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Luke Chapter
Twelve
I.
Content of the Chapter
The Warnings and Teachings of the Son of Man
the Savior
I. How to speak and
walk before men (v.1-12).
II. How to treat
treasure and living (v.13-34).
III. The attitude
and knowledge of those who serve the Lord (v.35-39).
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
Luke. 12:1 “In the meantime
when an
innumerable multitude of people had gathered together
so that they trampled
one another
He began to say to His disciples first of all
‘Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees
which is
hypocrisy.”
YLT: “At which time the
myriads of the multitude having been gathered together
so as to tread upon one
another
he began to say unto his disciples
first
`Take heed to yourselves of
the leaven of the Pharisees
which is hypocrisy;”
Meaning of words: “hypocrisy”: performance
act
putting on
the mask.
The
Background: “hypocrisy” this
word originated with the actors on stage who spoke with masks to cover their
original appearance so as to play the role vividly.
Literal
Meaning: “leaven” is a sort of
unicellular fungi that can make bread to ferment. Bread that has been fermented
will become more delicious.
Spiritual Meaning: “Beware of the
leaven of the Pharisees
which is hypocrisy.” “The leaven” indicates the evil
things (See Exod. 12:20; 1Cor. 5:7-8) and teachings (See Matt. 16:12
Gal.
5:8-9). “The leaven of the Pharisees” here especially indicates
“hypocrisy”------duplicity and preciosity; they pretend to have the form of
piety and covet the reputation that they do not deserve
however
they actually
do not fear God in their hearts.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “The leaven of the Pharisees” indicates not only
the “teachings” of error (See Matt. 16:6) but also the “deeds” of error.
Therefore we should not only be aware of the wrong teachings but also guard
against the wrong deeds.
2) Today
the “hypocrisy” is often seen among
Christians. It shows that “the leaven of the Pharisees” has been mixed into the
assembly.
3) Today whatever misleads men and makes men merely
pay attention to the outward appearance and neglect the inner reality is “the
leaven of the Pharisees”.
Luke. 12:2 “For there is nothing
covered that will not be revealed
nor hidden that will not be known.”
YLT: “and there is nothing
covered
that shall not be revealed; and hid
that shall not be known;”
Literal Meaning: according to the
context
“the covered” and “the hidden” indicate “the hypocrisy” (See v.1).
None of the hypocritical could be covered.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Since things that are covered and hidden will be
revealed sooner or later
it would be better for us to muster up our courage to
speak what we should speak and to do what we should do.
2) Some Christians do what they shouldn’t do and
they are afraid to be known by men instead of God. However
they will not only
be known sooner or later but also it is much harder for them to confess before
God before the judgment-seat.
Luke. 12:3 “Therefore whatever you
have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light
and what you have spoken in
the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.”
YLT: “because whatever in
the darkness ye said
in the light shall be heard: and what to the ear ye spake
in the inner-chambers
shall be proclaimed upon the house-tops.”
Literal Meaning: “whatever you have
spoken in the dark will be heard in the light” It indicates that the
inconvenient words that are spoken in the dark (See Eph. 4:29; 5:4) will be
revealed finally.
“What you have spoken in inner rooms”
“Inner rooms” indicate the private one among many rooms.
“Will be proclaimed on the housetops”
“On the housetops” indicate the place for public announce in old time.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) A common saying goes like this
“what is done by
night appears by day.” The teaching of the Bible is that
“what is said by
night appears by day”.
2) Believers should speak very carefully because
“every idle word” that we may speak carelessly today will be given account of
some day in future (Matt. 12:36).
Luke. 12:4 “‘And
I say to you
My friends
do not be afraid of those who kill the body
and
after that have no more that they can do.”
YLT: “`And I say to you
my friends
be not afraid of those killing the body
and after these things are
not having anything over to do;”
Literal Meaning: “those who kill the
body
and after that have no more that they can do” indicate those who have
been utilized by the devil to persecute believers. Their persecution may make
our body and mind suffer
however
at most they kill the body and they cannot
kill the soul (See Matt. 10:28).
Luke. 12:5 “But I will show you whom
you should fear: Fear Him who
after He has killed
has power to cast into
hell; yes
I say to you
fear Him!”
YLT: “but I will show to
you
whom ye may fear; Fear him who
after the killing
is having authority to
cast to the gehenna; yes
I say to you
Fear ye Him.”
Literal Meaning: “has power to cast
into hell” Only God has this power.
“Fear Him” indicates to honor His
authority
fear Him and trust and rely on Him.
The devil and its ministers (including
the world) could kill the body at most and they cannot kill the soul. However
if we dare not to bear witness to the Lord
fearing that our bodies may be
killed
probably our souls may be punished by the Lord one day and this is what
we should be afraid of.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Who we should fear is God instead of Satan. The
attitude we should have towards Satan is to resist the devil firmly (See James.
4:7; 1Pet. 5:9).
2) Believers should not fear those who make us
suffer losses temporarily and should fear those who make us suffer losses
forever.
3) Men’s difficulty is that they do not fear what
they are supposed to fear and fear what they are not supposed to fear. Who men
should fear is God. “Fearing God” is the foundation of our victory.
Luke. 12:6 “‘Are
not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten
before God.”
YLT: “`Are not five
sparrows sold for two assars? and one of them is not forgotten before God
”
The
Background: according to the
Roman currency system at that time
one denarius costs sixteen copper coins
(i.e. assarius). Therefore “two copper coins” is equal to one eighth denarius.
At that time
the wage of a common worker is one denarius a day (See Matt.
20:2).
Literal Meaning: “are not five
sparrows sold for two copper coins?” Two sparrows are sold for one coin (See
Matt. 10:29) and five sparrows should be sold for two and a half copper coins.
However
they are sold for two copper coins because the fifth sparrow is given
by free if one buys four sparrows. This shows how cheap the sparrows------the
food of the poor are.
“And not one of them is forgotten before
God.” This word shows that the sparrow that is given by free is not forgotten
before God. This shows that: 1) God’s favor towards men is meticulous; 2) God
specially takes care of the lowly ones and orphans and widows.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) We should learn to trust and rely on God’s care
and arrangements.
2) Men and devils are unable to harm us without our
Father in heaven. All our circumstances are permitted by our Father and He
knows what profits us (Heb. 12:10).
Luke. 12:7 “But the very hairs of
your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than
many sparrows.”
YLT: “but even the hairs
of your head have been all numbered; therefore fear ye not
than many sparrows
ye are of more value.”
Literal Meaning: “but the very hairs
of your head are all numbered.” This word shows that every hair of us has been
numbered by God. Since God managers this little thing
He will assuredly regard
us when we are encountered with difficulties because of His works.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Every thing believers have encountered is
arranged by God. God arranges our circumstances carefully just as He has
numbered our hairs.
2) God’s infinite meticulosity is just like His
infinite greatness. Upon us nothing is too detailed for God to arrange.
3) “Many” is very precious. No matter how many
sparrows there are
you are of more value.
4) God loves us as the apple of His eye (Deut.
32:10
Zech. 2:8).
5) The reason why men fear is that they do not
trust in God’s arrangements. Everything is arranged by God. If you trust in
God’s arrangements
you won’t fear and you will praise Him.
6) Obedience works joy and faith works rest. One
will not fear when his heart is full of rest and joy.
Luke. 12:8 “‘Also
I say to you
whoever confesses Me before men
him the Son of Man also will
confess before the angels of God.”
YLT: “`And I say to you
Every one whoever may confess with me before men
the Son of Man also shall
confess with him before the messengers of God
”
Meaning of Words: “confess”:
acknowledge
identify (it includes the meaning that one is united to the Lord).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) If we bear witness to the Lord
the Lord will
bear witness to us.
2) If we respect the Lord before men
the Lord will
respect us before God.
Luke. 12:9 “But he who denies Me
before men will be denied before the angels of God.”
YLT: “and he who hath
denied me before men
shall be denied before the messengers of God
”
Meaning of Words: “deny”: reject (the first one); deny seriously
reject utterly (the second one and the wording of the second is stronger and
more serious).
Literal Meaning: whether we confess the Lord before men is
closely connected with whether the Lord confesses us before God. If we dare not
to confess the Lord before men because we are afraid of men
we will suffer the
consequence of our fear. Should we fear God? Or should we fear men? It is a
fearful thing to fall into hands of living God (Heb. 10:31).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Today it is wrong for believers that the more
others oppose them
the less they dare to bear witness to the Lord. Actually
lamp
is lightened in the dark. The more men reject the Lord
the more we should
preach.
2) Many believers hold that they do not need to
preach the glad tidings with mouth and they want to express the glad tidings
with deeds. Our deeds should be worthy of the glad tidings (Pill. 1:27)
however
deeds could not replace utterance.
Luke. 12:10 “‘And
anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man
it will be forgiven him; but
to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit
it will not be forgiven.”
YLT: “and every one
whoever shall say a word to the Son of Man
it shall be forgiven to him
but to
him who to the Holy Spirit did speak evil
it shall not be forgiven.”
Meaning of Words: “against”: towards
antagonize
and withstand; “blaspheme”: “blasphemy”: evil speaking
defamation
and vilification (especially against God).
Literal Meaning: “And anyone who
speaks a word against the Son of Man
it will be forgiven him.” “The Son of
Man” is Christ. If men reject Him because they do not know that the Lord Jesus
is the Son of God
they still have the possibility to come to realize the truth
and turn to Him. Therefore it will be forgiven him.
“But to him who blasphemes against the
Holy Spirit
it will not be forgiven.” If men repent
very sin of behavior and
words will be forgiven. However if someone obviously knows that the Holy Spirit
works and deliberately despises and blasphemes the Holy Spirit
his conduct
restrains he Holy Spirit from working in his heart forever. In this way
it is
impossible for him to repent of his sins and certainly it will not be forgiven.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) One will be forgiven if he is too weak to obey
the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Only those who obviously know that
something is of the Holy Spirit and say that it is of Satan will never be
forgiven.
2) Every behavioral sin of men could be forgiven.
However if men are purposely against the Holy Spirit and their hearts keep hard
to the end
there won’t be any possibility for them to be forgiven.
Luke. 12:11 “‘Now
when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities
do not
worry about how or what you should answer
or what you should say.”
YLT: “`And when they
bring you before the synagogues
and the rulers
and the authorities
be not
anxious how or what ye may reply
or what ye may say
”
Literal Meaning: “how you should
answer” indicates the way to speak.
“What you should answer” indicates the
context.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) When we are confronted with persecution and
opposition
we should not speak by ourselves.
2) If believers are persecuted or opposed
we
should not deal with the difficulty by ourselves. We should commit ourselves to
the Lord through faith. He that believes on the Lord shall not be ashamed (Rom.
9:33).
3) “Do not worry about.” The present world is full
of intenseness and many people are anxious. However
when our hearts rest in
the Lord
we could keep tranquil in trails and hardships.
Luke. 12:12 “For the Holy Spirit will
teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.’”
YLT: “for the Holy Spirit
shall teach you in that hour what it behoveth [you] to say.’”
Controversial Clarification: verse 11 and 12 do not tell us that before
the servants of the Lord speak for God
they do not need to spend time praying
and preparing for the message before God and the Spirit may teach them the fit
words when they speak for the Lord. We should never make an excuse for our
laziness by these verses. Surely even if the servants of the Lord are
well-prepared
they still need to look upon the Spirit to give them the fit
words when they speak for the Lord (See Neh. 2:4-5; Eph. 6:19).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) We should learn to return into the spirit and
look on the guidance of the Holy Spirit instead of facing the persecution by
ourselves because God’s Spirit dwells in our spirits (
2) If we are persecuted for the sake of the Lord
the Holy Spirit not only dwells in us but also will give us words so that we
could answer those who persecute us. It shows that the cares of the Lord are so
attentive that we do not need to be afraid.
3) If men rush to the fore to speak
the Holy
Spirit will have no status to speak. If men do not speak for themselves
the
Holy Spirit will manifest his words.
4) Many times men could speak what they are unable
to speak and what they are unexpected because it is not them who speak
but the
Spirit of their Father who speaks in them.
Luke. 12:13 “Then one from the crowd
said to Him
‘Teacher
tell my brother to
divide the inheritance with me.’”
YLT: “And a certain one
said to him
out of the multitude
`Teacher
say to my brother to divide with
me the inheritance.’”
The
Background: at that time rabbi
had the right to help men to divide the inheritance according to the Law of
Moses (e.g. Num. 27:1-11; Deut. 21:15-17).
Luke. 12:14 “But He said to him
‘Man
who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?’”
YLT: “And he said to him
`Man
who set me a judge or a divider over you?’”
Literal Meaning: “man” Please note
that this tone of speech is straight forward.
The Lord Jesus refused to be a judge or
an arbitrator over men because He was concerned about men’s life (See v.15).
Life is much more important than treasure.
Luke. 12:15 “And He said to them
‘Take heed and beware of covetousness
for one's life does
not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.’”
YLT: “And he said unto
them
‘Observe
and beware of the covetousness
because not in the abundance of
one’s goods is his life.’”
Meaning of Words: “take heed”: look
carefully; “beware of”: be on guard
watch; “covetousness”: greediness
hunger
for more; “life”: the life of spirit (zoe); “the things he possesses”:
belongings
possessions.
Literal Meaning: “Take heed and
beware of covetousness” This sentence shows that that man asked the Lord Jesus
to help him to divide the inheritance (v.13-14) with the motivation of
“covetousness” towards treasure.
“For one’s life does not consist in the
abundance of the things he possesses.” “One’s life” indicates one’s enjoyment
and joy of the spiritual life; one’s true blessing and joy do not consist in
the possession of the abundant material wealth.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord did not make Himself “a judge or an
arbitrator” (See v.14) and towards men He only mentioned “life”. When we are
confronted with difficulties in the assembly
we should try our best to provide
men life and should avoid caring about the right and wrong.
2) In Him was life and the life was the light of
men (John. 1:4). Only Christ is able to truly solve all the problems of men’s
life.
3) The man who possesses the abundant wealth and
only spends it for himself is not happier than the man who is glad to lead a
simple and pious life.
4) The world holds that the improvement of the
material civilization should owe to the unlimited material desire of human
beings and the so-called “covetousness” is the strongest driving force of
“life”. However
it makes human life drop from the spiritual range to the range
of the material desire
thus depriving the real meaning and purpose of human
lives.
Luke. 12:16 “Then He spoke a parable
to them
saying: ‘The ground of a certain
rich man yielded plentifully.”
YLT: “And he spake a
simile unto them
saying
‘Of a certain rich man the field brought forth well;”
Literal Meaning: “then He spoke a
parable to them” The Lord spoke this parable in order to explain the reason why
“one's life
does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (See v.15).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “A certain rich” is the one who “possesses
plentiful belongings”. However
whether one’s life is abundant does not consist
in the abundance of the things he possesses.
2) There are many “rich men” in the world.
Apparently they possess plentiful belongings and actually they are possessed by
the plentiful belongings------they become “slaves of riches” from the “rich
men”.
Luke. 12:17 “And he thought within
himself
saying
‘What shall I do
since I
have no room to store my crops?'”
YLT: “and he was
reasoning within himself
saying
What shall I do
because I have not where I
shall gather together my fruits?”
Meaning of Words: “crops”: fruits
farm product.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) There isn’t the completely and safe room on
earth to store the crops because thieves may approach and moth may destroy and
therefore it’s better to store them in heaven (See v.33).
2) The belly of the poor
the families of widows
and the mouths of orphans who cry piteously for food are the everlasting barn.
Luke. 12:18 “So he said
‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build
greater
and there I will store all my crops and my goods.”
YLT: “and he said
This I
will do
I will take down my storehouses
and greater ones I will build
and I
will gather together there all my products and my good things
”
Literal Meaning: please note that
this rich man only cares about “I…I…I…” and “my…my…my…” (See v.17-19). He is
the one who is “self”-centered
relies on “his own property” and focus on “his
own happiness”.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “Building greater” is the worldly way and it is
also the main reason for individuals and companies to declare the bankruptcy.
It is the spiritual way to entrust the wealth to the Lord to handle.
2) Believers should know that the property is not
“mine” but that the property is instructed to us by God to mange. We are not
the possessors of the property but the managers.
Luke. 12:19 “And I will say to my
soul
‘Soul
you have many goods
laid up for many years; take your ease; eat
drink
and be merry.’”
YLT: “and I will say to
my soul
Soul
thou hast many good things laid up for many years
be resting
eat
drink
be merry.”
Meaning of Words: “soul”: the life of
soul (psuche); “take your ease”: take rest
refresh.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) This rich man thinks that his “soul” could be
nourished by “eating and drinking”. He does not know that “eating and drinking”
could only nourish his “body” and sometimes it even corrupts the “soul”.
2) Worldly goods are all vanities and they cannot
be treated as the reliance of one’s life. Our hope is in God (See Ps. 39:5-7).
Luke. 12:20 “But God said to him
‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then
whose will those things be which you have provided?'”
YLT: “`And God said to
him
Unthinking one! this night thy soul they shall require from thee
and what
things thou didst prepare to whom shall they be?”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) It is all together foolish to operate and plan
for the worldly and material things (v.17-19) and want to take deeply root on
the earth for long------no matter they are the worldly things and the things of
“the church”.
2) “Fool” is the one who attends to trifles and
neglects the essentials------he only prepares for the external things and does
not prepare for the internal things------his own soul.
3) “Then whose will those things be which you have
provided?” We should also ask ourselves that if we meet the Lord today or the
Lord comes today
will all that we have done on earth be unto the Lord? Or
shall they be fallen into the hand of the devil?
Luke. 12:21 “‘So
is he who lays up treasure for himself
and is not rich toward God.’”
YLT: “so [is] he who is
treasuring up to himself
and is not rich toward God.’”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) From this verse we could know that treasure
could not make us rich toward God. Men’s value toward God is truly measured
according to what he “is” instead of what he “possesses”.
2) Those who only take forethought for the flesh
are not rich toward God. Those who know how to take forethought for the soul of
his own and others are rich toward God.
3) Those who are rich toward God are those who are
rich in faith (See James. 2:5).
Luke. 12:22 “Then He said to His
disciples
‘Therefore I say to you
do
not worry about your life
what you will eat; nor about the body
what you will
put on.”
YLT: “And he said unto
his disciples
`Because of this
to you I say
Be not anxious for your life
what ye may eat; nor for the body
what ye may put on;”
Meaning of Words: “life”: the life of
soul (psuche); “worry about”: distract. ”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Since God has
given us life
He will care about the needs of life and since He has created
bodies for us
He will care about the needs of our bodies. In Him we live and
move and have our being (See Acts. 17:24-28).
2) It is a sin that believers worry about food and
drink and clothing because worry shows that they do not trust in God’s care.
3) On one hand the Lord asks us to pray for our
daily bread (See 11:3); on the other
He asks us not to worry about food and
clothing. Prayer is the manifestation of belief. If one asks
he should trusts
that He will assuredly give him. Worry is the expression of unbelief.
4) Do not worry about food and clothing. This does
not ask us to sit idly and wait for God’s provision. The faith of Christians
does not encourage us to be lazy (See 2Thess. 3:10-12). Believers should do
what they deserve to do diligently for the needs of living and then put their
future in the hand of God.
Luke. 12:23 “Life is more than food
and the body is more than clothing.”
YLT: “the life is more
than the nourishment
and the body than the clothing.”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) There is a great crisis in Christians’ life that
they regard food and clothing as the first importance of living and they even
neglect their meaning of living on the earth.
2) None of us lives to himself and we live to the
Lord (
3) As long as we truly take the responsibility as
the servants of the Lord
the Lord will assuredly take the responsibility as
our Lord and He will provide us the needs of living.
4) Believers should not let their body become the
lord of their life. The body is not the lord but the servant.
Luke. 12:24 “Consider the ravens
for
they neither sow nor reap
which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God
feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?”
YLT: “`Consider the
ravens
that they sow not
nor reap
to which there is no barn nor storehouse
and God doth nourish them; how much better are ye than the fowls?”
Controversial
Clarification: here the Lord did
not meant that we should not labor for life (See Gen. 3:17). He did not tell us
that we should not work to make a living. If a man does not like to work
neither let him eat (2Thess. 3:10). The Lord meant that our provision lies in
the hand of God and therefore we should live by trusting in God instead of
ourselves.
Spiritual Meaning: “the birds of the
air” symbolizes heavenly life with faith.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) A life by faith
keeps aloof like birds of the air that they neither run for themselves (“they
neither sow”) nor save for themselves (“nor reap”).
2) A life by faith is that we have nothing except
“God”------He is the lord who “feeds” me.
Luke. 12:25 “And which of you by
worrying can add one cubit to his stature?”
YLT: “and who of you
being anxious
is able to add to his age one cubit?”
Meaning of Words: “worry”: be anxious
about
take thought.
Literal
Meaning: Our length of life
and stature are decided by God and men’s worry won’t change God’s arrangements.
Our worry is unhelpful and therefore there is no need to worry in vain.
Enlightenment in the Word: we neither increase the fleshly life by worrying
nor enlarge and improve the spiritual life by artificial ways. All lie in God’s
sovereignty and mercy.
Luke. 12:26 “If you then are not able
to do the least
why are you anxious for the rest?”
YLT: “If
then
ye are
not able for the least why for the rest are ye anxious?”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) There is no need to worry about things that we
are able to do. Worrying about things that we are unable to do is useless. The
most useless thing in the world is worrying.
2) “Worry” is
unbelief towards God. God wants us to be carful about nothing (Pill. 4:6).
Luke. 12:27 “Consider the lilies
how
they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you
even Solomon in
all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”
YLT: “`Consider the
lilies
how do they grow? they labour not
nor do they spin
and I say to you
not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these;”
The
Background: “even Solomon in all
his glory” The days of Solomon were the most prosperous period in the history
of
Spiritual Meaning: “lilies” symbolizes
a life by faith that is under the care of God and without any artificial work
(S. of Sol 2:1-2).
What Solomon “was arrayed” symbolizes the best
artificial one; “like one of these” symbolizes what is made by God’s hand.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) A life by faith
is pure as lilies of the field
without any artificial work (“they neither
toil”) or decoration (“nor spin”)
but only resting in the care of God.
2) The birds of the air and lilies of the field
both testify the principle of God’s grace------receiving freely instead of
gaining by labor.
3) Any man-made achievement cannot compare with
anything that grows up in life.
Luke. 12:28 “If then God so clothes
the grass
which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven
how
much more will He clothe you
O you of little faith?”
YLT: “and if the herbage
in the field
that to-day is
and to-morrow into an oven is cast
God doth so
clothe
how much more you ye of little faith?”
The
Background: “the grass
which
today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven” Men in the
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Our life by faith
should rest in “today” that is arranged by God.
2) Men are the center of God’s creatures. All
things exist for the provisions to men. If believers know our status in God’s
heart
we will not worry about their living.
3) Having faith towards God will save us from many
useless worries. If someone does have faith (or has little faith) towards God
how miserable his life will be!
Luke. 12:29 “‘And
do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink
nor have an anxious
mind.”
YLT: “`And ye seek not
what ye may eat
or what ye may drink
and be not in suspense
”
Meaning of Words: “an anxious mind”:
be of doubtful mind
be anxious.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Once believers
worry about food and drink and clothing
he loses his use. Those who are full
of worries cannot be used by God and cannot partake in God’s work.
2) Believers have to do their duties of life and
should not worry about life.
Luke. 12:30 “For all these things the
nations of the world seek after
and your Father knows that you need these
things.”
YLT: “for all these
things do the nations of the world seek after
and your Father hath known that
ye have need of these things;”
Literal Meaning: “For all these
things the nations of the world seek after” “the nations of the world”: the
world who neither knows God nor believes in the Lord. What believers seek after
should be different from what common people seek after.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The world does
not know God and therefore they worry about life. We could cast all our care
upon Him (1Pet. 5:7).
2) God is the Father
of believers. He is the fountainhead of every good gift and every perfect gift
and He surely will give us what we need (James.1:17).
3) God will give us
what we “need” and He is unwilling to give us what we “seek after” (what we
love and hope for).
Luke. 12:31 “But seek the
YLT: “but
seek ye the
reign of God
and all these things shall be added to you.”
Literal
Meaning: Here it is “seeking”
in life instead of “asking” in prayer. We should live a life with an attitude
of seeking the
“All these things shall be added to you” As
long as citizens of the kingdom of God seek the kingdom of God
they will gain
the kingdom of God and additionally
their daily necessities.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “The
2) Believers’ life should be controlled by God
(live in the reality of the
3) It is meaningless to have a zero first and other
numbers simply added to it. You must firstly have an effective number for other
numbers to follow. You have to seek first the
4) Those who seek the
5) God minds the needs of those who mind the things
of God.
Luke. 12:32 “‘Do
not fear
little flock
for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the
kingdom.”
YLT: “`Fear not
little
flock
because your Father did delight to give you the reign;”
Literal Meaning: “little flock” It
shows that true believers are a small minority of the world.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “Little flock” The “little” shows that the
assembly on earth is always lowly
hidden and despised by men. The “flock”
shows that the assembly is corporate and inseparable and it is the body of
commune.
2) “For it is your Father’s good pleasure to give
you the kingdom.” It tells us that as long as we seek the
Luke. 12:33 “Sell what you have and
give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old
a treasure in
the heavens that does not fail
where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.”
YLT: “sell your goods
and give alms
make to yourselves bags that become not old
a treasure
unfailing in the heavens
where thief doth not come near
nor moth destroy;”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Giving the treasure to the poor
especially the
poor saints
is to provide oneself treasure in the heavens (Matt. 19:21; Rom.
15:26; 2Cor. 9:9).
2) When believers lay up treasure in the heavens
they actually open a bank account in the heavens. And when we are in need
we
could withdraw what we need from God. It is possible for the banks on earth to
go bankrupt
however
the bank in the heavens is reliable forever.
3) Every cent that we spend for the Lord today has
the everlasting value.
4) The treasure on earth has one feature that it
could be stolen and destroyed and therefore it is unworthy for us to spend too
much effort
energy and time on it and we should not fully rely on it.
Luke. 12:34 “For where your treasure
is
there your heart will be also.”
YLT: “for where your
treasure is
there also your heart will be.”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Men’s hearts are
related to the treasure. If we want to convey our hearts into heaven
we have
to lay up our treasure in heaven at first. Treasure goes into heaven first and
hearts follow the treasure.
2) What mostly attracts one’s heart is treasure. If
we only lay up our treasure on earth
our hearts will only mind things on
earth. On the contrary
if we lay our treasure in heaven
our hearts will be
attracted every day and mind things in heaven.
3) The
4) We may quickly know where one’s treasure is by
his conversation. If one’s treasure is in heaven
he will talk about things in
heaven very soon. If one’s treasure is on the earth
soon he will talk at
length about mineral
speculating business
stocks
interest rate and etc.
Luke. 12:35 “‘Let
your waist be girded and your lamps burning;”
YLT: “`Let your loins be
girded
and the lamps burning
”
The
Background: “let your waist be
girded” Men in the land of the
Spiritual Meaning: “let your waist be
girded” It symbolizes that one is ready to receive the commands to move at all
times.
“You lamps burning” It symbolizes that
one keeps the testimony of life (See Matt. 25:1).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) In the generation of darkness
believers bear
the witness of Christ (“lamps burning”) as lights in the world
holding forth
the word of life (Pill. 2:15-16). And then they would walk out of the world
step by step in order to meet the coming Christ.
2) Believers are the light of the world. We should
let “our lamps” “burning” constantly so as to glorify God the Father (See Matt.
5:15-16).
Luke. 12:36 “and you yourselves be
like men who wait for their master
when he will return from the wedding
that
when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.”
YLT: “and ye like to men
waiting for their lord
when he shall return out of the wedding feasts
that he
having come and knocked
immediately they may open to him.”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Believers’ “mission” is to wait for our Lord.
Preparing to meet the second coming of the Lord is the essential attitude that
we should have in our life.
2) Only those who watch and “wait” for the master
could hear the voice of the Lord’s knocking and then could immediately open the
door for Him (See Rev. 3:20).
Luke. 12:37 “Blessed are those
servants whom the master
when he comes
will find watching. Assuredly
I say
to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat
and will come
and serve them.”
YLT: “`Happy those
servants
whom the lord
having come
shall find watching; verily I say to you
that he will gird himself
and will cause them to recline (at meat)
and having
come near
will minister to them;”
Meaning of Words: “come”: come aside;
“serve”: minister
provide
supply
take care of.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord not only ministers us in this life but
also ministers us in future. He ministers us from His death on the cross forth
and for evermore.
2) The Lord had ministered us on the cross with His
life (See Mark. 10:45). In this life
the Lord serves us in the Holy Spirit
(John. 16:7) and in future the Lord will serve us by “Himself”.
3) We not only owed the Lord for one time and have
been freely given grace. We owe the Lord forever and we are those who enjoy
grace forever.
Luke. 12:38 “And if he should come in
the second watch
or come in the third watch
and find them so
blessed are
those servants.”
YLT: “and if he may come
in the second watch
and in the third watch he may come
and may find [it] so
happy are those servants.”
The
Background: at that time the
Romans had divided the night into four watches and the Jews three watches (See
Judg. 7:19). According to the Roman chronometry
the first watch was from six
o’clock to nine o’clock in the evening; the second watch was from nine o’clock
to the midnight; the third watch was from midnight to three o’clock early in
the morning; the fourth watch was from three o’clock to six o’clock early in
the morning. However
according to the Jewish chronometry
the first watch was
from nine o’clock to the midnight; the second watch was from the midnight to
three o’clock in the morning; the third watch was from three o’clock in the
morning to six o’clock.
Literal Meaning: “if he should come in the
second watch
or come in the third watch” It indicates late at night or early in the
morning when men sleep soundly.
Luke. 12:39 “But know this
that if
the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come
he would have
watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.”
YLT: “`And this know
that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief doth come
he
would have watched
and would not have suffered his house to be broken
through;”
Meaning of Words: “know”: be aware of
feel (the first “know” in this verse indicates the objective knowledge and the
second “know” indicates the inner subjective knowledge).
Literal Meaning: “if the master of
the house had known what hour the thief would come.” The thief has two
features: a) he comes when men are careless; b) he specially steals things that
are precious.
Spiritual Meaning: “the master of the
house” typifies believers; “the house” indicates our spirits
souls and bodies
i.e. our behaviors and work; “the thief” typifies the Lord Jesus who comes
suddenly just like the thief; “his house to be broken into” typifies to prove
everything after we have been saved.
The Lord’s second coming happens
unpredictably and He will take believers who are spiritually mature.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Jessie Penn-Lewis said
“Christians should watch
from the first day of their Christian life”. We should be watchful of the
enemy
the world and ourselves.
2) To the Jews
rapture is the sign of the end of
the age; to believers who are left
the days of suffering hardship come to
them.
Luke. 12:40 “Therefore you also be
ready
for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’”
YLT: “and ye
then
become ye ready
because at the hour ye think not
the Son of Man doth come.’”
Literal Meaning: “therefore you also
be ready.” This verse follows closely after v.39 and therefore “be ready” means
to watch and guard against the thief.
“The Son of Man is coming” “The Son of
Man” is the Lord’s title in the kingdom (See Matt.19:28; John. 5:27-29)
and He
reigns as a man.
Enlightenment in the Word: we must make us “be ready” and hope to grow up and
be mature in the Lord and we should also “watch” and live piously in the Lord.
Luke. 12:41 “Then Peter said to Him
‘Lord
do You speak this parable only to us
or to all
people?’”
YLT: “And Peter said to
him
`Sir
unto us this simile dost thou speak
or also unto all?’”
Literal Meaning: Peter asked the Lord
that to whom the Lord said this parable of watching
however
the Lord’s answer
implied that “the faithful and wise steward” (v.42) was “the master of the
house” (v.39). It shows that the parable is said to those who admit that they
are God’s stewards
i.e. believers.
Enlightenment in the Word: we should never read the Bible for others and we
should read the Bible for ourselves. The Lord’s word only takes effort in those
who apply the word in themselves.
Luke. 12:42 “And the Lord said
‘Who then is that faithful and wise steward
whom his
master will make ruler over his household
to give them their portion of food
in due season?”
YLT: “And the Lord said
`Who
then
is the faithful and prudent steward whom the lord shall set over
his household
to give in season the wheat measure?”
Literal Meaning: “who then is that
faithful and wise steward” “Faithful” is towards the Lord
i.e. living up to
what the Lord has entrusted one; “wise” is towards brothers
i.e. knowing what
others are in need of.
“Whom his master will make ruler over
his household.” This sentence shows that the source of service is the Lord and
it is not of the “individual” or “corporate” sending.
“Ruler” does not mean to lord over but
to look after (See 1Pet. 5:2-3); “household” indicates believers (See Eph.
2:19). The identity of believers before God is the household of God on one hand
and on the other His servants. We should not think that only the so-called
“pastors and preachers” who serve the Lord full-time are the Lord’s servants.
“Give them their portion of food in due
season.” Every believer
no matter he is great or not
has a duty in the house of God (the
church)------sharing spiritual provision with saints who are around him
according to God’s season
for example: praying for weak members
sharing with
others the enlightenment that he has received
visitation and concern with love
and etc.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “Faithful” means that one does not discount the
Lord’s words and we shall do as the Lord has said; “wise” means that one cares
about the need of men and supplies men what they need.
2) It is unfaithful that believers hold their own
opinions as right; it is not wise that believers do not care about others’ need
and give all that they have to others randomly.
3) Our trouble is that: someone may be faithful and
unwise; someone may be unfaithful and wise; someone may be unfaithful and
unwise and all these conditions make us be unable to perform our duties.
4) “Giving their portion of food” is to provide
God’s words and things to others so that they would receive the nourishment of
life.
5) Someone “gives others their portion of food”
according to his mood and joy
however
the Lord’s word demands us to “give
others their portion of food in due season”------do not let others go hungry
and give their potion of food with persistence.
Luke. 12:43 “Blessed is that servant
whom his master will find so doing when he comes.”
YLT: “Happy that servant
whom his lord
having come
shall find doing so;”
Literal Meaning: “when he comes”
indicates the time when the Lord Jesus comes for the second time.
“Blessed is that servant” The “blessing”
is not the blessing of this life but the reward of the kingdom.
Luke. 12:44 “Truly
I say to you that
he will make him ruler over all that he has.”
YLT: “truly I say to you
that over all his goods he will set him.”
Literal Meaning: “he will make him
ruler over all that he has.” It means to gain the authority over cities in the
reality of the kingdom (See 19:17-19).
Enlightenment in the Word: if believers cannot “rule one’s household” today
(See v.42)
it is impossible to “rule all that he has” in future; today what
the Lord has entrusted us is only for us to practice and exercise and make
preparations for gaining more commissions in future.
Luke. 12:45 “But if that servant says
in his heart
‘My master is delaying his
coming
' and begins to beat the male and female servants
and to eat and drink
and be drunk
”
YLT: “`And if that
servant may say in his heart
My lord doth delay to come
and may begin to beat
the men-servants and the maid-servants
to eat also
and to drink
and to be
drunken;”
Literal Meaning: “if that servant says in his
heart
‘My master is delaying his
coming.'” “That servant” does not indicate the one who has
not been saved because he confesses that the Lord Jesus is “my master” “in his
heart”.
“And begins to beat the male and female
servants” “Male and female
servants” indicate brothers and sisters who are fellow-servants. Believers are
fellow-partakers in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus (See Rev.
1:9). “Begins to beat” may not indicate beating with hands. All that we make
Saints feel sad
hurt and be offended with words and attitudes could be counted
as “beating”.
“And to eat and drink and be drunk” “Be drunk” indicates to be greedy of the
present world and be libertine and unrestrained (See Eph. 5:15-18).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The reason why the servant is evil is that he
thinks that the Lord must “be delaying His coming”; he who does not have the
right knowledge of the Lord’s second coming may become an evil servant.
2) He who does not believe that the Lord comes
quickly is the evil servant; some evil servants say that the Lord must come
quickly with their mouths
however
in their hearts they think that the Lord
must be “delaying His coming”.
3) We should have the attitude and wish for the
quick coming of the Lord and therefore we should always pray
“come
Lord
Jesus.” (Rev. 22:20).
4) We should never tread or hurt brothers and
sisters who are our fellow-workers.
5) If we do not set forth the Lord’s second coming
before our eyes
we may easily loosen ourselves and on one hand we may owe
believers and make them feel hurt by words and attitudes and on the other we
may associate with those who are of the world and the flesh and seek the
pleasures of sins.
Luke. 12:46 “the master of that
servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him
and at an hour when
he is not aware
and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the
unbelievers.”
YLT: “the lord of that
servant will come in a day in which he doth not look for [him]
and in an hour
that he doth not know
and will cut him off
and his portion with the
unfaithful he will appoint.”
Literal Meaning: “appoint him his
portion with the unbelievers” “portion” means to have the same share.
Luke. 12:47 “And that servant who knew
his master's will
and did not prepare himself or do according to his will
shall be beaten with many stripes.”
YLT: “`And that servant
who having known his lord’s will
and not having prepared
nor having gone
according to his will
shall be beaten with many stripes
”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) It is required by the Lord from us
that firstly
we should “know His will” and secondly we should “do according to His will”.
One does after he has known it. Since one has known it
he has to do according
to it.
2) Many people read and research the Bible and hear
others’ preachment in order to satisfy their curiosity and hunger for
knowledge. However
they are unwilling to do according to it and this kind of
people “shall be beaten with many stripes”.
Luke. 12:48 “But he who did not know
yet committed things deserving of stripes
shall be beaten with few. For
everyone to whom much is given
from him much will be required; and to whom
much has been committed
of him they will ask the more.”
YLT: “and he who
not
having known
and having done things worthy of stripes
shall be beaten with
few; and to every one to whom much was given
much shall be required from him;
and to whom they did commit much
more abundantly they will ask of him.”
Meaning of Words: “commit”: entrust
deposit.
Literal Meaning: “but he who did not
know…shall be beaten with few.” Please note: it is not that he who did not know
“shall not be beaten” but that he who did not know “shall be beaten with few”.
Believers should never avoid pursuing the knowledge of truth for these two
verses because our aim is to gain the reward instead of “being beaten”.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord rewards and punishments according to
His requirements towards each one instead of one’s comparison with the other.
One may be better than the other
however
he may not receive the Lord’s
reward. Probably
one committed fewer things that deserve strips than the
other
however
he may not be beaten with few.
2) Men consider the outward behaviors and the Lord
values the inner faithfulness.
3) The principle of the Lord’s demand on believers:
He gives men first and then He asks from men. To whom much is given
from him
much will be required and vice versa.
Luke. 12:49 “‘I
came to send fire on the earth
and how I wish it were already kindled!”
YLT: “`Fire I came to
cast to the earth
and what will I if already it was kindled?”
Literal Meaning: “I came to send fire
on the earth” “fire” has two meanings: 1) judgment (See 3:17) and “send fire on
the earth” indicates God’s judgment towards sins
the world and the flesh; 2)
being fervent in spirit (See Rom. 12:11; Acts. 18:25) and “send fire on the
earth” indicates to make men be fervent in God
gospel and truth.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) If all the negative things in us have not been
purified by fire today
they will be burnt by fire in future (See 1Cor. 3:13).
2) How urgent the Lord is that He wishes us to be
fervent in spirit! We should never be Christians who are neither cold nor hot
(See Rev. 3:15-16)! We should pray the Lord to stir up us (2Tim. 1:6).
Luke. 12:50 “But I have a baptism to
be baptized with
and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!”
YLT: “but I have a
baptism to be baptized with
and how am I pressed till it may be completed!”
Meaning of Words: “distressed”:
constrain
compress
be compelled.
Spiritual Meaning: “I have a baptism to
be baptized with” “baptism” indicates the suffering of the cross.
“And how distressed I am” When the Lord
Jesus was on earth
He was constrained by the flesh. He has to remove the
shackles of the flesh by the death on the cross so as to release His divine
life
bring forth much fruits (John. 12:24) and reach the aim of reproduction.
Luke. 12:51 “Do you suppose that I
came to give peace on earth? I tell you
not at all
but rather division.”
YLT: “`Think ye that
peace I came to give in the earth? no
I say to you
but rather division;”
Meaning of Words: “peace”:
reconciliation; “division”: disunion.
Spiritual Meaning: “but rather
division” Christ’s salvation makes believers have the Holy Spirit in themselves
and be born from above and have the life of God and consequently on one hand
there is the internal struggle (within oneself) (Gal.
5:17)
on the other
there is the external struggle (with others).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Christ’s coming
certainly breaks off the earthly and interpersonal relations. If the relation
has not been broken off
it proves that work of the Lord’s grace is not enough.
2) The reason why men are unable to live in peace
with each other because God and men are unable to live in peace with each
other. If men have not been reconciled with God
men are unable to be
reconciled with men.
3) The Lord came into the world to replace men’s
natural life with the life of God.
Luke. 12:52 “For from now on five in
one house will be divided: three against two
and two against three.”
YLT: “for there shall be
henceforth five in one house divided three against two
and two against three;”
Literal Meaning: it is usual that in one house some people believe in the Lord and the others are
against the Lord and consequently the division and conflict comes into being.
Luke. 12:53 “Father will be divided
against son and son against father
mother against daughter and daughter
against mother
mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law
against her mother-in-law.’”
YLT: “a father shall be
divided against a son
and a son against a father
a mother against a daughter
and a daughter against a mother
a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.’”
Literal Meaning: the Lord here did
not mean that believers should not love their parents and family members. He
meant that the Lord is among us
our parents and family members
if the
relation between one part and the Lord is wrong
there will be problem among
them. However
if the whole family magnifies the Lord
the family life of
believers is much happier than that of the world.
The verse means that who mostly hinder
one from loving the Lord whole-heartedly is usually the one in his
household.
Spiritual Meaning: parents are the root
of children’s natural life and therefore setting a man “against” his parents is
cutting off the root of men’s natural life.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) When living in the world
it is impossible for
one to live in peace with one who opposes the Lord
otherwise there will be
something wrong between him and the Lord.
2) Those who follow the Lord firmly will not be
understood by his own household. Because the power of darkness behind
unbelievers is against the heavenly king and it makes that earthly men hate
heavenly men.
3) The Lord came to gain men’s highest place in
their hearts. Originally men’s highest place in their hearts is their parents
and mother-in-law. But the Lord came and men have to give the highest place to
Him. In order to serve the Lord
the interpersonal relations should be regarded
as secondary.
4) Men could not love both the Lord and his family
members. If believers love the Lord
their family members who are unbelievers
will be jealousy and jealous makes hatred. Family members hate the Lord first
and then they treat us as enemies.
5) Those who truly serve the Lord will assuredly be
despised by men with who they used to have intimate relations------“his own
household”.
Luke. 12:54 “Then He also said to the
multitudes
‘Whenever you see a cloud
rising out of the west
immediately you say
‘A
shower is coming'; and so it is.”
YLT: “And he said also to
the multitudes
`When ye may see the cloud rising from the west
immediately ye
say
A shower doth come
and it is so;”
The Background:
the Mediterranean Sea is in the west of the
Luke. 12:55 “And when you see the
south wind blow
you say
‘There will be hot weather';
and there is.”
YLT: “and when a south
wind blowing
ye say
that there will be heat
and it is;”
The
Background: Arabian Desert is in
the south of the
Enlightenment in the Word: in the spiritual way
sometimes it is sunny------it
is full of the Lord’s presence and blessings and everything goes smoothly;
sometimes there is “a shower” and the “hot” “south wind”------the adverse
circumstances. Anyway
we should always hold on Christ.
Luke. 12:56 “Hypocrites! You can
discern the face of the sky and of the earth
but how is it you do not discern
this time?”
YLT: “hypocrites! the
face of the earth and of the heaven ye have known to make proof of
but this
time how do ye not make proof of [it]?”
Meaning of Words: “discern”: test
approve; “face”: appearance
countenance.
Literal Meaning: “the face of the sky
and of the earth” indicates the weather and the climate.
“Do not discern this time?” It indicates
that they do not discern the signs of this time: a) John the Baptist had
already come and declared men the coming of the Messiah (See 3:15-17); b) the
Lord Jesus Himself declared that He is the Messiah (See 4:17-19). These are the
signs of this time
however
men were still obstinate and impervious.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Today the unbelievers are able to see the
phenomena of the universe
however
they could not see God who creates the
heaven and the earth (See Acts. 17:23-24).
2) Today though the liberal Christians read the
Bible
they cannot find Christ in the Bible (See John. 5:39-40).
3) Natural men only know to discern the natural
signs (“the face of the sky and of the earth”) and couldn’t discern the
spiritual signs (“discern this time”) because they do not have the spiritual
sights (See 1Cor. 2:10-15).
Luke. 12:57 “‘Yes
and why
even of yourselves
do you not judge what is right?”
YLT: “`And why
also
of
yourselves
judge ye not what is righteous?”
Meaning of Words: “judge”: condemn
conclude; “right”: just
meet
righteous.
Luke. 12:58 “When you go with your
adversary to the magistrate
make every effort along the way to settle with
him
lest he drag you to the judge
the judge deliver you to the officer
and
the officer throw you into prison.”
YLT: “for
as thou art
going away with thy opponent to the ruler
in the way give diligence to be
released from him
lest he may drag thee unto the judge
and the judge may
deliver thee to the officer
and the officer may cast thee into prison;”
Literal Meaning: there is “for” in
the original in the beginning of this verse
showing that this verse is the
continuance of verse 57
in other words
this verse is the basis by which they
judge whether it is right.
Spiritual Meaning: “with your
adversary” “Adversary” on one hand indicates those whom we offend and on the
other indicates the Law (See John. 5:45).
“Along the way” indicates the time we
live in the world to run on the race into the heaven.
“Lest he drag you to the judge” “the
judge” indicates Christ (See John. 5:22; Acts. 17:31).
“The judge deliver you to the officer
and you be thrown into prison.” “Officer”: angels. “Prison”: the place where
believers are punished in future.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) What accuses the Jews is the Law and what
accuses those who do not have the Law is the consciousness (See Rom. 2:12-15).
Anyway
we will hand over the accounts before the judgment-seat of Christ one
day (Matt. 25:31-32).
2) The door of “salvation” is not open forever and
the door of “reconciliation” is not either. We have to remove every rancor
towards “the adversary” while we are alive.
3) “When you go with your adversary...along the way” “Adversary” indicates the brother
who has something against us (See Matt. 5:23). It shows that if anyone of the
two parties passes away
it will be too late for them to be reconciled.
Therefore
we should be reconciled to others as soon as possible. We should
never procrastinate.
4) Confession and reconciliation among brothers
have nothing to do with salvation but has something to do with the reward in
future.
Luke. 12:59 “I tell you
you shall not
depart from there till you have paid the very last mite.’”
YLT: “I say to thee
thou
mayest not come forth thence till even the last mite thou mayest give back.’”
The Background:
at that time
the Roman and Greek coins were
in common use in the
Literal Meaning: This verse shows
what the citizens of the kingdom of heaven owe to others will be paid off. Ever
if it is a small thing that we owe to others
it must be paid off clearly.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) All that we owe to others must be paid off
sooner or later. If we do not pay off them on the way
we have to pay off them
in the prison. Therefore the earlier we pay off what we owe to others
the
better it will be to us.
2) No matter how much we owe to others
we do
owe to others. And all that we owe to others must be paid off.
3) Believers should deal with all things that owe
to the glory of God while they are alive
lest they shall be punished by God.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
How to Speak and
Walk before Men
II. Do not be afraid of those who kill the
body
and after that have no more that they can do (v.4-5).
III. Trust and rely on God’s care (v.6-7).
IV. Confess the Lord before men (v.8-9).
V. Do not blaspheme the Holy Spirit and the
Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say (v.10-12).
How to Treat
Treasure and Living
I. Do not be covetous
for one's life does
not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses (v.13-15).
II. Do not be the one who lay up treasure
for himself
and is not rich toward God (v.16-21).
III. Do not worry about food and clothing
and one should seek the
IV. Lay up treasure in the heaven (v.33-34).
A “Foolish” Man
I. He seeks the abundance of the things he
possesses and does not care about his life (v.13-15).
II. He only wants to store crops and goods
in his heart (v.16-18):
A. He does not know to store in money bags which do not grow old
(v.33a).
B. He lays up the treasure in places where thief approaches and moth
destroys (v.33b).
III. He thinks that he could make his soul
take ease and be merry by goods (v.19).
IV. He is a foolish man in the eyes of God:
A. Because he could not make full use of the goods that he
possesses------what shall I do (v.17)?
B. Because he will not use what he stores------this night your soul will
be required of you (v.20).
C. Because what he stores is useless before God------he is not rich
towards God (v.21).
The Attitude and
Knowledge of Those Who Serve the Lord
II. Be the faithful and wise steward
(v.41-44).
III. Do not be the wicked servant who beats
the male and female servants (v.45-48).
IV. Know that he may be opposed by his
closest family members if he serves the Lord (v.49-53).
V. Discern this time (v.54-57).
VI. When you go with your adversary
make
every effort along the way to settle with him (v.58-59).
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Sharon Ren