Luke 8:18

18 Therefore see ye, how ye hear; for it shall be given to him that hath, and whoever hath not, also that that he weeneth that he have [+also that that he guesseth himself to have], shall be taken away from him.

Luke 8:18 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 8:18

Take heed therefore how ye hear
That ye hear not in a careless and negligent manner, since what truths and doctrines ye now hear with the ear, are to be preached by you unto others:

for whosoever hath;
that is, hath knowledge of the doctrines of the Gospel, and hath gifts and abilities to preach them to others:

to him shall be given;
more knowledge, and by using his gifts they shall be increased:

but he that hath not;
true, solid, spiritual knowledge of divine things, though he has had considerable advantages and opportunities of learning it, as the apostles especially had:

from him shall be taken, even that which he seemeth to have;
or "that which he thinks he has", as the Syriac version renders it; that which he seemed to others to have, or thought himself he had: the knowledge he had of truth, and which was rather a show of knowledge than real, shall be taken from him; his seeming gifts and parts shall die, and vanish away, and he shall be left to fall into ignorance, error, and heresy. Observe that this is to be understood not of internal grace, and experimental knowledge, but of speculative notions of the Gospel, and of external gifts; and so furnishes out no argument against the final perseverance of real saints; (See Gill on Matthew 13:12). (See Gill on Matthew 25:29).

Luke 8:18 In-Context

16 No man lighteth a lantern, and covereth it with a vessel [Forsooth no man lighting a lantern, covereth it with a vessel], or putteth it under a bed, but on a candlestick, that men that enter see light.
17 For there is no privy thing, which shall not be opened, neither hid thing, which shall not be known, and come into open. [+Forsooth nothing is privy, that shall not be opened, neither hid thing, that shall not be known, and come into apert.]
18 Therefore see ye, how ye hear; for it shall be given to him that hath, and whoever hath not, also that that he weeneth that he have [+also that that he guesseth himself to have], shall be taken away from him.
19 And his mother and brethren came to him; and they might not come to him for the people [and they might not go fully to him for the company of people].
20 And it was told to him, Thy mother and thy brethren stand withoutforth, willing to see thee.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.