Luke 12

1 Meanwhile, as a crowd in the tens of thousands gathered so closely as to trample each other down, Yeshua began to say to his talmidim first, "Guard yourselves from the hametz of the P'rushim, by which I mean their hypocrisy.

2 There is nothing covered up that will not be uncovered, or hidden that will not become known.

3 What you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops.

4 "My friends, I tell you: don't fear those who kill the body but then have noth ing more they can do.

5 I will show you whom to fear: fear him who after killing you has authority to throw you into Gei-Hinnom! Yes, I tell you, this is the one to fear!

6 Aren't sparrows sold for next to nothing, five for two assarions? And not one of them has been forgotten by God.

7 Why, every hair on your head has been counted! Don't be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows.

8 "Moreover, I tell you, whoever acknowledges me in the presence of others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God's angels.

9 But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before God's angels.

10 Also, everyone who says something against the Son of Man will have it forgiven him; but whoever has blasphemed the Ruach HaKodesh will not be forgiven.

11 "When they bring you before the synagogues and the ruling powers and the authorities, don't worry about how you will defend yourself or what you will say;

12 because when the time comes, the Ruach HaKodesh will teach you what you need to say."

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, "Rabbi, tell my brother to share with me the property we inherited."

14 But Yeshua answered him, "My friend, who appointed me judge or arbitrator over you?"

15 Then to the people he said, "Be careful to guard against all forms of greed, because even if someone is rich, his life does not consist in what he owns."

16 And he gave them this illustration: "There was a man whose land was very productive.

17 He debated with himself, `What should I do? I haven't enough room for all my crops.'

18 Then he said, `This is what I will do: I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and I'll store all my wheat and other goods there.

19 Then I'll say to myself, "You're a lucky man! You have a big supply of goods laid up that will last many years. Start taking it easy! Eat! Drink! Enjoy yourself!"'

20 But God said to him, `You fool! This very night you will die! And the things you pre pared -- whose will they be?'

21 That's how it is with anyone who stores up wealth for himself without being rich toward God."

22 To his talmidim Yeshua said, "Because of this I tell you, don't worry about your life -- what you will eat or drink; or about your body -- what you will wear.

23 For life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.

24 Think about the ravens! They neither plant nor harvest, they have neither storerooms nor barns, yet God feeds them. You are worth much more than the birds!

25 Can any of you by wor ying add an hour to his life?

26 If you can't do a little thing like that, why worry about the rest?

27 Think about the wild irises, and how they grow. They neither work nor spin thread; yet, I tell you, not even Shlomo in all his glory was clothed as beautifully as one of these.

28 If this is how God clothes grass, which is alive in the field today and thrown in the oven tomorrow, how much more will he clothe you! What little trust you have!

29 "In other words, don't strive after what you will eat and what you will drink -- don't be anxious.

30 For all the pagan nations in the world set their hearts on these things. Your Father knows that you need them too.

31 Rather, seek his Kingdom; and these things will be given to you as well.

32 Have no fear, little flock, for your Father has resolved to give you the Kingdom!

33 Sell what you own and do tzedakah -- make for yourselves purses that don't wear out, riches in heaven that never fail, where no burglar comes near, where no moth destroys.

34 For where your wealth is, there your heart will be also.

35 "Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit,

36 like people waiting for their master's return after a wedding feast; so that when he comes and knocks, they will open the door for him without delay.

37 Happy the slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes! Yes! I tell you he will put on his work clothes, seat them at the table, and come serve them himself!

38 Whether it is late at night or early in the morning, if this is how he finds them, those slaves are happy.

39 "But notice this: no house-owner would let his house be broken into if he knew when the thief was coming.

40 You too, be ready! For the Son of Man will come when you are not expecting him."

41 Kefa said, "Sir, are you telling this parable for our benefit only or for everyone's?"

42 The Lord replied, "Nu, who is the faithful and sensible manager whose master puts him in charge of the household staff to give them their share of food at the proper time?

43 It will go well with that servant if he is found doing his job when his master comes.

44 Yes, I tell you he will put him in charge of all he owns.

45 But if that servant says to himself, `My master is taking his time coming,' and starts bullying the men- and women-servants, and eating and drinking, getting drunk,

46 then his master will come on a day when the servant isn't expecting him, at a time he doesn't know in advance; his master will cut him in two and put him with the disloyal.

47 Now the servant who knew what his master wanted but didn't prepare or act according to his will, will be whipped with many lashes;

48 however, the one who did what deserves a beating, but didn't know, will receive few lashes. From him who has been given much, much will be demanded -- from someone to whom people entrust much, they ask still more.

49 "I have come to set fire to the earth! And how I wish it were already kindled!

50 I have an immersion to undergo -- how pressured I feel till it's over!

51 Do you think that I have come to bring peace in the Land? Not peace, I tell you, but division!

52 For from now on, a household of five will be divided, three against two, two against three.

53 Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."w

54 Then to the crowds Yeshua said, "When you see a cloud-bank rising in the west, at once you say that a rainstorm is coming;

55 and when the wind is from the south, you say there will be a heat wave, and there is.

56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky -- how is it that you don't know how to interpret this present time?

57 Why don't you decide for yourselves what is the right course to follow?

58 If someone brings a lawsuit against you, take pains to settle with him first; otherwise he will take the matter to court, and the judge will turn you over to the bailiff, and the bailiff will throw you in jail.

59 I tell you, you won't get out of there till you have paid the last penny!"

Luke 12 Commentary

Chapter 12

Christ reproves the interpreters of the law. (1-12) A caution against covetousness The parable of the rich man. (13-21) Worldly care reproved. (22-40) Watchfulness enforced. (41-53) A warning to be reconciled to God. (54-59)

Verses 1-12 A firm belief of the doctrine of God's universal providence, and the extent of it, would satisfy us when in peril, and encourage us to trust God in the way of duty. Providence takes notice of the meanest creatures, even of the sparrows, and therefore of the smallest interests of the disciples of Christ. Those who confess Christ now, shall be owned by him in the great day, before the angels of God. To deter us from denying Christ, and deserting his truths and ways, we are here assured that those who deny Christ, though they may thus save life itself, and though they may gain a kingdom by it, will be great losers at last; for Christ will not know them, will not own them, nor show them favour. But let no trembling, penitent backslider doubt of obtaining forgiveness. This is far different from the determined enmity that is blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, which shall never be forgiven, because it will never be repented of.

Verses 13-21 Christ's kingdom is spiritual, and not of this world. Christianity does not meddle with politics; it obliges all to do justly, but wordly dominion is not founded in grace. It does not encourage expectations of worldly advantages by religion. The rewards of Christ's disciples are of another nature. Covetousness is a sin we need constantly to be warned against; for happiness and comfort do not depend on the wealth of this world. The things of the world will not satisfy the desires of a soul. Here is a parable, which shows the folly of carnal worldling while they live, and their misery when they die. The character drawn is exactly that of a prudent, worldly man, who has no grateful regard to the providence of God, nor any right thought of the uncertainty of human affairs, the worth of his soul, or the importance of eternity. How many, even among professed Christians, point out similar characters as models for imitation, and proper persons to form connexions with! We mistake if we think that thoughts are hid, and thoughts are free. When he saw a great crop upon his ground, instead of thanking God for it, or rejoicing to be able to do more good, he afflicts himself. What shall I do now? The poorest beggar in the country could not have said a more anxious word. The more men have, the more perplexity they have with it. It was folly for him to think of making no other use of his plenty, than to indulge the flesh and gratify the sensual appetites, without any thought of doing good to others. Carnal worldlings are fools; and the day is coming when God will call them by their own name, and they will call themselves so. The death of such persons is miserable in itself, and terrible to them. Thy soul shall be required. He is loth to part with it; but God shall require it, shall require an account of it, require it as a guilty soul to be punished without delay. It is the folly of most men, to mind and pursue that which is for the body and for time only, more than that for the soul and eternity.

Verses 22-40 Christ largely insisted upon this caution not to give way to disquieting, perplexing cares, ( Matthew 6:25-34 ) . The arguments here used are for our encouragement to cast our care upon God, which is the right way to get ease. As in our stature, so in our state, it is our wisdom to take it as it is. An eager, anxious pursuit of the things of this world, even necessary things, ill becomes the disciples of Christ. Fears must not prevail; when we frighten ourselves with thoughts of evil to come, and put ourselves upon needless cares how to avoid it. If we value the beauty of holiness, we shall not crave the luxuries of life. Let us then examine whether we belong to this little flock. Christ is our Master, and we are his servants; not only working servants, but waiting servants. We must be as men that wait for their lord, that sit up while he stays out late, to be ready to receive him. In this Christ alluded to his own ascension to heaven, his coming to call his people to him by death, and his return to judge the world. We are uncertain as to the time of his coming to us, we should therefore be always ready. If men thus take care of their houses, let us be thus wise for our souls. Be ye therefore ready also; as ready as the good man of the house would be, if he knew at what hour the thief would come.

Verses 41-53 All are to take to themselves what Christ says in his word, and to inquire concerning it. No one is left so ignorant as not to know many things to be wrong which he does, and many things to be right which he neglects; therefore all are without excuse in their sin. The bringing in the gospel dispensation would occasion desolations. Not that this would be the tendency of Christ's religion, which is pure, peaceable, and loving; but the effect of its being contrary to men's pride and lusts. There was to be a wide publication of the gospel. But before that took place, Christ had a baptism to be baptized with, far different from that of water and the Holy Spirit. He must endure sufferings and death. It agreed not with his plan to preach the gospel more widely, till this baptism was completed. We should be zealous in making known the truth, for though divisions will be stirred up, and a man's own household may be his foes, yet sinners will be converted, and God will be glorified.

Verses 54-59 Christ would have the people to be as wise in the concerns of their souls as they are in outward affairs. Let them hasten to obtain peace with God before it is too late. If any man has found that God has set himself against him concerning his sins, let him apply to him as God in Christ reconciling the world to himself. While we are alive, we are in the way, and now is our time.