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IN

CHAPTER XII.

'N the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

3 Therefore, whatsoever ye up an accusation against him, which could be presented either to the Jewish Sanhedrim, or to the Roman governor. Compare Matt. 22: 15, 16, 23, 24.

REFLECTIONS. 1. How strong and determined was the opposition of the principal men among the Jews to Jesus! So bent on self-destruction do men sometimes seem to be, that they will not desist from prosecuting their purpose even by methods which they know to be unjustifiable and deceitful. How fatal is the influence of prejudice, ill-will, and supposed selfinterest!

2. We cannot but admire the wisdom, benevolence, and undaunted

steadiness of Jesus.

3. Let us be careful that true religion be in our hearts, influencing our characters and conduct. A fair profession may consist with a corrupt heart. v. 42.

CHAPTER XII.

have spoken in darkness, shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets, shall be proclaimed upon the house-tops.

4 And I say unto you, my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that, have no more that they can do.

5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which, after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

a guise he may think himself concealed.

3. In the light; — upon the housetops. Your most secret communications shall be divulged. House-tops were so constructed as to be very favorable for making a public proclamation. See Matt. 10:27. By this figurative language, the Saviour conveyed the thought that concealment of one's character and purposes is impossible, and that, therefore, his disciples should sedulously guard against hypocrisy. See Eccles. 12: 14. 1 Cor. 4:5. 2 Cor. 5: 10. Ps. 139. The words in the second and third verses seem to have been proverbial sayings, which could be happily applied to show the utter uselessness of hypocrisy. In Matt. 10: 26, 27, they appear to be employed in a slightly different application.

How important it was that those earliest ministers of the Saviour, exposed to so many circumstances, of trial, should be perfectly sincere, it is scarcely necessary to hint.

1. The leaven of the Pharisees, 4, 5. Be not afraid, &c. Constancy which is hypocrisy. The piety of the in their attachment to Jesus, and in Pharisees was a mere pretence; hy- defending his cause, was also depocrisy was inwrought into, and per-manded of them. They would be vaded, their characters, as leaven pervades the mass in which it is placed.

2. For there is nothing covered, &c. Nothing can be concealed from God. There will be a disclosure of every man's character, under however thick

exposed to imminent danger, as his disciples. Their best defence against the fear which their dangers might excite, would be a salutary fear of God, whose displeasure would be felt in another world, as well as in this. See Matt. 10: 28.

6 Are not five sparrows sold | magistrates, and powers, take ye for two farthings, and not one of no thought how or what thing them is forgotten before God? shall answer, 7 But even the very hairs of say:

ye

shall

or what ye your head are all numbered. 12 For the Holy Ghost shall Fear not therefore: ye are of teach you in the same hour what more value than many spar-ye ought to say.

rows.

13 And one of the compa

8 Also I say unto you, Who-ny said unto him, Master, speak soever shall confess me before to my brother, that he divide the men, him shall the Son of man inheritance with me. also confess before the angels of God.

9 But he that denieth me before men, shall be denied before the angels of God.

10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven.

Il And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto

6-9. Compare Matt. 10: 29-33. 10. Compare Matt. 12: 31, 32. The fatal consequences of renouncing Christ, and of rejecting the claim which he makes on our love and obedience, ought to be considered, by the professed followers and ministers of Christ, as inducements to persevering faithfulness.

11, 12. See Matthew 10: 17-20. Powers; rulers.

14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge, or a divider over you?

15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

17 And he thought within

taking any part in the controversy. Such matters belonged to others; and to others he left them, unwilling that his great work of teaching men should be interrupted, or should be hindered by his going beyond his appropriate sphere.

15. The anxiety of this man to obtain earthly good furnished a favorable opportunity for cautioning the people against covetousness, and against seeking bliss from worldly wealth. A man's life, &c. Man's happiness in life does not consist in his possessing an abundance of property. However great abundance a man may have, length of life and continuance of happiness do not deex-pend on his abundance. Hence, beware of covetousness.

13. Speak to my brother, &c. Perhaps these persons were frequent attendants on the Saviour, and therefore the one who made the request supposed that his brother would readily yield to the direction of Jesus.

14. Who made me a judge, &c. Jesus had not been appointed to ercise temporal power, or to administer civil justice, or to settle family disputes. However desirous he might be that, in the present instance, justice might prevail, yet he declined

16. A parable. The parable was designed to illustrate the thought which Jesus had just expressed.

17. Bestow; collect, store away.

himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?

21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than rai

ment.

24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap: which neither have store-house, nor

19. Be merry; enjoy thyself. 20. Thy soul shall be required of thee; thou shalt die.

21. So is he that layeth up, &e. By the Saviour's illustration, the lesson was strikingly enforced, that life and happiness do not depend on earthly riches. On the contrary, true bliss consists in spiritual wealth, in possessing richly the favor of God.

barn; and God feedeth them. How much more are ye better than the fowls?

25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

27 Consider the lilies how they grow. They toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to-day in the field, and to-morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after : and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you. 32 Fear not, little flock; for tion, or in the sermon on the mount, according to Matthew's representation, or on both these occasions, it is not necessary for us to know, in order to receive the full impression of the truths delivered. They are instructions very happily appropriate to the parable.

25. Stature. See on Matt. 6: 27. 26. That thing which is least; a very little thing, namely, the adding of a few moments to your life. 30. Nations of the world; the Gen Compare Matt. 6: 32. Little flock. An affectionate

22-31. Compare Matt. 6: 25-33. The instructions in these verses are very intimately connected with the subject on which the Saviour had just spoken. Whether they were given by the Saviour in this very connec-epithet, applied to the company of the

tiles.

32.

it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

33 Sell that ye have, and give alms: provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

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

35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;

Saviour's disciples. || The kingdom; the blessings of the Messiah's reign, both here and hereafter, but especially hereafter in heaven. The goodness of God, in providing heavenly blessings for the Saviour's followers, was well used as an argument for placing confidence in him respecting all needed blessings on earth.

33, 34. Looking forward to the| surpassing blessings of the divine kingdom, the disciples of Christ ought to withdraw their affections from this world, and to use their worldly substance for relieving the wants of others. Sell, &c. See on Matthew 19: 21. || Bags; purses. Which wax not old; which will not wear out. The expression bags which wax not old, is immediately explained by our Saviour as meaning a treasure in heaven, which would endure forever. Compare Matt. 6: 19 -21

36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily, I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

prosecute any business with rapidity. Hence girdles were in constant use. To have the loins girded about, then, means to be ready for service. || Lights burning. Feasts and entertainments were held in the evening, and extended into the night. The servants, then, at home, waiting for their master, must have lamps burning. || Wedding. The original term is applicable to any entertainment.

37. Blessed; happy. The lord, their master. He shall gird himself, &c. It appears from Deut. 12: 17, 18, and 15: 11, 12, that the Jews were required to treat their servants with great kindness, and to consider them, as well as their own children, entitled to participate in their feasts. It was also customary for the guests at an entertainment to carry home various articles of food, such as had been used at the entertainment, as a mark of respect and affection for those who had remained at home, servants as well as others. The servants are here represented by our Saviour as being in attendance, and ready for their master's coming. As a token of his regard for them, and as rewarding their faithfulness, their master bids them take their part of the

35-48. In these verses, the Saviour inculcated the duty of habitual diligence and watchfulness in the Lord's service, and of habitual readiness to give up an account. He showed the happy consequences of being thus habitually watchful and prepared for his coming, and the certain doom of the unfaithful and negli-entertainment, and cheerfully welgent.

35. Loins be girded about. The outside garment, in the East, was loose and flowing, and, unless it was girded around the body, would be an impediment when a person wished to

comes them to their meal; this, too, he does in a manner peculiarly honorable to his faithful servants. The idea, then, in reference to the Messiah, is, he will signally honor his faithful servants.

38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

39 And this know, that if the good man of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.

40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

41 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?

42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?

43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

44 Of a truth I say unto you, That he will make him ruler over all that he hath.

38. Second watch, &c. See on

Mark 13: 35.

39, 40. Compare Matt. 24: 42-44. 41. Unto us, or even to all? Peter wished to know whether the parable had respect to the apostles in their official capacity, or whether it was intended for general application.

42-46. To Peter's inquiry our Lord did not return a direct answer, as the inquiry was not of much practical importance. He immediately proceeded still further and more particularly to enforce the necessity of watchfulness and faithfulness on the part of every one to whom a trust had been committed. See Mark 13: 37. Compare Matt. 24: 45-51.

46. The unbelievers; more exactly, the unfaithful.

45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the men-servants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

47 And that servant which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required; and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

49 I am come to send fire on

47, 48. The punishment which will be awarded to the unfaithful, will hold a just proportion to their different degrees of guilt; and the guilt will be measured by the advantages which were enjoyed of knowing and doing the Lord's will. To all men, then, the illustration in the parable is applicable, whether they have received a highly important trust or a less important one; whether they have enjoyed abundant advantages or few. He that knew not; that is, comparatively; he whose knowledge was less than others had received.

49. Fire. This word is an emblem of the discord and strife which would be excited in consequence of the Saviour's having come. He and his cause would be an occasion of bitte

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