2158 lines
105 KiB
Plaintext
2158 lines
105 KiB
Plaintext
|
<HTML>
|
||
|
|
<HEAD>
|
||
|
|
<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Luke XII].</TITLE>
|
||
|
|
<meta name="aesop" content="information">
|
||
|
|
<meta name="description" content=
|
||
|
|
"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
|
||
|
|
<meta name="keywords" content=
|
||
|
|
"Prophecy, Rapture,hope,bible map,bible maps, God, tribulation,Second Coming,Christ,large print bible,commentary,complete">
|
||
|
|
</HEAD>
|
||
|
|
<body background="../sueback.jpg" bgproperties="fixed" >
|
||
|
|
<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
|
||
|
|
on the Whole Bible</h1>
|
||
|
|
<h3><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank">Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page</a>
|
||
|
|
</h3>
|
||
|
|
</center>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<HR>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
|
||
|
|
<TR>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
||
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
|
||
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC42011.HTM">Previous</A>]
|
||
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC42013.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
||
|
|
Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
|
||
|
|
</TD></TR></TABLE>
|
||
|
|
<HR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<!-- (Begin Body) -->
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<CENTER>
|
||
|
|
<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>L U K E.</B></FONT>
|
||
|
|
<BR>
|
||
|
|
<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XII.</FONT>
|
||
|
|
<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
|
||
|
|
</CENTER>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
In this chapter we have divers excellent discourses of our Saviour's
|
||
|
|
upon various occasions, many of which are to the same purport with what
|
||
|
|
we had in Matthew upon other the like occasions; for we may suppose
|
||
|
|
that our Lord Jesus preached the same doctrines, and pressed the same
|
||
|
|
duties, at several times, in several companies, and that one of the
|
||
|
|
evangelists took them as he delivered them at one time and another at
|
||
|
|
another time; and we need thus to have precept upon precept, line upon
|
||
|
|
line. Here,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. Christ warns his disciples to take heed of hypocrisy, and of
|
||
|
|
cowardice in professing Christianity and preaching the gospel,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:1-12">ver. 1-12</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. He gives a caution against covetousness, upon occasion of a
|
||
|
|
covetous motion made to him, and illustrates that caution by a parable
|
||
|
|
of a rich man suddenly cut off by death in the midst of his worldly
|
||
|
|
projects and hopes,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:13-21">ver. 13-21</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. He encourages his disciples to cast all their care upon God, and
|
||
|
|
to live easy in a dependence upon his providence, and exhorts them to
|
||
|
|
make religion their main business,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:22-34">ver. 22-34</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IV. He stirs them up to watchfulness for their Master's coming, from
|
||
|
|
the consideration of the reward of those who are then found faithful,
|
||
|
|
and the punishment of those who are found unfaithful,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:35-48">ver. 35-48</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
V. He bids them expect trouble and persecution,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:49-53">ver. 49-53</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
VI. He warns the people to observe and improve the day of their
|
||
|
|
opportunities and to make their peace with God in time,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:54-59">ver. 54-59</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
</FONT>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_1"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_2"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_3"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_4"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_5"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_6"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_7"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_8"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_9"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_10"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_11"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_12"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ's Charge to His Apostles.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>1 In 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 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 housetops.
|
||
|
|
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.
|
||
|
|
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of
|
||
|
|
them is forgotten before God?
|
||
|
|
7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear
|
||
|
|
not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
|
||
|
|
8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men,
|
||
|
|
him shall the Son of man 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.
|
||
|
|
11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and <I>unto</I>
|
||
|
|
magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye
|
||
|
|
shall answer, or what ye shall say:
|
||
|
|
12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye
|
||
|
|
ought to say.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
We find here,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. A vast auditory that was got together to hear Christ preach. The
|
||
|
|
<I>scribes</I> and <I>Pharisees</I> sought <I>to accuse him,</I> and do
|
||
|
|
him mischief; but the people, who were not under the bias of their
|
||
|
|
prejudices and jealousies, still <I>admired</I> him, attended on him,
|
||
|
|
and did him honour. <I>In the mean time</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
while he was in the Pharisee's house, contending with them that sought
|
||
|
|
to ensnare him, the people got together for an afternoon sermon, a
|
||
|
|
sermon after <I>dinner,</I> after dinner with a Pharisee; and he would
|
||
|
|
not disappoint them. Though in the morning sermon, when they were
|
||
|
|
<I>gathered thickly together</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+11:29"><I>ch.</I> xi. 29</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
he had severely reproved them, as an <I>evil generation that seek a
|
||
|
|
sign,</I> yet they renewed their attendance on him; so much better
|
||
|
|
could the people bear <I>their</I> reproofs than the Pharisees
|
||
|
|
<I>theirs.</I> The more the Pharisees strove to drive the people from
|
||
|
|
Christ, the more flocking there was to him. Here was an <I>innumerable
|
||
|
|
multitude of people gathered together, so that they trade one upon
|
||
|
|
another,</I> in labouring to get foremost, and to come within hearing.
|
||
|
|
It is a good sight to see people thus forward to hear the word, and
|
||
|
|
venture upon inconvenience and danger rather than miss an opportunity
|
||
|
|
for their souls. Who are these that thus <I>fly as the doves to their
|
||
|
|
windows?</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:8">Isa. lx. 8</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
When the net is cast where there is such a multitude of fish, it may be
|
||
|
|
hoped that some will be enclosed.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. The instructions which he gave his followers, in the hearing of
|
||
|
|
this auditory.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. He began with a caution against <I>hypocrisy.</I> This he said <I>to
|
||
|
|
his disciples first of all;</I> either to the twelve, or to the
|
||
|
|
seventy. These were his more peculiar charge, his family, his school,
|
||
|
|
and therefore he particularly <I>warned them</I> as his <I>beloved
|
||
|
|
sons;</I> they made more profession of religion than others and
|
||
|
|
hypocrisy in <I>that</I> was the sin they were most in danger of. They
|
||
|
|
were to preach to others; and, if they should <I>prevaricate,</I>
|
||
|
|
corrupt the word, and deal deceitfully, hypocrisy would be worse in
|
||
|
|
them than in others. Besides, there was a Judas among them, who was a
|
||
|
|
hypocrite, and Christ knew it, and would hereby startle him, or leave
|
||
|
|
him inexcusable. Christ's disciples were, for aught we know, the
|
||
|
|
<I>best men</I> then in the world, yet they needed to be cautioned
|
||
|
|
against hypocrisy. Christ said this to the disciples, <I>in the
|
||
|
|
hearing</I> of this great multitude, rather than <I>privately</I> when
|
||
|
|
he had them by themselves, to add the greater weight to the caution,
|
||
|
|
and to let the world know that he would not countenance hypocrisy, no,
|
||
|
|
not in <I>his own disciples.</I> Now observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) The description of that sin which he warns them against: <I>It is
|
||
|
|
the leaven of the Pharisees.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] It is <I>leaven;</I> it is <I>spreading</I> as leaven,
|
||
|
|
<I>insinuates</I> itself into the whole man, and all that he does; it
|
||
|
|
is <I>swelling</I> and <I>souring</I> as leaven, for it puffs men up
|
||
|
|
with pride, embitters them with malice, and makes their service
|
||
|
|
unacceptable to God.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] It is the leaven of the Pharisees: "It is the sin they are most of
|
||
|
|
them found in. Take heed of imitating them; be not you of their spirit;
|
||
|
|
do not dissemble in Christianity as they do in Judaism; make not
|
||
|
|
<I>your</I> religion a <I>cloak of maliciousness,</I> as they do
|
||
|
|
theirs."</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) A good reason against it: "<I>For there is nothing covered that
|
||
|
|
shall not be revealed,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:2,3"><I>v.</I> 2, 3</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It is to no purpose to dissemble, for, sooner or later, truth will come
|
||
|
|
out; and a <I>lying tongue is but for a moment.</I> If you <I>speak in
|
||
|
|
darkness</I> that which is unbecoming you, and is inconsistent with
|
||
|
|
your public professions, <I>it shall be heard in the light;</I> some
|
||
|
|
way or other it shall be discovered, <I>a bird of the air shall carry
|
||
|
|
the voice</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+10:20">Eccl. x. 20</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and your folly and falsehood will be <I>made manifest.</I>" The
|
||
|
|
iniquity that is concealed with a show of piety will be discovered,
|
||
|
|
perhaps in this world, as Judas's was, and Simon Magus's, at furthest
|
||
|
|
in the great day, when the <I>secrets of all hearts</I> shall be made
|
||
|
|
<I>manifest,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+12:14,Ro+2:16">Eccl. xii. 14; Rom. ii. 16</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
If men's religion prevail not to conquer and cure the wickedness of
|
||
|
|
their hearts, it shall not always serve for a cloak. The day is coming
|
||
|
|
when hypocrites will be stripped of their fig-leaves.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. To this he added a charge to them to be faithful to the trust
|
||
|
|
reposed in them, and not to betray it, through cowardice or base fear.
|
||
|
|
Some make
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:2,3"><I>v.</I> 2, 3</A>,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
to be a caution to them not to <I>conceal</I> those things which they
|
||
|
|
had been <I>instructed</I> in, and were <I>employed</I> to publish to
|
||
|
|
the world. "Whether men will <I>hear,</I> or whether they will
|
||
|
|
<I>forbear,</I> tell them the <I>truth,</I> the <I>whole</I> truth, and
|
||
|
|
<I>nothing but</I> the truth; what has been spoken to you, and you have
|
||
|
|
talked of among yourselves, <I>privately,</I> and in corners, that do
|
||
|
|
you preach <I>publicly,</I> whoever is offended; for, if you <I>please
|
||
|
|
men,</I> you are not <I>Christ's servants,</I> nor can you please him,"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+1:10">Gal. i. 10</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But this was not the worst of it: it was likely to be a
|
||
|
|
<I>suffering</I> cause, though never a <I>sinking</I> one: let them
|
||
|
|
therefore arm themselves with courage; and divers arguments are
|
||
|
|
furnished here to steel them with a holy resolution in their work.
|
||
|
|
Consider,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) "The power of your enemies is a limited power
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>I say unto you, my friends</I>" (Christ's disciples are his friends,
|
||
|
|
he calls them <I>friends,</I> and gives them this <I>friendly</I>
|
||
|
|
advice), "<I>be not afraid,</I> do not disquiet yourselves with
|
||
|
|
tormenting fears of the power and rage of men." Note, Those whom Christ
|
||
|
|
owns for <I>his friends</I> need not be afraid of any enemies. "<I>Be
|
||
|
|
not afraid,</I> no, not of them that <I>kill the body,</I> let it not
|
||
|
|
be in the power of <I>scoffers,</I> not even of <I>murderers,</I> to
|
||
|
|
drive you off from your work, for you that have learned to triumph over
|
||
|
|
death may say, even of them, Let them do their worst, <I>after that
|
||
|
|
there is no more that they can do;</I> the immortal soul lives, and is
|
||
|
|
happy, and enjoys itself and its God, and sets them all at defiance."
|
||
|
|
Note, Those can do Christ's disciples no real harm, and therefore ought
|
||
|
|
not to be dreaded, who can but <I>kill the body;</I> for they only send
|
||
|
|
that to its rest, and the soul to its joy, the sooner.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) God is to be feared more than the most powerful men: "<I>I will
|
||
|
|
forewarn you whom you shall fear</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
that you may fear man less, fear God more. Moses conquers his fear of
|
||
|
|
the <I>wrath of the king,</I> by having an eye to him <I>that is
|
||
|
|
invisible.</I> By <I>owning Christ</I> you may incur the wrath of men,
|
||
|
|
which can reach no further than to <I>put you to death</I> (and without
|
||
|
|
God's permission they cannot do that); but by <I>denying</I> Christ,
|
||
|
|
and disowning him, you will incur the wrath of God, which has power to
|
||
|
|
send <I>you to hell,</I> and there is no resisting it. Now of two evils
|
||
|
|
the less is to be chosen, and the greater is to be dreaded, and
|
||
|
|
therefore <I>I say unto you, Fear him.</I>" "It is true," said that
|
||
|
|
blessed martyr, Bishop Hooper, "life is sweet, and death bitter; but
|
||
|
|
eternal life is more sweet, and eternal death more bitter."</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) The lives of good Christians and good ministers are the particular
|
||
|
|
care of divine Providence,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:6,7"><I>v.</I> 6, 7</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
To encourage us in times of difficulty and danger, we must have
|
||
|
|
recourse to our first principles, and build upon them. Now a firm
|
||
|
|
belief of the doctrine of God's universal providence, and the extent of
|
||
|
|
it, will be satisfying to us when at any time we are in peril, and will
|
||
|
|
encourage us to trust God in the way of duty.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] Providence takes cognizance of the <I>meanest creatures,</I> even
|
||
|
|
of <I>the sparrows.</I> "Though they are of such small account that
|
||
|
|
<I>five</I> of them are sold for <I>two farthings,</I> yet not one of
|
||
|
|
them is <I>forgotten of God,</I> but is provided for, and notice is
|
||
|
|
taken of its death. Now, <I>you are of more value than many
|
||
|
|
sparrows,</I> and therefore you may be sure you <I>are not
|
||
|
|
forgotten,</I> though imprisoned, though banished, though forgotten by
|
||
|
|
your friends; much more <I>precious in the sight of the Lord is the
|
||
|
|
death of saints</I> than the death of sparrows."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] Providence takes cognizance of the <I>meanest interest</I> of the
|
||
|
|
disciples of Christ: "<I>Even the very hairs of your head are all
|
||
|
|
numbered</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
much more are your sighs and tears numbered, and the drops of your
|
||
|
|
blood, which you shed for Christ's name's sake. An account is kept of
|
||
|
|
all your losses, that they <I>may be,</I> and without doubt they shall
|
||
|
|
be, recompensed unspeakably to your advantage."</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(4.) "You will be owned or disowned by Christ, in the great day,
|
||
|
|
according as you now own or disown him,"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:8,9"><I>v.</I> 8, 9</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] To engage us to <I>confess Christ before men,</I> whatever we may
|
||
|
|
lose or suffer for our constancy to him, and how dear soever it may
|
||
|
|
cost us, we are assured that they who <I>confess Christ</I> now shall
|
||
|
|
be owned by him in the great day <I>before the angels of God,</I> to
|
||
|
|
their everlasting comfort and honour. Jesus Christ will <I>confess,</I>
|
||
|
|
not only that he suffered for them, and that they are to have the
|
||
|
|
benefit of <I>his</I> sufferings, but that they suffered <I>for
|
||
|
|
him,</I> and that his kingdom and interest on earth were advanced by
|
||
|
|
<I>their</I> sufferings; and what greater honour can be done them?
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] To deter us from <I>denying</I> Christ, and a cowardly
|
||
|
|
<I>deserting</I> of his truths and ways, we are here assured that those
|
||
|
|
who <I>deny Christ,</I> and treacherously depart from him, whatever
|
||
|
|
they may save by it, though it were life itself, and whatever they may
|
||
|
|
gain by it, though it were a kingdom, will be vast losers at last, for
|
||
|
|
they shall be <I>denied before the angels of God;</I> Christ will not
|
||
|
|
know them, will not own them, will not show them any favour, which will
|
||
|
|
turn to their everlasting terror and contempt. By the stress here laid
|
||
|
|
upon their being <I>confessed or denied before the angels of God,</I>
|
||
|
|
it should seem to be a considerable part of the happiness of glorified
|
||
|
|
saints that they will not only stand <I>right,</I> but stand
|
||
|
|
<I>high,</I> in the esteem of the <I>holy angels;</I> they will love
|
||
|
|
them, and honour them, and own them, if they be Christ's servants; they
|
||
|
|
are their fellow-servants, and they will take them for their
|
||
|
|
companions. On the contrary, a considerable part of the misery of
|
||
|
|
damned sinners will be that the holy angels will abandon them, and will
|
||
|
|
be the pleased witnesses, not only of their disgrace, as here, but of
|
||
|
|
their misery, for they shall be <I>tormented in the presence of the
|
||
|
|
holy angels</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+14:10">Rev. xiv. 10</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
who will give them no relief.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(5.) The errand they were shortly to be sent out upon was of the
|
||
|
|
highest and last importance to the children of men, to whom they were
|
||
|
|
sent,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Let them be bold in preaching the gospel, for a sorer and heavier doom
|
||
|
|
would attend those that rejected them (after the Spirit was poured upon
|
||
|
|
them, which was to be the <I>last</I> method of conviction) than those
|
||
|
|
that now rejected Christ himself, and opposed him: "<I>Greater works
|
||
|
|
than those shall he do,</I> and, consequently, greater will be the
|
||
|
|
punishment of those that blaspheme the gifts and operations of the Holy
|
||
|
|
Ghost in you. <I>Whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of
|
||
|
|
man,</I> shall stumble at the meanness of his appearance, and speak
|
||
|
|
<I>slightly</I> and <I>spitefully</I> of him, it is capable of some
|
||
|
|
excuse: <I>Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.</I>
|
||
|
|
But unto him that <I>blasphemes the Holy Ghost,</I> that blasphemes the
|
||
|
|
Christian doctrine, and maliciously opposes it, after the pouring out
|
||
|
|
of the Spirit and his attestation of Christ's <I>being glorified</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+2:33,5:32">Acts ii. 33; v. 32</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
the privilege of the <I>forgiveness of sins</I> shall be denied; he
|
||
|
|
shall have no benefit by Christ and his gospel. You may shake off the
|
||
|
|
dust of your feet against those that do so, and give them over as
|
||
|
|
incurable; they have forfeited that <I>repentance</I> and that
|
||
|
|
<I>remission</I> which Christ was <I>exalted to give,</I> and which you
|
||
|
|
are <I>commissioned to preach.</I>" The sin, no doubt, was the more
|
||
|
|
daring, and consequently the case the more desperate, during the
|
||
|
|
continuance of the <I>extraordinary</I> gifts and operations of the
|
||
|
|
Spirit in the church, which were intended for a <I>sign to them who
|
||
|
|
believed not,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+14:22">1 Cor. xiv. 22</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
There were hopes of those who, though not convinced by them at first,
|
||
|
|
yet admired them, but those who <I>blasphemed</I> them were given
|
||
|
|
over.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(6.) Whatever trials they should be called out to, they should be
|
||
|
|
sufficiently furnished for them, and honourably brought through them,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:11,12"><I>v.</I> 11, 12</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The faithful martyr for Christ has not only <I>sufferings</I> to
|
||
|
|
<I>undergo,</I> but a <I>testimony</I> to <I>bear,</I> a <I>good
|
||
|
|
confession</I> to <I>witness,</I> and is concerned to do that
|
||
|
|
<I>well,</I> so that the cause of Christ may not suffer, though he
|
||
|
|
suffer for it; and, if this be his care, let him cast it upon God:
|
||
|
|
"When they <I>bring you into the synagogues,</I> before church-rulers,
|
||
|
|
before the Jewish courts, or before <I>magistrates and powers,</I>
|
||
|
|
Gentile rulers, rulers in the state, to be examined about your
|
||
|
|
doctrine, what it is, and what the proof of it, <I>take no thought what
|
||
|
|
ye shall answer,</I>"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] "That you may <I>save yourselves.</I> Do not study by what art or
|
||
|
|
rhetoric to mollify your judges, or by what tricks in law to bring
|
||
|
|
yourselves off; if it be the will of God that you should come off, and
|
||
|
|
your time is not yet come, he will bring it about effectually."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] "That you may <I>serve your Master;</I> aim at this, but do not
|
||
|
|
perplex yourselves about it, for <I>the Holy Ghost,</I> as a Spirit of
|
||
|
|
wisdom, <I>shall teach you what you ought to say,</I> and how to say
|
||
|
|
it, so that it may be for the honour of God and his cause."</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_13"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_14"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_15"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_16"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_17"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_18"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_19"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_20"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_21"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Worldly-mindedness Exposed.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my
|
||
|
|
brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
|
||
|
|
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 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, <I>and</I> be merry.
|
||
|
|
20 But God said unto him, <I>Thou</I> fool, this night thy soul
|
||
|
|
shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be,
|
||
|
|
which thou hast provided?
|
||
|
|
21 So <I>is</I> he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not
|
||
|
|
rich toward God.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
We have in these verses,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. The application that was made to Christ, very unseasonably, by one
|
||
|
|
of his hearers, desiring him to interpose <I>between him and his
|
||
|
|
brother</I> in a matter that concerned the estate of the family
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"<I>Master, speak to my brother;</I> speak as a prophet, speak as a
|
||
|
|
king, speak with authority; he is one that will have regard to what
|
||
|
|
thou sayest; speak to him, <I>that he divide the inheritance with
|
||
|
|
me.</I>" Now,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Some think that his brother <I>did him wrong,</I> and that he
|
||
|
|
appealed to Christ to <I>right him,</I> because he knew the law was
|
||
|
|
costly. His brother was such a one as the Jews called
|
||
|
|
<I>Ben-hamesen</I>--<I>a son of violence,</I> that took not only his
|
||
|
|
own part of the estate, but his brother's too, and forcibly detained it
|
||
|
|
from him. Such brethren there are in the world, who have no sense at
|
||
|
|
all either of <I>natural equity</I> or <I>natural affection,</I> who
|
||
|
|
make a prey of those whom they ought to patronize and protect. They who
|
||
|
|
are so wronged have God to go to, who will <I>execute</I> judgment and
|
||
|
|
justice for <I>those that are oppressed.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. Others think that he had a mind to <I>do his brother wrong,</I> and
|
||
|
|
would have Christ to <I>assist him;</I> that, whereas the law gave the
|
||
|
|
elder brother a double portion of the estate, and the father himself
|
||
|
|
could not dispose of what he had but by that rule
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+21:16,17">Deut. xxi. 16, 17</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
he would have Christ to <I>alter that law,</I> and oblige his brother,
|
||
|
|
who perhaps was a follower of Christ at large, to <I>divide the
|
||
|
|
inheritance</I> equally <I>with him,</I> in gavel-kind, share and share
|
||
|
|
alike, and to allot him as much as his elder brother. I suspect that
|
||
|
|
this was the case, because Christ takes occasion from it to warn
|
||
|
|
against <I>covetousness,</I> <B><I>pleonexia</I></B>--<I>a desire of
|
||
|
|
having more,</I> more than God in his providence has allotted us. It
|
||
|
|
was not a lawful desire of getting his own, but a <I>sinful</I> desire
|
||
|
|
of getting more than his own.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. Christ's refusal to interpose in this matter
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?</I> In matters of this
|
||
|
|
nature, Christ will not assume either a <I>legislative</I> power to
|
||
|
|
alter the settled rule of inheritances, or a <I>judicial</I> power to
|
||
|
|
determine controversies concerning them. He could have done the judge's
|
||
|
|
part, and the lawyer's, as well as he did the physician's, and have
|
||
|
|
ended suits at law as happily as he did diseases; but he would not, for
|
||
|
|
it was not in his commission: <I>Who made me a judge?</I> Probably he
|
||
|
|
refers to the indignity done to Moses by his brethren in Egypt, with
|
||
|
|
which Stephen upbraided the Jews,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+7:27,35">Acts vii. 27, 35</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"If I should offer to do this, you would taunt me as you did Moses,
|
||
|
|
<I>Who made thee a judge or a divider?</I>" He corrects the man's
|
||
|
|
mistake, will not admit his appeal (it was <I>coram non judice--not
|
||
|
|
before the proper judge</I>), and so <I>dismisses</I> his bill. If he
|
||
|
|
had come to him to desire him to assist his pursuit of the heavenly
|
||
|
|
inheritance, Christ would have given him his best help; but as to this
|
||
|
|
matter he has nothing to do: <I>Who made me a judge?</I> Note, Jesus
|
||
|
|
Christ was no usurper; he took no honour, no power, to himself, but
|
||
|
|
what was given him,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+5:5">Heb. v. 5</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Whatever he did, he could tell by what authority he did it, and who
|
||
|
|
gave him that authority. Now this shows us what is the nature and
|
||
|
|
constitution of Christ's kingdom. It is a spiritual kingdom, and not of
|
||
|
|
this world.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. It does not interfere with civil powers, nor take the authority of
|
||
|
|
princes out of their hands. Christianity leaves the matter as it found
|
||
|
|
it, as to civil power.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. It does not intermeddle with civil rights; it obliges all to do
|
||
|
|
justly, according to the settled rules of equity, but dominion is not
|
||
|
|
founded in grace.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. It does not <I>encourage</I> our <I>expectations</I> of worldly
|
||
|
|
advantages by our religion. If this man will be a disciple of Christ,
|
||
|
|
and expects that in consideration of this Christ should give him his
|
||
|
|
brother's estate, he is mistaken; the rewards of Christ's disciples are
|
||
|
|
of another nature.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. It does not <I>encourage</I> our <I>contests</I> with our brethren,
|
||
|
|
and our being rigorous and high in our demands, but rather, for peace'
|
||
|
|
sake, to recede from our right.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
5. It does not allow ministers to <I>entangle</I> themselves in the
|
||
|
|
affairs of this <I>life</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ti+2:4">2 Tim. ii. 4</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
to <I>leave the word of God to serve tables.</I> There are those whose
|
||
|
|
business it is, let it be left to them, <I>Tractent fabrilia
|
||
|
|
fabri</I>--<I>Each workman to his proper craft.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. The necessary caution which Christ took occasion from this to give
|
||
|
|
to his hearers. Though he came not to be a <I>divider</I> of men's
|
||
|
|
estates, he came to be a director of their consciences about them, and
|
||
|
|
would have all take heed of harbouring that corrupt principle which
|
||
|
|
they saw to be in others the <I>root</I> of <I>so much evil.</I> Here
|
||
|
|
is,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. The caution itself
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Take heed and beware of covetousness;</I>
|
||
|
|
<B><I>horate</I></B>--"<I>Observe yourselves,</I> keep a <I>jealous
|
||
|
|
eye</I> upon your own hearts, lest covetous principles steal into them;
|
||
|
|
and <B><I>phylassesthe</I></B>--<I>preserve yourselves,</I> keep a
|
||
|
|
<I>strict band</I> upon your own hearts, lest covetous principles rule
|
||
|
|
and give law in them." Covetousness is a sin which we have need
|
||
|
|
constantly to <I>watch against,</I> and therefore frequently to be
|
||
|
|
<I>warned against.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The reason of it, or an argument to enforce this caution: <I>For a
|
||
|
|
man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he
|
||
|
|
possesseth;</I> that is, "our happiness and comfort do not depend upon
|
||
|
|
our having a great deal of the wealth of this world."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) The life of the <I>soul,</I> undoubtedly, does not depend upon it,
|
||
|
|
and the soul is the man. The things of the world will not suit the
|
||
|
|
nature of a soul, nor supply its needs, nor satisfy its desires, nor
|
||
|
|
last so long as it will last. Nay,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Even the life of the body and the happiness of that do not consist
|
||
|
|
in an <I>abundance</I> of these things; for many live very contentedly
|
||
|
|
and easily, and get through the world very comfortably, who have but a
|
||
|
|
little of the wealth of it (a dinner of herbs with holy love is better
|
||
|
|
than a <I>feast of fat things</I>); and, on the other hand, many live
|
||
|
|
very miserably who have a great deal of the things of this world; they
|
||
|
|
possess abundance, and yet have no comfort of it; they <I>bereave their
|
||
|
|
souls of good,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+4:8">Eccl. iv. 8</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Many who have abundance are discontented and fretful, as Ahab and
|
||
|
|
Haman; and then what good does their abundance do them?</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. The illustration of this by a parable, the sum of which is to show
|
||
|
|
the folly of carnal worldlings while they live, and their misery when
|
||
|
|
they die, which is intended not only for a check to that man who came
|
||
|
|
to Christ with an address about his estate, while he was in no care
|
||
|
|
about his soul and another world, but for the enforcing of that
|
||
|
|
necessary caution to us all, to <I>take heed of covetousness.</I> The
|
||
|
|
parable gives us the life and death of a <I>rich man,</I> and leaves us
|
||
|
|
to judge whether he was a <I>happy</I> man.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Here is an account of his worldly wealth and abundance
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully,</I>
|
||
|
|
<B><I>chora</I></B>--<I>regio</I>--<I>the country.</I> He had a whole
|
||
|
|
country to himself, a lordship of his own; he was a little prince.
|
||
|
|
Observe, His wealth lay much in the fruits of the earth, for <I>the
|
||
|
|
king himself is served by the field,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+5:9">Eccl. v. 9</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He had a great deal of ground, and his ground was <I>fruitful;</I> much
|
||
|
|
would have <I>more,</I> and he <I>had more.</I> Note, The fruitfulness
|
||
|
|
of the earth is a great blessing, but it is a blessing which God often
|
||
|
|
gives plentifully to wicked men, to whom it is a snare, that we may not
|
||
|
|
think to judge of his love or hatred by what is before us.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Here are the workings of his heart, in the midst of this
|
||
|
|
abundance. We are here told what <I>he thought within himself,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Note, The God of heaven knows and observes whatever we think within
|
||
|
|
ourselves, and we are accountable to him for it. He is both a
|
||
|
|
discerner and judge of the thoughts and intents of the heart. We
|
||
|
|
mistake if we imagine that thoughts are <I>hid</I> and thoughts are
|
||
|
|
<I>free.</I> Let us here observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] What his <I>cares</I> and <I>concerns</I> were. When he saw an
|
||
|
|
extraordinary crop upon his ground, instead of <I>thanking God</I> for
|
||
|
|
it, or rejoicing in the opportunity it would give him of doing the more
|
||
|
|
good, he afflicts himself with this thought, <I>What shall I do,
|
||
|
|
because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?</I> He speaks as one
|
||
|
|
<I>at a loss,</I> and full of perplexity. <I>What shall I do now?</I>
|
||
|
|
The poorest beggar in the country, that did not know where to get a
|
||
|
|
meal's meat, could not have said a more anxious word. Disquieting care
|
||
|
|
is the common fruit of an abundance of this world, and the common fault
|
||
|
|
of those that have abundance. The more men have, the more perplexity
|
||
|
|
they have with it, and the more solicitous they are to keep what they
|
||
|
|
have and to add to it, how to spare and how to spend; so that even the
|
||
|
|
<I>abundance</I> of the rich will not suffer them to <I>sleep,</I> for
|
||
|
|
thinking what they shall do with what they have and how they shall
|
||
|
|
dispose of it. The rich man seems to speak it with a sigh, <I>What
|
||
|
|
shall I do?</I> And if you ask, Why, what is the matter? Truly he had
|
||
|
|
<I>abundance</I> of wealth, and wants a place to <I>put it in,</I> that
|
||
|
|
is all.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] What his <I>projects</I> and <I>purposes</I> were, which were the
|
||
|
|
result of his cares, and were indeed absurd and foolish like them
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"<I>This will I do,</I> and it is the wisest course I can take, <I>I
|
||
|
|
will pull down my barns,</I> for they are too little, and I will
|
||
|
|
<I>build greater, and there will I bestow all my fruits and my
|
||
|
|
goods,</I> and then I shall be at ease." Now here, <I>First,</I> It was
|
||
|
|
folly for him to call the fruits of the ground <I>his</I> fruits and
|
||
|
|
<I>his</I> goods. He seems to lay a pleasing emphasis upon that,
|
||
|
|
<I>my</I> fruits and <I>my</I> goods; whereas what we have is but
|
||
|
|
<I>lent</I> us for our use, the property is still in God; we are but
|
||
|
|
stewards of our <I>Lord's goods,</I> tenants at will of our Lord's
|
||
|
|
land. It is <I>my corn</I> (saith God) and <I>my wine,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+2:8,9">Hos. ii. 8, 9</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> It was folly for him to <I>hoard up</I> what he had,
|
||
|
|
and then to think it <I>well bestowed.</I> There will I bestow it
|
||
|
|
<I>all;</I> as if none must be bestowed upon the poor, none upon his
|
||
|
|
family, none upon the Levite and <I>the stranger,</I> the <I>fatherless
|
||
|
|
and the widow,</I> but all in the great barn. <I>Thirdly,</I> It was
|
||
|
|
folly for him to let his <I>mind</I> rise with his <I>condition;</I>
|
||
|
|
when his ground brought forth more plentifully than usual, then to talk
|
||
|
|
of bigger barns, as if the next year must needs be as fruitful as this,
|
||
|
|
and much more abundant, whereas the barn might be as much too big the
|
||
|
|
next year as it was too little this. Years of famine commonly follow
|
||
|
|
years of plenty, as they did in Egypt; and therefore it were better to
|
||
|
|
<I>stack</I> some of his corn for this once. <I>Fourthly,</I> It was
|
||
|
|
folly for him to think to ease his care by building new barns, for the
|
||
|
|
building of them would but increase his care; those know this who know
|
||
|
|
any thing of the spirit of building. The way that God prescribes for
|
||
|
|
the cure of inordinate care is certainly successful, but the way of the
|
||
|
|
world does but increase it. Besides, when he had done this, there were
|
||
|
|
other cares that would still attend him; the greater the barns, still
|
||
|
|
the greater the cares,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+5:10">Eccl. v. 10</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Fifthly,</I> It was folly for him to contrive and resolve all this
|
||
|
|
<I>absolutely</I> and <I>without reserve.</I> This <I>I will</I> do:
|
||
|
|
<I>I will</I> pull down my barns and will build greater, yea, that <I>I
|
||
|
|
will;</I> without so much as that necessary proviso, <I>If the Lord
|
||
|
|
will, I shall live,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+4:13-15">Jam. iv. 13-15</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Peremptory projects are foolish projects; for our times are in God's
|
||
|
|
hand, and not in our own, and we do not so much as <I>know what shall
|
||
|
|
be on the morrow.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[3.] What his <I>pleasing hopes</I> and <I>expectations</I> were, when
|
||
|
|
he should have made good these projects. "Then <I>I will say to my
|
||
|
|
soul,</I> upon the credit of this security, whether God say it or no,
|
||
|
|
<I>Soul,</I> mark what I say, <I>thou hast much goods laid up for many
|
||
|
|
years</I> in these barns; now <I>take thine ease,</I> enjoy thyself,
|
||
|
|
<I>eat, drink, and be merry,</I>"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Here also appears his folly, as much in the enjoyment of his wealth as
|
||
|
|
in the pursuit of it. <I>First,</I> It was folly for him to put off
|
||
|
|
his comfort in his abundance till he had compassed his projects
|
||
|
|
concerning it. When he has built bigger barns, and filled them (which
|
||
|
|
will be a work of time), then he will <I>take his ease;</I> and might
|
||
|
|
he not as well have <I>done that now?</I> Grotius here quotes the story
|
||
|
|
of Pyrrhus, who was projecting to make himself master of Sicily,
|
||
|
|
Africa, and other places, in the prosecution of his victories. Well,
|
||
|
|
says his friend Cyneas, and what must we do then? <I>Postea
|
||
|
|
vivemus,</I> says he, <I>Then we will live; At hoc jam licet,</I> says
|
||
|
|
Cyneas, <I>We may live now if we please. Secondly,</I> It was folly for
|
||
|
|
him to be confident that his goods were <I>laid up for many years,</I>
|
||
|
|
as if his bigger barns would be <I>safer</I> than those he had; whereas
|
||
|
|
in an hour's time they might be burnt to the ground and all that was
|
||
|
|
laid up in them, perhaps by lightning, against which there is no
|
||
|
|
defence. A few years may make a great change; <I>moth and rust may
|
||
|
|
corrupt, or thieves break through and steal. Thirdly,</I> It was folly
|
||
|
|
for him to count upon certain <I>ease,</I> when he had laid up
|
||
|
|
abundance of the wealth of this world, whereas there are many things
|
||
|
|
that may make people uneasy in the midst of their greatest abundance.
|
||
|
|
One dead fly may spoil a whole pot of precious ointment; and one thorn
|
||
|
|
a whole bed of down. Pain and sickness of body, disagreeableness of
|
||
|
|
relations, and especially a guilty conscience, may rob a man of his
|
||
|
|
ease, who has ever so much of the wealth of this world.
|
||
|
|
<I>Fourthly,</I> It was folly for him to think of making no other use
|
||
|
|
of his plenty than to <I>eat</I> and <I>drink,</I> and to <I>be
|
||
|
|
merry;</I> to indulge the flesh, and gratify the sensual appetite,
|
||
|
|
without any thought of doing good to others, and being put thereby into
|
||
|
|
a better capacity of serving God and his generation: as if we
|
||
|
|
<I>lived</I> to <I>eat,</I> and did not <I>eat</I> to <I>live,</I> and
|
||
|
|
the happiness of man consisted in nothing else but in having all the
|
||
|
|
gratifications of sense wound up to the height of pleasurableness.
|
||
|
|
<I>Fifthly,</I> It was the greatest folly of all to say all this to his
|
||
|
|
<I>soul.</I> if he had said, <I>Body, take thine ease,</I> for <I>thou
|
||
|
|
hast goods laid up for many years,</I> there had been sense in it; but
|
||
|
|
the soul, considered as an immortal spirit, separable from the body,
|
||
|
|
was no way interested in a barn full of corn or a bag full of gold. If
|
||
|
|
he had had the <I>soul of a swine,</I> he might have <I>blessed it</I>
|
||
|
|
with the satisfaction of <I>eating</I> and <I>drinking;</I> but what is
|
||
|
|
this to the <I>soul of a man,</I> that has exigencies and desires which
|
||
|
|
these things will be no ways suited to? It is the great absurdity which
|
||
|
|
the children of this world are guilty of that they portion their souls
|
||
|
|
in the wealth of the world and the pleasures of sense.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) Here is God's sentence upon all this; and we are sure that his
|
||
|
|
judgment is according to truth. He said to himself, said to his soul,
|
||
|
|
<I>Take thine ease.</I> If God had said so too, the man had been happy,
|
||
|
|
as his Spirit witnesses with the spirit of believers to make them easy.
|
||
|
|
<I>But God said</I> quite otherwise; and by his judgment of us we must
|
||
|
|
stand or fall, not by ours of ourselves,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+4:3,4">1 Cor. iv. 3, 4</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
His neighbours blessed him
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+10:3">Ps. x. 3</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
praised him as <I>doing well for himself</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+49:18">Ps. xlix. 18</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
but God said he did ill for himself: <I>Thou fool, this night thy soul
|
||
|
|
shall be required of thee,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>God said to him,</I> that is, decreed this concerning him, and let
|
||
|
|
him know it, either by his conscience or by some awakening providence,
|
||
|
|
or rather by both together. This was said when he was <I>in the
|
||
|
|
fulness of his sufficiency</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+20:22">Job xx. 22</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
when his eyes were held waking upon his bed with his cares and
|
||
|
|
contrivances about enlarging his barns, not by adding a bay or two more
|
||
|
|
of building to them, which might serve to answer the end, but by
|
||
|
|
pulling them down and building greater, which was requisite to please
|
||
|
|
his fancy. When he was forecasting this, and had brought it to an
|
||
|
|
issue, and then lulled himself asleep again with a pleasing dream of
|
||
|
|
many years' enjoyment of his present improvements, <I>then</I> God said
|
||
|
|
this to him. Thus Belshazzar was struck with terror by the hand-writing
|
||
|
|
on the wall, in the midst of his jollity. Now observe what God
|
||
|
|
said,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] The character he gave him: <I>Thou fool,</I> thou <I>Nabal,</I>
|
||
|
|
alluding to the story of Nabal, that <I>fool</I> (Nabal is his name,
|
||
|
|
and folly is with him) whose heart was struck dead <I>as a stone</I>
|
||
|
|
while he was regaling himself in the abundance of his provision for his
|
||
|
|
sheep-shearers. Note, Carnal worldlings are fools, and the day is
|
||
|
|
coming when God will call them by their own name, <I>Thou fool,</I> and
|
||
|
|
they will call themselves so.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] The sentence he passed upon him, a sentence of death: <I>This
|
||
|
|
night thy soul shall be required of thee; they shall require thy
|
||
|
|
soul</I> (so the words are), and then <I>whose shall those things be
|
||
|
|
which thou hast provided?</I> He thought he had goods that should be
|
||
|
|
his for many years, but he must part from them <I>this night;</I> he
|
||
|
|
thought he should enjoy them himself, but he must leave them to he
|
||
|
|
knows not who. Note, The death of carnal worldlings is miserable in
|
||
|
|
itself and terrible to them.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>First,</I> It is a <I>force,</I> an <I>arrest;</I> it is the
|
||
|
|
<I>requiring of the soul,</I> that soul that thou art making such a
|
||
|
|
fool of; what hast thou to do with a soul, who canst use it no better?
|
||
|
|
Thy soul shall be <I>required;</I> this intimates that he is loth to
|
||
|
|
part with it. A good man, who has taken his heart off from this world,
|
||
|
|
cheerfully resigns his soul at death, and gives it up; but a worldly
|
||
|
|
man has it <I>torn</I> from him with violence; it is a terror to him to
|
||
|
|
think of leaving this world. <I>They shall require thy soul.</I> God
|
||
|
|
shall require it; he shall require an account of it. "Man, woman, what
|
||
|
|
hast thou done with thy soul. Give an account of that stewardship."
|
||
|
|
<I>They shall;</I> that is, evil angels as the messengers of God's
|
||
|
|
justice. As good angels receive gracious souls to carry them to their
|
||
|
|
joy, so evil angels receive wicked souls to carry them to the place of
|
||
|
|
torment; they shall <I>require it</I> as a guilty soul to be punished.
|
||
|
|
The devil requires thy soul as his own, for it did, in effect, give
|
||
|
|
itself to him.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> It is a <I>surprize,</I> an <I>unexpected</I> force.
|
||
|
|
It is in <I>the night,</I> and terrors in the night are most terrible.
|
||
|
|
The time of death is day-time to a good man; it is his morning. But it
|
||
|
|
is night to a worldling, a dark night; he <I>lies down in sorrow.</I>
|
||
|
|
It is <I>this night,</I> this <I>present</I> night, without delay;
|
||
|
|
there is no giving bail, or begging a day. This <I>pleasant</I> night,
|
||
|
|
when thou art promising thyself many years to come, now thou must die,
|
||
|
|
and go to judgment. Thou art entertaining thyself with the fancy of
|
||
|
|
many a merry day, and merry night, and merry feast; but, in the midst
|
||
|
|
of all, here is an end of all,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+21:4">Isa. xxi. 4</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Thirdly,</I> It is the leaving of all <I>those things</I> behind
|
||
|
|
<I>which they have provided,</I> which they have laboured for, and
|
||
|
|
prepared for hereafter, with abundance of toil and care. All that which
|
||
|
|
they have placed their happiness in, and built their hope upon, and
|
||
|
|
raised their expectations from, they must leave behind. <I>Their pomp
|
||
|
|
shall not descend after them</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+49:17">Ps. xlix. 17</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
but they shall go as naked out of the world as they came into it, and
|
||
|
|
they shall have no benefit at all by what they have hoarded up either
|
||
|
|
in death, in judgment, or in their everlasting state.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Fourthly,</I> It is leaving them to they <I>know not who:</I> "Then
|
||
|
|
<I>whose shall those things be?</I> Not <I>thine</I> to be sure, and
|
||
|
|
thou knowest not what <I>they</I> will prove for whom thou didst design
|
||
|
|
them, thy children and relations, whether they will be <I>wise</I> or
|
||
|
|
<I>fools</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+2:18,19">Eccl. ii. 18, 19</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
whether such as will bless thy memory or curse it, be a credit to thy
|
||
|
|
family or a blemish, do good or hurt with what thou leavest them, keep
|
||
|
|
it or spend it; nay, thou knowest not but those for whom thou dost
|
||
|
|
design it may be prevented from the enjoyment of it, and it may be
|
||
|
|
turned to somebody else thou little thinkest of; nay, though thou
|
||
|
|
knowest to whom thou leavest it, thou knowest not to whom they will
|
||
|
|
leave it, or into whose hand it will come at last." If many a man could
|
||
|
|
have foreseen to whom his house would have come after his death, he
|
||
|
|
would rather have burned it than beautified it.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Fifthly,</I> It is a demonstration of his folly. Carnal worldlings
|
||
|
|
are <I>fools</I> while they live: <I>this their way is their folly</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+49:13">Ps. xlix. 13</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
but their folly is made most evident when they die: <I>at his end he
|
||
|
|
shall be a fool</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+17:11">Jer. xvii. 11</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
for then it will appear that he took pains to lay up treasure in a
|
||
|
|
world he was hastening from, but took no care to lay it up in the world
|
||
|
|
he was hastening to.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Lastly,</I> Here is the application of this parable
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>So is he,</I> such a fool, a fool in God's judgment, a fool upon
|
||
|
|
record, that <I>layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards
|
||
|
|
God.</I> This is the way and this is the end of such a man. Observe
|
||
|
|
here,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. The description of a worldly man: He <I>lays up treasure for
|
||
|
|
himself,</I> for the body, for the world, for <I>himself</I> in
|
||
|
|
opposition to God, for that <I>self</I> that is to be <I>denied.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) It is his error that he counts his <I>flesh himself,</I> as if the
|
||
|
|
<I>body</I> were the <I>man.</I> If <I>self</I> be rightly stated and
|
||
|
|
understood, it is only the true Christian that lays up treasure for
|
||
|
|
himself, and is <I>wise for himself,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+9:12">Prov. ix. 12</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) It is his error that he makes it his business to <I>lay up for the
|
||
|
|
flesh,</I> which he calls laying up <I>for himself.</I> All his labour
|
||
|
|
is <I>for his mouth</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+6:7">Eccl. vi. 7</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>making provision for the flesh.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) It is his error that he counts those things his <I>treasure</I>
|
||
|
|
which are thus <I>laid up</I> for the world, and the body, and the life
|
||
|
|
that now is; they are the wealth he trusts to, and spends upon, and
|
||
|
|
lets out his affections toward.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(4.) The greatest error of all is that he is in no care to be <I>rich
|
||
|
|
towards God,</I> rich in the <I>account of God,</I> whose accounting us
|
||
|
|
rich makes us so
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:9">Rev. ii. 9</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
rich in the <I>things of God,</I> rich <I>in faith</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+2:5">Jam. ii. 5</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
rich in <I>good works,</I> in the <I>fruits of righteousness</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+6:18">1 Tim. vi. 18</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
rich in graces, and comforts, and spiritual gifts. Many who have
|
||
|
|
abundance of this world are wholly destitute of that which will enrich
|
||
|
|
their souls, which will make them rich towards God, rich for
|
||
|
|
eternity.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The folly and misery of a worldly man: <I>So is he.</I> Our Lord
|
||
|
|
Jesus Christ, who knows what the end of things will be, has here told
|
||
|
|
us what his end will be. Note, It is the unspeakable folly of the most
|
||
|
|
of men to mind and pursue the wealth of this world more than the wealth
|
||
|
|
of the other world, that which is merely for the body and for time,
|
||
|
|
more than that which is for the soul and eternity.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_22"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_23"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_24"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_25"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_26"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_27"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_28"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_29"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_30"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_31"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_32"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_33"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_34"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_35"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_36"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_37"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_38"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_39"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_40"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Inordinate Care Reproved.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>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 <I>is more</I> than
|
||
|
|
raiment.
|
||
|
|
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which
|
||
|
|
neither have storehouse nor 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 <I>will
|
||
|
|
he clothe</I> 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 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 <I>your</I> lights burning;
|
||
|
|
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 <I>are</I> 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.
|
||
|
|
38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the
|
||
|
|
third watch, and find <I>them</I> so, blessed are those servants.
|
||
|
|
39 And this know, that if the goodman 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.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Our Lord Jesus is here inculcating some needful useful lessons upon his
|
||
|
|
disciples, which he had before taught them, and had occasion afterwards
|
||
|
|
to press upon them; for they need to have <I>precept upon precept, and
|
||
|
|
line upon line: "Therefore,</I> because there are so many that are
|
||
|
|
ruined by covetousness, and an inordinate affection to the wealth of
|
||
|
|
this world, <I>I say unto you,</I> my disciples, take heed of it."
|
||
|
|
<I>Thou, O man of God, flee these things,</I> as well as thou, O man of
|
||
|
|
the world,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+6:11">1 Tim. vi. 11</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. He charges them not to afflict themselves with disquieting
|
||
|
|
perplexing cares about the necessary supports of life: <I>Take no
|
||
|
|
thought for your life,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
In the foregoing parable he had given us warning against that branch of
|
||
|
|
covetousness of which rich people are most in danger; and that is, a
|
||
|
|
<I>sensual complacency</I> in the abundance of this world's goods. Now
|
||
|
|
his disciples might think they were in no danger of this, for they had
|
||
|
|
no plenty or variety to glory in; and therefore he here warns them
|
||
|
|
against another branch of covetousness, which they are most in
|
||
|
|
temptation to that have but a little of this world, which was the case
|
||
|
|
of the disciples at best and much more now that they had left all to
|
||
|
|
follow Christ, and that was, an <I>anxious solicitude</I> about the
|
||
|
|
necessary supports of life: "<I>Take no thought for your life,</I>
|
||
|
|
either for the preservation of it, if it be in danger, or for the
|
||
|
|
provision that is to be made for it, either of food or clothing,
|
||
|
|
<I>what ye shall eat</I> or <I>what ye shall put on.</I>" This is the
|
||
|
|
caution he had largely insisted upon,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+6:25">Matt. vi. 25</A>,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
&c.; and the arguments here used are much the same, designed for our
|
||
|
|
encouragement to cast all our care upon God, which is the <I>right
|
||
|
|
way</I> to <I>ease</I> ourselves of it. Consider then,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. God, who has done the greater for us, may be depended upon to do the
|
||
|
|
less. He has, without any care or forecast of our own, given us
|
||
|
|
<I>life</I> and a <I>body,</I> and therefore we may cheerfully leave it
|
||
|
|
to him to provide <I>meat</I> for the support of that life, and
|
||
|
|
<I>raiment</I> for the defence of that body.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. God, who provides for the inferior creatures, may be depended upon
|
||
|
|
to provide for good Christians. "Trust God for <I>meat,</I> for he
|
||
|
|
<I>feeds the ravens</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
they <I>neither sow nor reap,</I> they take neither care nor pains
|
||
|
|
beforehand to provide for themselves, and yet they are <I>fed,</I> and
|
||
|
|
never perish for want. Now consider <I>how much better ye are than the
|
||
|
|
fowls,</I> than the ravens. Trust God for clothing, for he clothes the
|
||
|
|
lilies
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:27,28"><I>v.</I> 27, 28</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
they make no preparation for their own clothing, they <I>toil not,</I>
|
||
|
|
they <I>spin not,</I> the root in the ground is a naked thing, and
|
||
|
|
without ornament, and yet, as the flower grows up, it appears
|
||
|
|
wonderfully <I>beautified.</I> Now, if God has so clothed the flowers,
|
||
|
|
which are fading perishing things, <I>shall he not much more clothe</I>
|
||
|
|
you with such clothing as is fit for you, and with clothing suited to
|
||
|
|
your nature, as theirs is?" When God fed Israel with <I>manna</I> in
|
||
|
|
the wilderness, he also took care for their clothing; for though he did
|
||
|
|
not furnish them with new clothes, yet (which came all to one) he
|
||
|
|
provided that those they had should not <I>wax old upon them,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+8:4">Deut. viii. 4</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Thus will he clothe his spiritual Israel; but then let them not be
|
||
|
|
<I>of little faith.</I> Note, Our inordinate cares are owing to the
|
||
|
|
weakness of our faith; for a powerful practical belief of the
|
||
|
|
all-sufficiency of God, his covenant-relation to us as a Father, and
|
||
|
|
especially his precious promises, relating both to this life and that
|
||
|
|
to come, would be mighty, through God, to the pulling down of the
|
||
|
|
strong holds of these disquieting perplexing imaginations.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. Our cares are fruitless, vain, and insignificant, and therefore it
|
||
|
|
is folly to indulge them. They will not gain us our wishes, and
|
||
|
|
therefore ought not to hinder our repose
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"<I>Which of you by taking thought can add to his stature one
|
||
|
|
cubit,</I> or one inch, can add to <I>his age</I> one year or one hour?
|
||
|
|
Now if ye be <I>not able to do that which is least,</I> if it be not in
|
||
|
|
your power to alter your statures, why should you perplex yourselves
|
||
|
|
about other things, which are as much out of your power, and about
|
||
|
|
which it is necessary that we refer ourselves to the providence of
|
||
|
|
God?" Note, As in our <I>stature,</I> so in our <I>state,</I> it is our
|
||
|
|
wisdom to take <I>it as it is,</I> and make the best of it; for
|
||
|
|
fretting and vexing, carping and caring, will not mend it.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. An inordinate anxious pursuit of the things of this world, even
|
||
|
|
necessary things, very ill becomes the disciples of Christ
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:29,30"><I>v.</I> 29, 30</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Whatever others do, <I>seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall
|
||
|
|
drink;</I> do not you afflict yourselves with perplexing cares, nor
|
||
|
|
weary yourselves with constant toils; do not hurry hither and thither
|
||
|
|
with enquiries <I>what you shall eat or drink,</I> as David's enemies,
|
||
|
|
that <I>wandered up and down for meat</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+59:15">Ps. lix. 15</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
or as the eagle that <I>seeks the prey afar off,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+39:29">Job xxxix. 29</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Let not the disciples of Christ thus <I>seek</I> their food, but ask it
|
||
|
|
of God day by day; let them not be <I>of doubtful mind;</I> <B><I>me
|
||
|
|
meteorizesthe</I></B>--<I>Be not as meteors in the air,</I> that are
|
||
|
|
blown hither and thither with every wind; do not, like them,
|
||
|
|
<I>rise</I> and <I>fall,</I> but maintain a consistency with
|
||
|
|
yourselves; be even and steady, and have your hearts fixed; <I>live not
|
||
|
|
in careful suspense;</I> let not your minds be continually perplexed
|
||
|
|
between hope and fear, ever upon the rack." Let not the children of God
|
||
|
|
make themselves uneasy; for,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) This is to make themselves like the children of this world:
|
||
|
|
"<I>All these things do the nations of the world seek after,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They that take care for the body only, and not for the soul, for this
|
||
|
|
world only, and not for the other, look no further than what they shall
|
||
|
|
<I>eat</I> and <I>drink;</I> and, having no all-sufficient God to seek
|
||
|
|
to and confide in, they burden themselves with anxious cares about
|
||
|
|
those things. But it ill becomes you to do so. You, who are called out
|
||
|
|
of the world, ought not to be thus conformed to the world, and to
|
||
|
|
<I>walk in the way of this people,</I>"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+8:11,12">Isa. viii. 11, 12</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
When inordinate cares prevail over us, we should think, "What am I, a
|
||
|
|
Christian or a heathen? Baptized or not baptized? If a Christian, if
|
||
|
|
baptized, shall I rank myself with Gentiles, and join with them in
|
||
|
|
their pursuits?"</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) It is needless for them to disquiet themselves with care about the
|
||
|
|
necessary supports of life; for they have a Father in heaven who does
|
||
|
|
and will take care for them: "<I>Your Father knows that you have need
|
||
|
|
of these things,</I> and considers it, and will supply your needs
|
||
|
|
<I>according to his riches in glory;</I> for he is <I>your Father,</I>
|
||
|
|
who <I>made</I> you subject to these necessities, and therefore will
|
||
|
|
suit his compassions to them: <I>your Father,</I> who <I>maintains</I>
|
||
|
|
you, educates you, and designs an inheritance for you, and therefore
|
||
|
|
will take care that you <I>want no good thing.</I>"</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) They have better things to mind and pursue
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"<I>But rather seek ye the kingdom of God,</I> and mind this, you, my
|
||
|
|
disciples, who are to <I>preach the kingdom of God;</I> let your hearts
|
||
|
|
be upon your work, and your great care how to do that well, and this
|
||
|
|
will effectually divert your thoughts from inordinate care about things
|
||
|
|
of the world. And let all that have souls to save <I>seek the kingdom
|
||
|
|
of God,</I> in which only they can be <I>safe.</I> Seek admission into
|
||
|
|
it, seek advancement in it; seek the <I>kingdom of grace,</I> to be
|
||
|
|
subjects in that; the <I>kingdom of glory,</I> to be princes in that;
|
||
|
|
and then <I>all these things shall be added to you.</I> Mind the
|
||
|
|
affairs of your souls with diligence and care, and then trust God with
|
||
|
|
all your other affairs."</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(4.) They have better things to expect and hope for: <I>Fear not,
|
||
|
|
little flock,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:32"><I>v.</I> 32</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
For the banishing of inordinate cares, it is necessary that fears
|
||
|
|
should be suppressed. When we frighten ourselves with an apprehension
|
||
|
|
of evil to come, we put ourselves upon the stretch of care how to avoid
|
||
|
|
it, when after all perhaps it is but the creature of our own
|
||
|
|
imagination. Therefore <I>fear not, little flock,</I> but <I>hope to
|
||
|
|
the end;</I> for <I>it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the
|
||
|
|
kingdom.</I> This comfortable word we had not in Matthew. Note,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] Christ's flock in this world is a <I>little flock;</I> his sheep
|
||
|
|
are but few and feeble. The church is a vineyard, a garden, a small
|
||
|
|
spot, compared with the wilderness of this world; as Israel
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+20:27">1 Kings xx. 27</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
who were like two little flocks of kids, when <I>the Syrians filled the
|
||
|
|
country.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] Though it be a little flock, quite <I>over-numbered,</I> and
|
||
|
|
therefore in danger of being <I>overpowered,</I> by its enemies, yet it
|
||
|
|
is the will of Christ that they should not <I>be afraid: "Fear not,
|
||
|
|
little flock,</I> but see yourselves safe under the protection and
|
||
|
|
conduct of the great and good Shepherd, and lie easy."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[3.] God has <I>a kingdom</I> in store for all that belong to Christ's
|
||
|
|
<I>little flock,</I> a crown of glory
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+5:4">1 Pet. v. 4</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
a throne of power
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:21">Rev. iii. 21</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
unsearchable riches, far exceeding the peculiar treasures of <I>kings
|
||
|
|
and provinces.</I> The <I>sheep on the right hand</I> are called to
|
||
|
|
<I>come</I> and <I>inherit the kingdom;</I> it is theirs for ever; a
|
||
|
|
kingdom for each.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[4.] The kingdom is given according to the <I>good pleasure</I> of the
|
||
|
|
Father; <I>It is your Father's good pleasure;</I> it is given not of
|
||
|
|
debt, but of grace, free grace, sovereign grace; <I>even so, Father,
|
||
|
|
because it seemed good unto thee.</I> The kingdom is his; and may he
|
||
|
|
not do what he will with his own?
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[5.] The believing hopes and prospects of <I>the kingdom</I> should
|
||
|
|
silence and suppress the fears of Christ's little flock in this world.
|
||
|
|
"Fear no trouble; for, though it should come, it shall not come between
|
||
|
|
you and the kingdom, that is sure, it is near." (That is not an evil
|
||
|
|
worth trembling at the thought of which cannot separate us from the
|
||
|
|
love of God). "<I>Fear not the want of any</I> thing that is good for
|
||
|
|
you; for, if it be <I>your Father's good pleasure to give you the
|
||
|
|
kingdom,</I> you need not question but he will <I>bear your charges</I>
|
||
|
|
thither."</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. He charged them to make sure work for their souls, by laying up
|
||
|
|
their treasure in heaven,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:33,34"><I>v.</I> 33, 34</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Those who have done this may be very easy as to all the events of
|
||
|
|
time.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. "<I>Sit loose to this world,</I> and to all your possessions in it:
|
||
|
|
<I>Sell that ye have,</I> and <I>give alms,</I>" that is, "rather than
|
||
|
|
want wherewith to relieve those that are truly <I>necessitous,</I> sell
|
||
|
|
what you have that is <I>superfluous,</I> all that you can spare from
|
||
|
|
the support of yourselves and families, and give it <I>to the poor.
|
||
|
|
Sell what you have,</I> if you find it a hindrance from, or incumbrance
|
||
|
|
in, the service of Christ. Do not think yourselves undone, if by being
|
||
|
|
fined, imprisoned, or banished, for the testimony of Jesus, you be
|
||
|
|
forced to sell your estates, thought they be <I>the inheritance of your
|
||
|
|
fathers.</I> Do not sell to <I>hoard up</I> the money, or because you
|
||
|
|
can make more of it by usury, but <I>sell and give alms;</I> what is
|
||
|
|
given in alms, in a right manner, is put out to the <I>best</I>
|
||
|
|
interest, upon the <I>best</I> security."</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. "<I>Set your hearts upon the other world,</I> and your expectations
|
||
|
|
from that world. <I>Provide yourselves bags that wax not old,</I> that
|
||
|
|
wax not empty, not of gold, but of grace in the heart and good works in
|
||
|
|
the life; these are the bags that will last." Grace will <I>go with
|
||
|
|
us</I> into another world, for it is <I>woven in</I> the soul; and our
|
||
|
|
good works will <I>follow us,</I> for <I>God is not unrighteous to
|
||
|
|
forget</I> them. These will be <I>treasures in heaven,</I> that will
|
||
|
|
enrich us to eternity.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) It is treasure that will not be <I>exhausted;</I> we may spend
|
||
|
|
upon it to eternity, and it will not be at all the less; there is no
|
||
|
|
danger of seeing the bottom of it.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) It is treasure that we are in no danger of being robbed of, for
|
||
|
|
<I>no thief approaches</I> near it; what is laid up in heaven is out of
|
||
|
|
reach of enemies.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) It is treasure that will not <I>spoil</I> with <I>keeping,</I> any
|
||
|
|
more than it will <I>waste</I> with <I>spending;</I> the <I>moth</I>
|
||
|
|
does not <I>corrupt</I> it, as it does our garments which we now wear.
|
||
|
|
Now by <I>this</I> it appears that we have laid up our treasure in
|
||
|
|
heaven if our <I>hearts</I> be <I>there</I> while we are <I>here</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:34"><I>v.</I> 34</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
if we think much of heaven and keep our eye upon it, if we quicken
|
||
|
|
ourselves with the hopes of it and keep ourselves in awe with the fear
|
||
|
|
of falling short of it. But, if your hearts be set upon the earth and
|
||
|
|
the things of it, it is to be feared that you have your treasure and
|
||
|
|
portion in it, and are undone when you leave it.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. He charges them to get ready, and to keep in a readiness for
|
||
|
|
Christ's coming, when all those who have laid up their treasure in
|
||
|
|
heaven shall enter upon the enjoyment of it,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:35"><I>v.</I> 35</A>,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
&c.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Christ is our <I>Master,</I> and we are his <I>servants,</I> not
|
||
|
|
only <I>working</I> servants, but <I>waiting</I> servants, servants
|
||
|
|
that are to do him honour, in <I>waiting</I> on him, and attending his
|
||
|
|
motions: <I>If any man serve me, let him follow me. Follow the Lamb
|
||
|
|
whithersoever he goes.</I> But that is not all: they must do him honour
|
||
|
|
in <I>waiting for him,</I> and expecting his return. We must be as men
|
||
|
|
that <I>wait for their Lord,</I> that sit up late while he stays out
|
||
|
|
late, to be ready to receive him.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. Christ our Master, though now <I>gone from us,</I> will <I>return
|
||
|
|
again,</I> return <I>from the wedding,</I> from <I>solemnizing</I> the
|
||
|
|
nuptials abroad, to <I>complete</I> them at home. Christ's servants are
|
||
|
|
now in a state of expectation, <I>looking for their Master's glorious
|
||
|
|
appearing,</I> and doing every thing with an eye to <I>that,</I> and in
|
||
|
|
order to <I>that.</I> He <I>will come</I> to take cognizance of his
|
||
|
|
servants, and, that being a <I>critical day,</I> they shall either stay
|
||
|
|
with him or be turned out of doors, according as they are found in that
|
||
|
|
day.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. The time of our Master's return is uncertain; it will be <I>in the
|
||
|
|
night,</I> it will be <I>far</I> in the night, when he has long
|
||
|
|
<I>deferred</I> his coming, and when many have done looking for him; in
|
||
|
|
the <I>second watch,</I> just before midnight, or in the <I>third
|
||
|
|
watch,</I> next after midnight,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:38"><I>v.</I> 38</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
His coming to us, at our death, is uncertain, and to many it will be a
|
||
|
|
great surprise; for <I>the Son of Man cometh at an hour that ye think
|
||
|
|
not</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:40"><I>v.</I> 40</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
without giving notice beforehand. This bespeaks not only the
|
||
|
|
uncertainty of the time of his coming, but the prevailing security of
|
||
|
|
the greatest part of men, who are <I>unthinking,</I> and altogether
|
||
|
|
regardless of the notices given them, so that, whenever he comes, it is
|
||
|
|
<I>in an hour that they think not.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. That which he expects and requires from his servants is that they be
|
||
|
|
<I>ready to open to him immediately,</I> whenever he comes
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:36"><I>v.</I> 36</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
that is, that they be in a frame fit to receive him, or rather to be
|
||
|
|
received by him; that they be found <I>as</I> his servants, in the
|
||
|
|
posture that becomes them, with their <I>loins girded about,</I>
|
||
|
|
alluding to the servants that are ready to go whither their master
|
||
|
|
sends them, and do what their master bids them, having their long
|
||
|
|
garments tucked up (which otherwise would hang about them, and hinder
|
||
|
|
them), and <I>their lights burning,</I> with which to light their
|
||
|
|
master into the house, and up to his chamber.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
5. Those servants will be happy who shall be found ready, and in a good
|
||
|
|
frame, when their Lord shall come
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:37"><I>v.</I> 37</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Blessed are those servants</I> who, after having waited long,
|
||
|
|
continue in a waiting frame, until the hour that their Lord comes, and
|
||
|
|
are then found awake and aware of his first approach, of his first
|
||
|
|
knock; and again
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:38"><I>v.</I> 38</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Blessed are those servants,</I> for then will be the time of their
|
||
|
|
preferment. Here is such an instance of honour done them as is scarcely
|
||
|
|
to be found among men: He <I>will make them sit down to meat, and will
|
||
|
|
serve them.</I> For the bridegroom to wait upon his bride at table is
|
||
|
|
not uncommon, but to wait upon his servants is not <I>the manner of
|
||
|
|
men;</I> yet Jesus Christ was among his disciples as <I>one that
|
||
|
|
served,</I> and did once, to show his condescension, <I>gird
|
||
|
|
himself,</I> and <I>serve them,</I> when he <I>washed their feet</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+13:4,5">John xiii. 4, 5</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
it signified the joy with which they shall be received into the other
|
||
|
|
world by the Lord Jesus, who is gone before, to prepare for them, and
|
||
|
|
has told them that his <I>Father</I> will <I>honour</I> them,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+12:26">John xii. 26</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
6. We are <I>therefore</I> kept at uncertainty concerning the precise
|
||
|
|
time of his coming that we may be always ready; for it is no thanks to
|
||
|
|
a man to be ready for an attack, if he know beforehand just the time
|
||
|
|
when it will be made: <I>The good man of the house, if he had known
|
||
|
|
what hour the thief would have come,</I> though he were ever so
|
||
|
|
careless a man, <I>would</I> yet <I>have watched,</I> and have
|
||
|
|
frightened away the thieves,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:39"><I>v.</I> 39</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But we do not know at what hour the alarm will be given us, and
|
||
|
|
therefore are concerned to watch at all tines, and never to be off our
|
||
|
|
guard. Or this may intimate the miserable case of those who are
|
||
|
|
careless and unbelieving in this great matter. If the <I>good man of
|
||
|
|
the house</I> had had notice of his danger of being robbed such a
|
||
|
|
night, he would have sat up, and saved his house; but we have notice of
|
||
|
|
the day of the Lord's coming, <I>as a thief in the night,</I> to the
|
||
|
|
confusion and ruin of all secure sinners, and yet do not thus
|
||
|
|
<I>watch.</I> If men will take such care of their houses, O let us be
|
||
|
|
thus wise for our souls: <I>Be ye therefore ready also,</I> as ready as
|
||
|
|
the good man of the house would be <I>if he knew what hour the thief
|
||
|
|
would come.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_41"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_42"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_43"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_44"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_45"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_46"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_47"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_48"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_49"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_50"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_51"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_52"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_53"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Vigilance and Exertion Inculcated.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>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 <I>his</I> lord shall make ruler over his household, to
|
||
|
|
give <I>them their</I> portion of meat in due season?
|
||
|
|
43 Blessed <I>is</I> 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.
|
||
|
|
45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth
|
||
|
|
his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants 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 <I>him,</I> and at a 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 <I>himself,</I> neither did according to his will, shall be beaten
|
||
|
|
with many <I>stripes.</I>
|
||
|
|
48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of
|
||
|
|
stripes, shall be beaten with few <I>stripes.</I> 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 the earth; and what will I, if it
|
||
|
|
be already kindled?
|
||
|
|
50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I
|
||
|
|
straitened till it be accomplished!
|
||
|
|
51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell
|
||
|
|
you, Nay; but rather division:
|
||
|
|
52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house
|
||
|
|
divided, three against two, and two against three.
|
||
|
|
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.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Here is,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. Peter's question, which he put to Christ upon occasion of the
|
||
|
|
foregoing parable
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:41"><I>v.</I> 41</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"<I>Lord, speakest thou this parable to us</I> that are thy constant
|
||
|
|
followers, to us that are ministers, <I>or also to all</I> that come to
|
||
|
|
be taught by thee, to all the hearers, and in them to all Christians?"
|
||
|
|
Peter was now, as often, spokesman for the disciples. We have reason to
|
||
|
|
bless God that there are some such forward men, that have a gift of
|
||
|
|
utterance; let those that are such take heed of being proud. Now Peter
|
||
|
|
desires Christ to explain himself, and to direct the arrow of the
|
||
|
|
foregoing parable to the mark he intended. He calls it a
|
||
|
|
<I>parable,</I> because it was not only figurative, but weighty, solid,
|
||
|
|
and instructive. Lord, said Peter, was it intended for <I>us,</I> or
|
||
|
|
for <I>all?</I> To this Christ gives a direct answer
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+13:37">Mark xiii. 37</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>What I say unto you, I say unto all.</I> Yet here he seems to show
|
||
|
|
that the apostles were primarily concerned in it. Note, We are all
|
||
|
|
concerned to take to ourselves what Christ in his word designs for us,
|
||
|
|
and to enquire accordingly concerning it: <I>Speakest thou this to
|
||
|
|
us?</I> To me? Speak, Lord, for thy servant hears. Doth this word
|
||
|
|
belong to me? Speak it to <I>my heart.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. Christ's reply to this question, directed to Peter and the rest of
|
||
|
|
the disciples. If what Christ had said before did not so peculiarly
|
||
|
|
concern them, but in common with other Christians, who must all watch
|
||
|
|
and pray for Christ's coming, <I>as his servants,</I> yet this that
|
||
|
|
follows is peculiarly adapted to ministers, who are the <I>stewards</I>
|
||
|
|
in Christ's house. Now our Lord Jesus here tells them,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. What was their <I>duty as stewards,</I> and what the <I>trust</I>
|
||
|
|
committed to them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) They are made <I>rulers of God's household,</I> under Christ,
|
||
|
|
whose own the house is; ministers derive an authority from Christ to
|
||
|
|
preach the gospel, and to administer the ordinances of Christ, and
|
||
|
|
apply the seals of the covenant of grace.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Their business is to give God's children and servants <I>their
|
||
|
|
portion of meat,</I> that which is proper for them and allotted to
|
||
|
|
them; convictions and comfort to those to whom they respectively
|
||
|
|
belong. <I>Suum cuique</I>--<I>to every one his own.</I> This is
|
||
|
|
<I>rightly to divide the word of truth,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ti+2:15">2 Tim. ii. 15</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) To give it to them <I>in due season,</I> at that time and in that
|
||
|
|
way which are most suitable to the temper and condition of those that
|
||
|
|
are to be fed; a word <I>in season</I> to him <I>that is weary.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(4.) Herein they must approve themselves <I>faithful</I> and <I>wise;
|
||
|
|
faithful</I> to their Master, by whom this great trust is reposed in
|
||
|
|
them, and faithful to their fellow-servants, for whose benefit they are
|
||
|
|
put in trust; and <I>wise</I> to improve an opportunity of doing honour
|
||
|
|
to their Master, and service in the family. Ministers must be both
|
||
|
|
<I>skilful</I> and <I>faithful.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. What would be their happiness if they approved themselves faithful
|
||
|
|
and wise
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:43"><I>v.</I> 43</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Blessed is that servant,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) That is <I>doing,</I> and is not idle, nor indulgent of his ease;
|
||
|
|
even the rulers of the household must be <I>doing,</I> and make
|
||
|
|
themselves <I>servants of all.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) That is <I>so</I> doing, doing as he should be, giving them their
|
||
|
|
<I>portion of meat,</I> by public preaching and personal application.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) That is <I>found</I> so doing when his Lord comes; that perseveres
|
||
|
|
to the end, notwithstanding the difficulties he may meet with in the
|
||
|
|
way. Now his happiness is illustrated by the preferment of a steward
|
||
|
|
that has approved himself within a lower and narrower degree of
|
||
|
|
service; he shall be preferred to a larger and higher
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:44"><I>v.</I> 44</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>He will make him ruler over all that he has,</I> which was Joseph's
|
||
|
|
preferment in Pharaoh's court. Note, Ministers that obtain mercy of the
|
||
|
|
Lord to be faithful shall obtain further mercy to be abundantly
|
||
|
|
rewarded for their faithfulness in the day of the Lord.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. What a dreadful reckoning there would be if they were treacherous
|
||
|
|
and unfaithful,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:45,46"><I>v.</I> 45, 46</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
If that servant begin to be quarrelsome and profane, he shall be called
|
||
|
|
to an account, and severely punished. We had all this before in
|
||
|
|
Matthew, and therefore shall here only observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Our looking upon Christ's second coming as a thing at a distance
|
||
|
|
is the cause of all those irregularities which render the thought of it
|
||
|
|
terrible to us: <I>He saith in his heart, My Lord delays his
|
||
|
|
coming.</I> Christ's patience is very often misinterpreted his
|
||
|
|
<I>delay,</I> to the <I>dis</I>couragement of his people, and the
|
||
|
|
<I>en</I>couragement of his enemies.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) The persecutors of God's people are commonly abandoned to security
|
||
|
|
and sensuality; <I>they beat their fellow-servants,</I> and then <I>eat
|
||
|
|
and drink with the drunken,</I> altogether unconcerned either at their
|
||
|
|
own sin or their brethren's sufferings, as the king and Haman, who
|
||
|
|
<I>sat down to drink when the city Shushan was perplexed.</I> Thus they
|
||
|
|
drink, to drown the clamours of their own consciences, and baffle them,
|
||
|
|
which would otherwise fly in their faces.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) Death and judgment will be very terrible to all wicked people, but
|
||
|
|
especially to wicked ministers. It will be a surprise to them: <I>At an
|
||
|
|
hour when they are not aware.</I> It will be the determining of them to
|
||
|
|
endless misery; they shall be cut in sunder, and have their portion
|
||
|
|
assigned them with <I>the unbelievers.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. What an aggravation it would be of their sin and punishment that
|
||
|
|
they knew their duty, and did not do it
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:47,48"><I>v.</I> 47, 48</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>That servant that knew his lord's will, and did it not, shall be
|
||
|
|
beaten with many stripes,</I> shall fall under a sorer punishment; and
|
||
|
|
<I>he that knew not shall be beaten with few stripes,</I> his
|
||
|
|
punishment shall, in consideration of this, be mitigated. Here seems to
|
||
|
|
be an allusion to the law, which made a distinction between sins
|
||
|
|
committed through ignorance, and presumptuous sins
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+5:15,Nu+15:29,30">Lev. v. 15, &c.;
|
||
|
|
Num. xv. 29, 30</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
as also to another law concerning the number of stripes given to a
|
||
|
|
malefactor, to be according to the nature of the crime,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+25:2,3">Deut. xxv. 2, 3</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Now,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Ignorance of our duty is an extenuation of sin. He <I>that knew
|
||
|
|
not his lord's will,</I> through carelessness and neglect, and his not
|
||
|
|
having such opportunities as some others had of coming to the knowledge
|
||
|
|
of it, and <I>did things worthy of stripes,</I> he shall <I>be
|
||
|
|
beaten,</I> because he might have known his duty better, but <I>with
|
||
|
|
few stripes;</I> his ignorance excuses in part, but not wholly. Thus
|
||
|
|
<I>through ignorance</I> the Jews put Christ to death
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+3:17,1Co+2:8">Acts iii. 17; 1 Cor. ii. 8</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and Christ pleaded that ignorance in their excuse: <I>They know not
|
||
|
|
what they do.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) The knowledge of our duty is an aggravation of our sin: <I>That
|
||
|
|
servant that knew his lord's will,</I> and yet did his own will, shall
|
||
|
|
be <I>beaten with many stripes.</I> God will justly inflict more upon
|
||
|
|
him for abusing the means of knowledge he afforded him, which others
|
||
|
|
would have made a better use of, because it argues a great degree of
|
||
|
|
wilfulness and contempt to sin against knowledge; of how much sorer
|
||
|
|
punishment then shall they be thought worthy, besides the many stripes
|
||
|
|
that their own consciences will give them! Son, remember. Here is a
|
||
|
|
good reason for this added: <I>To whomsoever much is given, of him
|
||
|
|
shall be much required,</I> especially when it is <I>committed</I> as a
|
||
|
|
trust he is to account for. Those have greater capacities of mind than
|
||
|
|
others, more knowledge and learning, more acquaintance and converse
|
||
|
|
with the scriptures, to them <I>much is given,</I> and their account
|
||
|
|
will be accordingly.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. A further discourse concerning his own sufferings, which he
|
||
|
|
expected, and concerning the sufferings of his followers, which he
|
||
|
|
would have them also to live in expectation of. In general
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:49"><I>v.</I> 49</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>I am come to send fire on the earth.</I> By this some understand the
|
||
|
|
preaching of the gospel, and the pouring out of the Spirit, holy fire;
|
||
|
|
this Christ came to send with a commission to refine the world, to
|
||
|
|
purge away its dross, to burn up its chaff, and it was <I>already
|
||
|
|
kindled.</I> The gospel was begun to be preached; some prefaces there
|
||
|
|
were to the pouring out of the Spirit. Christ baptized with the Holy
|
||
|
|
Ghost and with fire; this Spirit descended in fiery tongues. But, by
|
||
|
|
what follows, it seems rather to be understood of the fire of
|
||
|
|
<I>persecution.</I> Christ is not the Author of it, as it is the sin of
|
||
|
|
the incendiaries, the <I>persecutors;</I> but he <I>permits</I> it,
|
||
|
|
nay, he <I>commissions</I> it, as a <I>refining</I> fire for the
|
||
|
|
<I>trial</I> of the <I>persecuted.</I> This fire was <I>already
|
||
|
|
kindled</I> in the enmity of the carnal Jews to Christ and his
|
||
|
|
followers. "<I>What will I that it may presently be kindled? What thou
|
||
|
|
doest, do quickly. If it be already kindled, what will I?</I> Shall I
|
||
|
|
wait the <I>quenching</I> of it? No, for it must fasten upon myself,
|
||
|
|
and upon all, and glory will redound to God from it."</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. He must himself suffer many things; he must pass through this fire
|
||
|
|
that was already kindled
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:50"><I>v.</I> 50</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>I have a baptism to be baptized with.</I> Afflictions are compared
|
||
|
|
both to <I>fire</I> and <I>water,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+66:12,69:1,2">Ps. lxvi. 12; lxix. 1, 2</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Christ's sufferings were both. He calls them a <I>baptism</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+20:22">Matt. xx. 22</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
for he was watered or sprinkled with them, as Israel was baptized <I>in
|
||
|
|
the cloud,</I> and dipped into them, as Israel was baptized <I>in the
|
||
|
|
sea,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+10:2">1 Cor. x. 2</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He must be sprinkled with his own blood, and with the blood of his
|
||
|
|
enemies,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+63:3">Isa. lxiii. 3</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
See here,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Christ's <I>foresight</I> of his sufferings; he knew what he was
|
||
|
|
to undergo, and the necessity of undergoing it: <I>I am to be baptized
|
||
|
|
with a baptism.</I> He calls his sufferings by a name that
|
||
|
|
<I>mitigates</I> them; it is a baptism, not a deluge; I must be
|
||
|
|
<I>dipped</I> in them, not <I>drowned</I> in them; and by a name that
|
||
|
|
<I>sanctifies</I> them, for baptism is a name that <I>sanctifies</I>
|
||
|
|
them, for baptism is a sacred rite. Christ in his sufferings
|
||
|
|
<I>devoted</I> himself to his Father's honour, and <I>consecrated</I>
|
||
|
|
himself a priest for evermore,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+7:27,28">Heb. vii. 27, 28</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Christ's <I>forwardness</I> to his sufferings: <I>How am I
|
||
|
|
straitened till it be accomplished!</I> He longed for the time when he
|
||
|
|
should suffer and die, having an eye to the glorious issue of his
|
||
|
|
sufferings. It is an allusion to a woman in travail, that is <I>pained
|
||
|
|
to be delivered,</I> and welcomes her pains, because they hasten the
|
||
|
|
birth of the child, and wishes them sharp and strong, that the
|
||
|
|
<I>work</I> may be <I>cut short.</I> Christ's sufferings were the
|
||
|
|
<I>travail of his soul,</I> which he cheerfully underwent, in hope that
|
||
|
|
he should by them <I>see his seed,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+53:10,11">Isa. liii. 10, 11</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
So much was his heart set upon the redemption and salvation of man.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. He tells those about him that they also must bear with hardships and
|
||
|
|
difficulties
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:51"><I>v.</I> 51</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"<I>Suppose ye that I came to give peace on earth,</I> to give you a
|
||
|
|
peaceable possession of the earth, and outward prosperity on the
|
||
|
|
earth?" It is intimated that they were ready to entertain such a
|
||
|
|
thought as this, nay, that they went upon this supposition, that the
|
||
|
|
gospel would meet with a <I>universal</I> welcome, that people
|
||
|
|
<I>unanimously</I> embrace it, and would therefore study to make the
|
||
|
|
preachers of it <I>easy</I> and <I>great,</I> that Christ, if he did
|
||
|
|
not give them <I>pomp</I> and <I>power,</I> would at least give them
|
||
|
|
<I>peace;</I> and herein they were encouraged by divers passages of the
|
||
|
|
Old Testament, which speak of the peace of the Messiah's kingdom, which
|
||
|
|
they were willing to understand of external peace. "But," saith Christ,
|
||
|
|
"you will be mistaken, the event will declare the contrary, and
|
||
|
|
therefore do not flatter yourselves into a fool's paradise. You will
|
||
|
|
find,"</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) "That the effect of the preaching of the gospel will be
|
||
|
|
<I>division.</I>" Not but that the design of the gospel and its proper
|
||
|
|
tendency are to unite the children of men to one another, to knit them
|
||
|
|
together in holy love, and, if all would receive it, this would be the
|
||
|
|
effect of it; but there being multitudes that not only will not receive
|
||
|
|
it, but oppose it, and have their corruptions exasperated by it, and
|
||
|
|
are enraged at those that do receive it, it proves, though not the
|
||
|
|
<I>cause</I> yet the <I>occasion</I> of <I>division.</I> While <I>the
|
||
|
|
strong man armed kept his palace,</I> in the Gentile world, <I>his
|
||
|
|
goods were at peace;</I> all was quiet, for all went one way, the sects
|
||
|
|
of philosophers agreed well enough, so did the worshippers of different
|
||
|
|
deities; but when the gospel was preached, and many were enlightened by
|
||
|
|
it, and turned from the power of Satan to God, then there was a
|
||
|
|
disturbance, <I>a noise and a shaking,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+37:7">Ezek. xxxvii. 7</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Some <I>distinguished</I> themselves by embracing the gospel, and
|
||
|
|
others were angry that they did so. Yea, and among them that received
|
||
|
|
the gospel there would be different sentiments in minor things, which
|
||
|
|
would occasion <I>division;</I> and Christ permits it for holy ends
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+11:18">1 Cor. xi. 18</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
that Christians may learn and practise mutual forbearance,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+14:1,2">Rom. xiv. 1, 2</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) "That this <I>division</I> will reach into private families, and
|
||
|
|
the preaching of the gospel will give occasion for discord among the
|
||
|
|
nearest relations"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:53"><I>v.</I> 53</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the
|
||
|
|
father,</I> when the one turns Christian and the other does not; for
|
||
|
|
the one that does turn Christian will be zealous by arguments and
|
||
|
|
endearments to turn the other too,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+7:16">1 Cor. vii. 16</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
As soon as ever Paul was converted, he <I>disputed,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+9:29">Acts ix. 29</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The one that continues in unbelief will be provoked, and will hate and
|
||
|
|
persecute the one that by his faith and obedience witnesses against,
|
||
|
|
and condemns, his unbelief and disobedience. A spirit of bigotry and
|
||
|
|
persecution will break through the strongest bonds of relation and
|
||
|
|
natural affection; see
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+10:35,24:7">Matt. x. 35; xxiv. 7</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Even <I>mothers</I> and <I>daughters</I> fall out about religion; and
|
||
|
|
those that believe not are so violent and outrageous that they are
|
||
|
|
ready to deliver up into the hands of the bloody persecutors those that
|
||
|
|
believe, though otherwise very near and dear to them. We find in the
|
||
|
|
<I>Acts</I> that, wherever the gospel came, <I>persecution</I> was
|
||
|
|
<I>stirred up;</I> it was <I>every where spoken against,</I> and there
|
||
|
|
was <I>no small stir about that way.</I> Therefore let not the
|
||
|
|
disciples of Christ promise themselves <I>peace upon earth,</I> for
|
||
|
|
they are sent forth <I>as sheep in the midst of wolves.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_54"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_55"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_56"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_57"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_58"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu12_59"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec5"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Reconciliation to God.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>54 And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out
|
||
|
|
of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it
|
||
|
|
is.
|
||
|
|
55 And when <I>ye see</I> the south wind blow, ye say, There will be
|
||
|
|
heat; and it cometh to pass.
|
||
|
|
56 <I>Ye</I> hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of
|
||
|
|
the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
|
||
|
|
57 Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
|
||
|
|
58 When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, <I>as
|
||
|
|
thou art</I> in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be
|
||
|
|
delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge
|
||
|
|
deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into
|
||
|
|
prison.
|
||
|
|
59 I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast
|
||
|
|
paid the very last mite.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Having given his disciples <I>their</I> lesson in the foregoing verses,
|
||
|
|
here Christ turns to <I>the people,</I> and gives them <I>theirs,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:54"><I>v.</I> 54</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He <I>said also to the people:</I> he preached <I>ad populum--to the
|
||
|
|
people,</I> as well as <I>ad clerum--to the clergy.</I> In general, he
|
||
|
|
would have them be as wise in the affairs of their souls as they are in
|
||
|
|
their outward affairs. Two things he specifies:--</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. Let them learn to <I>discern the way of God towards them,</I> that
|
||
|
|
they may <I>prepare</I> accordingly. They were <I>weather-wise,</I> and
|
||
|
|
by observing the winds and clouds could foresee when there would be
|
||
|
|
<I>rain</I> and when there would be <I>hot weather</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:54,55"><I>v.</I> 54, 55</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and, according as they foresaw the weather would be, they either housed
|
||
|
|
their hay and corn, or threw it abroad, and equipped themselves for a
|
||
|
|
journey? Even in regard to changes of the weather God gives warning to
|
||
|
|
us what is coming, and art has improved the notices of nature in
|
||
|
|
weather-glasses. The prognostications here referred to had their origin
|
||
|
|
in repeated observations upon the chain of causes: from what <I>has
|
||
|
|
been</I> we conjecture what <I>will be.</I> See the benefit of
|
||
|
|
experience; by <I>taking notice</I> we may come to <I>give notice.</I>
|
||
|
|
Whose is wise will <I>observe</I> and <I>learn.</I> See now.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. The particulars of the presages: "<I>When you see a cloud arising
|
||
|
|
out of the west</I>" (the Hebrew would say, <I>out of the sea</I>),
|
||
|
|
"perhaps it is at first <I>no bigger than a man's hand</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+18:44">1 Kings xviii. 44</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
but you say, There is a shower in the womb of it, and it proves so.
|
||
|
|
When you <I>observe</I> the <I>south wind blow,</I> you say, <I>There
|
||
|
|
will be heat</I>" (for the hot countries of Africa lay not far south
|
||
|
|
from Judea), "and it usually <I>comes to pass;</I>" yet nature has not
|
||
|
|
ties itself to such a track but that <I>sometimes</I> we are mistaken
|
||
|
|
in our prognostics.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The inferences from them
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:56"><I>v.</I> 56</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"<I>Ye hypocrites,</I> who pretend to be wise, but really are not so,
|
||
|
|
who pretend to expect the Messiah and his kingdom" (for so the
|
||
|
|
generality of the Jews did) "and yet are no way disposed to receive and
|
||
|
|
entertain it, <I>how is it that you do not discern this time,</I> that
|
||
|
|
you do not discern that now is the time, according to the indications
|
||
|
|
given in the Old-Testament prophecies, for the Messiah to appear, and
|
||
|
|
that, according to the marks given of him, I am he? Why are you not
|
||
|
|
aware that you have now an opportunity which you <I>will not have
|
||
|
|
long,</I> and which you <I>may never have again,</I> of securing to
|
||
|
|
yourselves an interest in the kingdom of God and the privileges of that
|
||
|
|
kingdom?" <I>Now is the accepted time,</I> now or never. It is the
|
||
|
|
folly and misery of man that he <I>knows not his time,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+9:12">Eccl. ix. 12</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This was the ruin of the men of that generation, that they <I>knew not
|
||
|
|
the day of their visitation,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+19:44"><I>ch.</I> xix. 44</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But a <I>wise man's heart discerns time and judgment;</I> such was the
|
||
|
|
wisdom of the men of Issachar, who <I>had understanding of the
|
||
|
|
times,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+12:32">1 Chron. xii. 32</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He adds, "<I>Yea, and why even of yourselves,</I> though ye had not
|
||
|
|
these loud alarms given you, <I>judge ye not what is right?</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:57"><I>v.</I> 57</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
You are not only stupid and regardless in matters that are purely of
|
||
|
|
divine revelation, and take not the hints which that gives you, but you
|
||
|
|
are so even in the dictates of the very light and law of nature."
|
||
|
|
Christianity has reason and natural conscience on its side; and, if men
|
||
|
|
would allow themselves the liberty of <I>judging what is right,</I>
|
||
|
|
they would soon find that all Christ's precepts concerning all things
|
||
|
|
are right, and that there is nothing more equitable in itself, nor
|
||
|
|
better becoming us, than to submit to them and be ruled by them.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. Let them hasten to <I>make their peace with God</I> in time, before
|
||
|
|
it be too late,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:58,59"><I>v.</I> 58, 59</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This we had upon another occasion,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+5:25,26">Matt. v. 25, 26</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. We reckon it our wisdom in our temporal affairs to <I>compound</I>
|
||
|
|
with those with whom we cannot <I>contend,</I> to <I>agree with our
|
||
|
|
adversary</I> upon the best terms we can, before the equity be
|
||
|
|
<I>foreclosed,</I> and we be left to the rigour of the law: "<I>When
|
||
|
|
thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate,</I> to whom the
|
||
|
|
appeal is made, and knowest that he has an advantage against thee, and
|
||
|
|
thou art in danger of being cast, thou knowest it is the most prudent
|
||
|
|
course to make the matter up between yourselves; <I>as thou art in the
|
||
|
|
way, give diligence to be delivered from him,</I> to get a discharge,
|
||
|
|
lest judgment be given, and execution awarded according to law." Wise
|
||
|
|
men will not let their quarrels go to an extremity, but accommodate
|
||
|
|
them in time.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. Let us do thus in the affairs of our souls. We have by sin made God
|
||
|
|
our <I>adversary,</I> have provoked his displeasure against us, and he
|
||
|
|
has both <I>right</I> and <I>might</I> on his side; so that it is to no
|
||
|
|
purpose to think of carrying on the controversy with him either at
|
||
|
|
<I>bar</I> or in <I>battle.</I> Christ, to whom all judgment is
|
||
|
|
committed, is the magistrate before whom we are hastening to appear: if
|
||
|
|
we stand a trial before him, and insist upon our own justification, the
|
||
|
|
cause will certainly go against us, the <I>Judge</I> will
|
||
|
|
<I>deliver</I> us to the <I>officer,</I> the ministers of his justice,
|
||
|
|
and we shall be <I>cast into</I> the <I>prison</I> of hell, and the
|
||
|
|
debt will be exacted to the utmost; though we cannot make a full
|
||
|
|
satisfaction for it, it will be continually demanded, <I>till the last
|
||
|
|
mite be paid,</I> which will not be to all eternity. Christ's
|
||
|
|
sufferings were short, yet the <I>value</I> of them made them fully
|
||
|
|
satisfactory. In the sufferings of damned sinners what is wanting in
|
||
|
|
value must be made up in an endless duration. Now, in consideration of
|
||
|
|
this, let us give diligence to be delivered <I>out of</I> the hands of
|
||
|
|
God as an adversary, into his hands as a Father, and this <I>as we are
|
||
|
|
in the way,</I> which has the chief stress laid upon it here. While we
|
||
|
|
are alive, we are <I>in the way;</I> and <I>now</I> is our <I>time,</I>
|
||
|
|
by repentance and faith through Christ (who is the Mediator as well as
|
||
|
|
the magistrate), to get the quarrel made up, while it may be done,
|
||
|
|
before it be too late. Thus was God in Christ <I>reconciling the world
|
||
|
|
to himself, beseeching us to be reconciled.</I> Let us take hold on the
|
||
|
|
arm of the Lord stretched out in this gracious offer, that we may make
|
||
|
|
peace, and we <I>shall make peace</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+27:4,5">Isa. xxvii. 4, 5</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
for we cannot <I>walk together</I> till we be <I>agreed.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<!-- (End Body) -->
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<HR>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
|
||
|
|
<TR>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
||
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
|
||
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC42011.HTM">Previous</A>]
|
||
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC42013.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
||
|
|
Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
<HR>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
|
||
|
|
<TR>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM">
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<!--Matthew_Henry's_Commentary_on_the_Whole_Bible:_Luke_XII.--><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank"><b>Back to Bibles Net . Com - Online Christian Library </b></a><br>
|
||
|
|
<a href="http://biblesnet.com/download.html" target="_blank"><br>
|
||
|
|
<b>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Free Download</b></a><br>
|
||
|
|
<br>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://biblesnet.com/contactus.html" target="_blank"><strong>Contact Us </strong></A><br>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
</TD></TR></TABLE>
|
||
|
|
<HR>
|
||
|
|
</BODY>
|
||
|
|
</HTML>
|