Luke 12

Luke 12:1

Entered into a certain village. Bethany, the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. It is probable that this incident is not related in its order of time. It may have occurred on the last journey.

Luke 12:2

Sat at the Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. Martha seems to have been mistress of the house. Her thought was to entertain the Lord; Mary’s to hear his word; both commendable; the latter, best.

Luke 12:3

Dost thou not care? Her sister seemed to her negligent and selfish, when her apparent neglect was do to the absorption in the truth.

Luke 12:4

Thou art careful and troubled. Agitated over temporal matters while there are others more important.

Luke 12:5

One thing is needful. Jesus cared nothing for bodily indulgence. The important thing was the bread of life. That, Mary had chosen. Heed the lesson that he who receives most of his word and spirit, is most pleasing in his sight.

Luke 12:7

Rebuking the Pharisees SUMMARY OF LUKE 11: 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. Praying in a certain place. Luke neither tells where nor when. Teach us to pray. Matthew 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.

Luke 12:11

Friend, lend me three loaves. This parable is uttered to teach earnestness in prayer.

Luke 12:13

My children are with me in bed. He could not rise to give the bread without disturbing them.

Luke 12:14

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 Genesis 32:28 Psalms 55:17 1 Thessalonians 3:10 5:17 1 Timothy 5:5 2 Timothy 1:3.

Luke 12:15

Ask, and it shall be given. See notes on Matthew 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 12:19

Give the Holy Spirit. Instead of “good things” (Matthew 7:11), Luke says that the Father will give the Holy Spirit, the best possible gift.

Luke 12:20

And he was casting out a devil, etc. See notes on Matthew 12:22-29,43-45. This discourse was given in Galilee.

Luke 12:33

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” (Lu 11:28). Mariolatry is idolatry. There is not the slightest foundation for it in the New Testament.

Luke 12:35

They seek a sign. See notes on Matthew 12:38-42, where we have the same language reported.

Luke 12:39

When he hath lighted a lamp. See notes on Matthew 5:15 6:22,23.

Luke 12:40

Thy whole body also is 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.

Luke 12:43

A certain Pharisee besought him. Jesus did not refuse invitations of Pharisees, or of publicans and sinners.

Luke 12:44

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 notes on Matthew 15:2 Mr 7:2-5.

Luke 12:45

The Lord said unto him. The denunciation of the Pharisees and lawyers contained in these verses is found in similar language in Matthew . That address was spoken in the temple. There is no improbability about the Lord speaking the same discourse twice to the same class of opposers. See the notes on Matthew 23:1-36.

Luke 12:47

But rather, etc. This verse 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.

Luke 12:48

Ye tithe mint. See PNT Matthew 23:23.

Luke 12:49

Ye love the uppermost seats. See PNT Matthew 23:6.

Luke 12:53

Ye build the sepulchres. See notes on Matthew 23:29,30.

Luke 12:58

Taken away the key of knowledge. Matthew, in different words, gives the thought. See PNT Matthew 23:12.

Luke 12:59

The scribes and the Pharisees. For the manner in which they tried to entrap Jesus, see Matthew 22:15-46 John 8:1-59 9:1-41.