58 When G5613 G1063 thou goest G5217 with G3326 thine G4675 adversary G476 to G1909 the magistrate, G758 as thou art in G1722 the way, G3598 give G1325 diligence G2039 that thou mayest be delivered G525 from G575 him; G846 lest G3379 he hale G2694 thee G4571 to G4314 the judge, G2923 and G2532 the judge G2923 deliver G3860 thee G4571 to the officer, G4233 and G2532 the officer G4233 cast G906 thee G4571 into G1519 prison. G5438
Therefore G3767 if G1437 thou bring G4374 thy G4675 gift G1435 to G1909 the altar, G2379 and there G2546 rememberest G3415 that G3754 thy G4675 brother G80 hath G2192 ought G5100 against G2596 thee; G4675 Leave G863 there G1563 thy G4675 gift G1435 before G1715 the altar, G2379 and G2532 go thy way; G5217 first G4412 be reconciled G1259 to thy G4675 brother, G80 and G2532 then G5119 come G2064 and offer G4374 thy G4675 gift. G1435 Agree G2468 G2132 with thine G4675 adversary G476 quickly, G5035 whiles G2193 G3755 thou art G1488 in G1722 the way G3598 with G3326 him; G846 lest at any time G3379 the adversary G476 deliver G3860 thee G4571 to the judge, G2923 and G2532 the judge G2923 deliver G3860 thee G4571 to the officer, G5257 and G2532 thou be cast G906 into G1519 prison. G5438 Verily G281 I say G3004 unto thee, G4671 Thou shalt G1831 by no means G3364 come G1831 out thence, G1564 till G2193 G302 thou hast paid G591 the uttermost G2078 farthing. G2835
Wherefore G1352 (as G2531 the Holy G40 Ghost G4151 saith, G3004 To day G4594 if G1437 ye will hear G191 his G846 voice, G5456 Harden G4645 not G3361 your G5216 hearts, G2588 as G5613 in G1722 the provocation, G3894 in G2596 the day G2250 of temptation G3986 in G1722 the wilderness: G2048 When G3757 your G5216 fathers G3962 tempted G3985 me, G3165 proved G1381 me, G3165 and G2532 saw G1492 my G3450 works G2041 forty G5062 years. G2094 Wherefore G1352 I was grieved G4360 with that G1565 generation, G1074 and G2532 said, G2036 They do G4105 alway G104 err G4105 in their heart; G2588 and G1161 they G846 have G1097 not G3756 known G1097 my G3450 ways. G3598 So G5613 I sware G3660 in G1722 my G3450 wrath, G3709 They shall G1525 not G1487 enter G1525 into G1519 my G3450 rest.) G2663 Take heed, G991 brethren, G80 lest G3379 there be G2071 in G1722 any G5100 of you G5216 an evil G4190 heart G2588 of unbelief, G570 in G1722 departing G868 from G575 the living G2198 God. G2316 But G235 exhort G3870 one another G1438 daily, G2596 G1538 G2250 while G891 G3739 it is called G2564 To day; G4594 lest G3363 any G5100 of G1537 you G5216 be hardened G4645 through the deceitfulness G539 of sin. G266
Or G2228 what G5101 king, G935 going G4198 to make G4820 war G4171 against G1519 another G2087 king, G935 sitteth G2523 not G3780 down G2523 first, G4412 and consulteth G1011 whether G1487 he be G2076 able G1415 with G1722 ten G1176 thousand G5505 to meet G528 him that cometh G2064 against G1909 him G846 with G3326 twenty G1501 thousand? G5505 Or else, G1490 while the other G846 is G5607 yet G2089 a great way off, G4206 he sendeth G649 an ambassage, G4242 and desireth G2065 conditions G4314 of peace. G1515
Strive G75 to enter in G1525 at G1223 the strait G4728 gate: G4439 for G3754 many, G4183 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 will seek G2212 to enter in, G1525 and G2532 shall G2480 not G3756 be able. G2480 When once G575 G3739 G302 the master of the house G3617 is risen up, G1453 and G2532 hath shut G608 to the door, G2374 and G2532 ye begin G756 to stand G2476 without, G1854 and G2532 to knock G2925 at the door, G2374 saying, G3004 Lord, G2962 Lord, G2962 open G455 unto us; G2254 and G2532 he shall answer G611 and say G2046 unto you, G5213 I know G1492 you G5209 not G3756 whence G4159 ye are: G2075 Then G5119 shall ye begin G756 to say, G3004 We have eaten G5315 and G2532 drunk G4095 in thy G4675 presence, G1799 and G2532 thou hast taught G1321 in G1722 our G2257 streets. G4113 But G2532 he shall say, G2046 I tell G3004 you, G5213 I know G1492 you G5209 not G3756 whence G4159 ye are; G2075 depart G868 from G575 me, G1700 all G3956 ye workers G2040 of iniquity. G93 There G1563 shall be G2071 weeping G2805 and G2532 gnashing G1030 of teeth, G3599 when G3752 ye shall see G3700 Abraham, G11 and G2532 Isaac, G2464 and G2532 Jacob, G2384 and G2532 all G3956 the prophets, G4396 in G1722 the kingdom G932 of God, G2316 and G1161 you G5209 yourselves thrust G1544 out. G1854
And Jacob H3290 sent H7971 messengers H4397 before him H6440 to Esau H6215 his brother H251 unto the land H776 of Seir, H8165 the country H7704 of Edom. H123 And he commanded H6680 them, saying, H559 Thus shall ye speak H559 unto my lord H113 Esau; H6215 Thy servant H5650 Jacob H3290 saith H559 thus, I have sojourned H1481 with Laban, H3837 and stayed there H309 until now: And I have oxen, H7794 and asses, H2543 flocks, H6629 and menservants, H5650 and womenservants: H8198 and I have sent H7971 to tell H5046 my lord, H113 that I may find H4672 grace H2580 in thy sight. H5869 And the messengers H4397 returned H7725 to Jacob, H3290 saying, H559 We came H935 to thy brother H251 Esau, H6215 and also he cometh H1980 to meet thee, H7125 and four hundred H3967 men H376 with him. Then Jacob H3290 was greatly H3966 afraid H3372 and distressed: H3334 and he divided H2673 the people H5971 that was with him, and the flocks, H6629 and herds, H1241 and the camels, H1581 into two H8147 bands; H4264 And said, H559 If Esau H6215 come H935 to the one H259 company, H4264 and smite it, H5221 then the other company H4264 which is left H7604 shall escape. H6413 And Jacob H3290 said, H559 O God H430 of my father H1 Abraham, H85 and God H430 of my father H1 Isaac, H3327 the LORD H3068 which saidst H559 unto me, Return H7725 unto thy country, H776 and to thy kindred, H4138 and I will deal well H3190 with thee: I am not worthy of the least H6994 of all the mercies, H2617 and of all the truth, H571 which thou hast shewed H6213 unto thy servant; H5650 for with my staff H4731 I passed over H5674 this Jordan; H3383 and now I am become two H8147 bands. H4264 Deliver me, H5337 I pray thee, from the hand H3027 of my brother, H251 from the hand H3027 of Esau: H6215 for I fear H3373 him, lest he will come H935 and smite me, H5221 and the mother H517 with H5921 the children. H1121 And thou saidst, H559 I will surely H3190 do thee good, H3190 and make H7760 thy seed H2233 as the sand H2344 of the sea, H3220 which cannot be numbered H5608 for multitude. H7230 And he lodged H3885 there that same night; H3915 and took H3947 of that which came H935 to his hand H3027 a present H4503 for Esau H6215 his brother; H251 Two hundred H3967 she goats, H5795 and twenty H6242 he goats, H8495 two hundred H3967 ewes, H7353 and twenty H6242 rams, H352 Thirty H7970 milch H3243 camels H1581 with their colts, H1121 forty H705 kine, H6510 and ten H6235 bulls, H6499 twenty H6242 she asses, H860 and ten H6235 foals. H5895 And he delivered H5414 them into the hand H3027 of his servants, H5650 every drove H5739 by themselves; and said H559 unto his servants, H5650 Pass over H5674 before me, H6440 and put H7760 a space H7305 betwixt H996 drove H5739 and H996 drove. H5739 And he commanded H6680 the foremost, H7223 saying, H559 When Esau H6215 my brother H251 meeteth thee, H6298 and asketh thee, H7592 saying, H559 Whose art thou? and whither goest H3212 thou? and whose are these before H6440 thee? Then thou shalt say, H559 They be thy servant H5650 Jacob's; H3290 it is a present H4503 sent H7971 unto my lord H113 Esau: H6215 and, behold, also he is behind us. H310 And so H1571 commanded he H6680 the second, H8145 and the third, H7992 and all that followed H1980 H310 the droves, H5739 saying, H559 On this manner H1697 shall ye speak H1696 unto Esau, H6215 when ye find H4672 him. And say ye H559 moreover, H1571 Behold, thy servant H5650 Jacob H3290 is behind us. H310 For he said, H559 I will appease H3722 him H6440 with the present H4503 that goeth H1980 before me, H6440 and afterward H310 I will see H7200 his face; H6440 peradventure he will accept H5375 of me. H6440 So went H5674 the present H4503 over H5674 before him: H6440 and himself lodged H3885 that night H3915 in the company. H4264 And he rose up H6965 that night, H3915 and took H3947 his two H8147 wives, H802 and his two H8147 womenservants, H8198 and his eleven H6240 H259 sons, H3206 and passed over H5674 the ford H4569 Jabbok. H2999 And he took them, H3947 and sent them over H5674 the brook, H5158 and sent over H5674 that he had. And Jacob H3290 was left H3498 alone; and there wrestled H79 a man H376 with him until the breaking H5927 of the day. H7837 And when he saw H7200 that he prevailed H3201 not against him, he touched H5060 the hollow of his thigh; H3409 and the hollow H3709 of Jacob's H3290 thigh H3409 was out of joint, H3363 as he wrestled H79 with him. And he said, H559 Let me go, H7971 for the day H7837 breaketh. H5927 And he said, H559 I will not let thee go, H7971 except H518 thou bless H1288 me. And he said H559 unto him, What is thy name? H8034 And he said, H559 Jacob. H3290 And he said, H559 Thy name H8034 shall be called H559 no more Jacob, H3290 but Israel: H3478 for as a prince hast thou power H8280 with God H430 and with men, H582 and hast prevailed. H3201
Go not forth H3318 hastily H4118 to strive, H7378 lest thou know not what to do H6213 in the end H319 thereof, when thy neighbour H7453 hath put thee to shame. H3637 Debate H7378 thy cause H7379 with thy neighbour H7453 himself; and discover H1540 not a secret H5475 to another: H312
My son, H1121 if thou be surety H6148 for thy friend, H7453 if thou hast stricken H8628 thy hand H3709 with a stranger, H2114 Thou art snared H3369 with the words H561 of thy mouth, H6310 thou art taken H3920 with the words H561 of thy mouth. H6310 Do H6213 this now, H645 my son, H1121 and deliver H5337 thyself, when thou art come H935 into the hand H3709 of thy friend; H7453 go, H3212 humble H7511 thyself, and make sure H7292 thy friend. H7453 Give H5414 not sleep H8142 to thine eyes, H5869 nor slumber H8572 to thine eyelids. H6079 Deliver H5337 thyself as a roe H6643 from the hand H3027 of the hunter, and as a bird H6833 from the hand H3027 of the fowler. H3353
But thou hast fulfilled H4390 the judgment H1779 of the wicked: H7563 judgment H1779 and justice H4941 take hold H8551 on thee. Because there is wrath, H2534 beware lest he take thee away H5496 with his stroke: H5607 then a great H7230 ransom H3724 cannot deliver H5186 thee.
Then Abigail H26 made haste, H4116 and took H3947 two hundred H3967 loaves, H3899 and two H8147 bottles H5035 of wine, H3196 and five H2568 sheep H6629 ready dressed, H6213 and five H2568 measures H5429 of parched H7039 corn, and an hundred H3967 clusters of raisins, H6778 and two hundred H3967 cakes H1690 of figs, and laid H7760 them on asses. H2543 And she said H559 unto her servants, H5288 Go on H5674 before H6440 me; behold, I come H935 after H310 you. But she told H5046 not her husband H376 Nabal. H5037 And it was so, as she rode H7392 on the ass, H2543 that she came down H3381 by the covert H5643 of the hill, H2022 and, behold, David H1732 and his men H582 came down H3381 against H7125 her; and she met H6298 them. Now David H1732 had said, H559 Surely in vain H8267 have I kept H8104 all that this H2088 fellow hath in the wilderness, H4057 so that nothing H3972 was missed H6485 of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited H7725 me evil H7451 for good. H2896 So H3541 and more H3254 also do H6213 God H430 unto the enemies H341 of David, H1732 if I leave H7604 of all that pertain to him by H5704 the morning H1242 light H216 any that pisseth H8366 against the wall. H7023 And when Abigail H26 saw H7200 David, H1732 she hasted, H4116 and lighted off H3381 the ass, H2543 and fell H5307 before H639 David H1732 on her face, H6440 and bowed H7812 herself to the ground, H776 And fell H5307 at his feet, H7272 and said, H559 Upon me, my lord, H113 upon me let this iniquity H5771 be: and let thine handmaid, H519 I pray thee, speak H1696 in thine audience, H241 and hear H8085 the words H1697 of thine handmaid. H589 Let H7760 not my lord, H113 I pray thee, regard H3820 this man H376 of Belial, H1100 even Nabal: H5037 for as his name H8034 is, so is he; Nabal H5037 is his name, H8034 and folly H5039 is with him: but I thine handmaid H519 saw H7200 not the young men H5288 of my lord, H113 whom thou didst send. H7971 Now therefore, my lord, H113 as the LORD H3068 liveth, H2416 and as thy soul H5315 liveth, H2416 seeing the LORD H3068 hath withholden H4513 thee from coming H935 to shed blood, H1818 and from avenging H3467 thyself with thine own hand, H3027 now let thine enemies, H341 and they that seek H1245 evil H7451 to my lord, H113 be as Nabal. H5037 And now this blessing H1293 which thine handmaid H8198 hath brought H935 unto my lord, H113 let it even be given H5414 unto the young men H5288 that follow H1980 H7272 my lord. H113 I pray thee, forgive H5375 the trespass H6588 of thine handmaid: H519 for the LORD H3068 will certainly H6213 make H6213 my lord H113 a sure H539 house; H1004 because my lord H113 fighteth H3898 the battles H4421 of the LORD, H3068 and evil H7451 hath not been found H4672 in thee all thy days. H3117 Yet a man H120 is risen H6965 to pursue H7291 thee, and to seek H1245 thy soul: H5315 but the soul H5315 of my lord H113 shall be bound H6887 in the bundle H6872 of life H2416 with the LORD H3068 thy God; H430 and the souls H5315 of thine enemies, H341 them shall he sling out, H7049 as out of the middle H8432 H3709 of a sling. H7050 And it shall come to pass, when the LORD H3068 shall have done H6213 to my lord H113 according to all the good H2896 that he hath spoken H1696 concerning thee, and shall have appointed H6680 thee ruler H5057 over Israel; H3478 That this shall be no grief H6330 unto thee, nor offence H4383 of heart H3820 unto my lord, H113 either that thou hast shed H8210 blood H1818 causeless, H2600 or that my lord H113 hath avenged H3467 himself: but when the LORD H3068 shall have dealt well H3190 with my lord, H113 then remember H2142 thine handmaid. H519 And David H1732 said H559 to Abigail, H26 Blessed H1288 be the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel, H3478 which sent H7971 thee this day H3117 to meet H7125 me: And blessed H1288 be thy advice, H2940 and blessed H1288 be thou, which hast kept H3607 me this day H3117 from coming H935 to shed blood, H1818 and from avenging H3467 myself with mine own hand. H3027 For in very deed, H199 as the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 liveth, H2416 which hath kept me back H4513 from hurting H7489 thee, except H3884 thou hadst hasted H4116 and come H935 to meet H7125 me, surely there had not been left H3498 unto Nabal H5037 by the morning H1242 light H216 any that pisseth H8366 against the wall. H7023 So David H1732 received H3947 of her hand H3027 that which she had brought H935 him, and said H559 unto her, Go up H5927 in peace H7965 to thine house; H1004 see, H7200 I have hearkened H8085 to thy voice, H6963 and have accepted H5375 thy person. H6440
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Luke 12
Commentary on Luke 12 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 12
Lu 12:1-12. Warning against Hypocrisy.
1-3. meantime—in close connection, probably, with the foregoing scene. Our Lord had been speaking out more plainly than ever before, as matters were coming to a head between Him and His enemies, and this seems to have suggested to His own mind the warning here. He had just Himself illustriously exemplified His own precepts.
his disciples first of all—afterwards to "the multitudes" (Lu 12:54).
covered—from the view.
2. hid—from knowledge. "Tis no use concealing anything, for all will one day come out. Give free and fearless utterance then to all the truth." (Compare 1Co 4:3, 5).
4, 5. I say, &c.—You will say, That may cost us our life. Be it so; but, "My friends, there their power ends." He calls them "my friends" here, not in any loose sense, but, as we think, from the feeling He then had that in this "killing of the body" He and they were going to be affectingly one with each other.
5. Fear Him … Fear Him—how striking the repetition here! Only the one fear would effectually expel the other.
after he hath killed, &c.—Learn here—(1) To play false with one's convictions to save one's life, may fail of its end after all, for God can inflict a violent death in some other and equally formidable way. (2) There is a hell, it seems, for the body as well as the soul; consequently, sufferings adapted to the one as well as the other. (3) Fear of hell is a divinely authorized and needed motive of action even to Christ's "friends." (4) As Christ's meekness and gentleness were not compromised by such harsh notes as these, so those servants of Christ lack their Master's spirit who soften down all such language to please ears "polite." (See on Mr 9:43-48).
6, 7. five … for two farthings—In Mt 10:29 it is "two for one farthing"; so if one took two farthings' worth, he got one in addition—of such small value were they.
than many sparrows—not "than millions of sparrows"; the charm and power of our Lord's teaching is very much in this simplicity.
8, 9. confess … deny—The point lies in doing it "before men," because one has to do it "despising the shame." But when done, the Lord holds Himself bound to repay it in kind by confessing such "before the angels of God." For the rest, see on Lu 9:26.
10. Son of man … Holy Ghost—(See on Mt 12:31, 32).
Lu 12:13-53. Covetousness—Watchfulness—Superiority to Earthly Ties.
13. Master, &c.—that is, "Great Preacher of righteousness, help; there is need of Thee in this rapacious world; here am I the victim of injustice, and that from my own brother, who withholds from me my rightful share of the inheritance that has fallen to us." In this most inopportune intrusion upon the solemnities of our Lord's teaching, there is a mixture of the absurd and the irreverent, the one, however, occasioning the other. The man had not the least idea that his case was not of as urgent a nature, and as worthy the attention of our Lord, as anything else He could deal with.
14. Man, &c.—Contrast this style of address with "my friends," (Lu 12:4).
who, &c.—a question literally repudiating the office which Moses assumed (Ex 2:14). The influence of religious teachers in the external relations of life has ever been immense, when only the INDIRECT effect of their teaching; but whenever they intermeddle DIRECTLY with secular and political matters, the spell of that influence is broken.
15. unto them—the multitude around Him (Lu 12:1).
of covetousness—The best copies have "all," that is, "every kind of covetousness"; because as this was one of the more plausible forms of it, so He would strike at once at the root of the evil.
a man's life, &c.—a singularly weighty maxim, and not less so because its meaning and its truth are equally evident.
16-19. a certain rich man, &c.—Why is this man called a "fool?" (Lu 12:20) (1) Because he deemed a life of secure and abundant earthly enjoyment the summit of human felicity. (2) Because, possessing the means of this, through prosperity in his calling, he flattered himself that he had a long lease of such enjoyment, and nothing to do but give himself up to it. Nothing else is laid to his charge.
20, 21. this night, &c.—This sudden cutting short of his career is designed to express not only the folly of building securely upon the future, but of throwing one's whole soul into what may at any moment be gone. "Thy soul shall be required of thee" is put in opposition to his own treatment of it, "I will say to my soul, Soul," &c.
whose shall those things be, &c.—Compare Ps 39:6, "He heapeth up riches and knoweth not who shall gather them."
21. So is he, &c.—Such is a picture of his folly here, and of its awful issue.
and is not rich toward God—lives to amass and enjoy riches which terminate on self, but as to the riches of God's favor, which is life (Ps 30:5), of "precious" faith (2Pe 1:1; Jas 2:5), of good works (1Ti 6:18), of wisdom which is better than rubies (Pr 8:11)—lives and dies a beggar!
22-31. (See on Mt 6:25-33).
25, 26. which of you, &c.—Corroding solicitude will not bring you the least of the things ye fret about, though it may double the evil of wanting them. And if not the least, why vex yourselves about things of more consequence?
29. of doubtful, &c.—unsettled mind; put off your balance.
32. little flock, &c.—How sublime and touching a contrast between this tender and pitying appellation, "Little flock" (in the original a double diminutive, which in German can be expressed, but not in English)—and the "good pleasure" of the Father to give them the Kingdom; the one recalling the insignificance and helplessness of that then literal handful of disciples, the other holding up to their view the eternal love that encircled them, the everlasting arms that were underneath them, and the high inheritance awaiting them!—"the kingdom"; grand word; then why not "bread" (Lu 12:31 [Bengel]). Well might He say, "Fear not!"
33, 34. Sell, &c.—This is but a more vivid expression of Mt 6:19-21 (see on Mt 6:19-21).
35-40. loins … girded—to fasten up the long outer garment, always done before travel and work (2Ki 4:29; Ac 12:8). The meaning is, Be in readiness.
lights, &c.—(See on Mt 25:1).
36. return from the wedding—not come to it, as in the parable of the virgins. Both have their spiritual significance; but preparedness for Christ's coming is the prominent idea.
37. gird himself, &c.—"a promise the most august of all: Thus will the Bridegroom entertain his friends (nay, servants) on the solemn Nuptial Day" [Bengel].
38. second … third watch—To find them ready to receive Him at any hour of day or night, when one might least of all expect Him, is peculiarly blessed. A servant may be truly faithful, even though taken so far unawares that he has not everything in such order and readiness for his master's return as he thinks is due to him, and both could and would have had if he had had notice of the time of his coming, and so may not be willing to open to him "immediately," but fly to preparation, and let his master knock again ere he admit him, and even then not with full joy. A too common case this with Christians. But if the servant have himself and all under his charge in such a state that at any hour when his master knocks, he can open to him "immediately," and hail his "return"—that is the most enviable, "blessed" servant of all.
41-48. unto us or even to all?—us the Twelve, or all this vast audience?
42. Who then, &c.—answering the question indirectly by another question, from which they were left to gather what it would be:—To you certainly in the first instance, representing the "stewards" of the "household" I am about to collect, but generally to all "servants" in My house.
faithful and wise—Fidelity is the first requisite in a servant, wisdom (discretion and judgment in the exercise of his functions), the next.
steward—house steward, whose it was to distribute to the servants their allotted portion of food.
shall make—will deem fit to be made.
44. make him ruler over all he hath—will advance him to the highest post, referring to the world to come. (See Mt 25:21, 23).
45. begin to beat, &c.—In the confidence that his Lord's return will not be speedy, he throws off the role of servant and plays the master, maltreating those faithful servants who refuse to join him, seizing on and revelling in the fulness of his master's board; intending, when he has got his fill, to resume the mask of fidelity ere his master appear.
46. cut him in sunder—a punishment not unknown in the East; compare Heb 11:37, "sawn asunder" (1Sa 15:33; Da 2:5).
the unbelievers—the unfaithful, those unworthy of trust (Mt 24:51), "the hypocrites," falsely calling themselves "servants."
48. knew not—that is knew but partially; for some knowledge is presupposed both in the name "servant" of Christ, and his being liable to punishment at all.
many … few stripes—degrees of future punishment proportioned to the knowledge sinned against. Even heathens are not without knowledge enough for future judgment; but the reference here is not to such. It is a solemn truth, and though general, like all other revelations of the future world, discloses a tangible and momentous principle in its awards.
49-53. to send—cast.
fire—"the higher spiritual element of life which Jesus came to introduce into this earth (compare Mt 3:11), with reference to its mighty effects in quickening all that is akin to it and destroying all that is opposed. To cause this element of life to take up its abode on earth, and wholly to pervade human hearts with its warmth, was the lofty destiny of the Redeemer" [Olshausen: so Calvin, Stier, Alford, &c.].
what will I, &c.—an obscure expression, uttered under deep and half-smothered emotion. In its general import all are agreed; but the nearest to the precise meaning seems to be, "And what should I have to desire if it were once already kindled?" [Bengel and Bloomfield].
50. But … a baptism, &c.—clearly, His own bloody baptism, first to take place.
how … straitened—not, "how do I long for its accomplishment," as many understand it, thus making it but a repetition of Lu 12:49; but "what a pressure of spirit is upon Me."
till it be accomplished—till it be over. Before a promiscuous audience, such obscure language was fit on a theme like this; but oh, what surges of mysterious emotion in the view of what was now so near at hand does it reveal!
51. peace … ? Nay, &c.—the reverse of peace, in the first instance. (See on Mt 10:34-36.) The connection of all this with the foregoing warnings about hypocrisy, covetousness, and watchfulness, is deeply solemn: "My conflict hasten apace; Mine over, yours begins; and then, let the servants tread in their Master's steps, uttering their testimony entire and fearless, neither loving nor dreading the world, anticipating awful wrenches of the dearest ties in life, but looking forward, as I do, to the completion of their testimony, when, reaching the haven after the tempest, they shall enter into the joy of their Lord."
Lu 12:54-59. Not Discerning the Signs of the Time.
54. to the people—"the multitude," a word of special warning to the thoughtless crowd, before dismissing them. (See on Mt 16:2, 3).
56. how … not discern, &c.—unable to perceive what a critical period that was for the Jewish Church.
57. why even of yourselves, &c.—They might say, To do this requires more knowledge of Scripture and providence than we possess; but He sends them to their own conscience, as enough to show them who He was, and win them to immediate discipleship.
58. When thou goest, &c.—(See on Mt 5:25, 26). The urgency of the case with them, and the necessity, for their own safety, of immediate decision, was the object of these striking words.