to] discern the appearance of the heaven and of the earth; but how is it that you do not discern this time? (Time between vv.9,10)
57 Yes, and why even of yourselves judge you not what is right? (They refuse to see. There is a division taking place. Are you able to discern right from wrong? If not, you may be on the wrong side.)
58 For, when you are brought (introducing the reason for this conclusion of the whole argument) with your adversary (shown in the last clause to be the tax-gatherer) before the magistrate (court, that hour, the hour of temptation), as you are in the way, work hard (or take pains, or do your best) that you may be set free from him; lest he haul you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the tax-gatherer (executive officer. He was the one who could cast a defaulter into prison), and the officer cast you into prison. (Go for the head, not the tail)
59 I tell you, you shall by no means depart from there, till you shall have paid the very last mite. (This verse is repeated from Matt. 5:22, with a different purpose, and therefore with different words. Be wiser than the serpent. Your part of God's plan is to be delivered up before the spurious messiah. The Holy Spirit will speak God's truth through you. If you don't use your head and you are put in prison at that time, you will be of no service to God.)