Godet's Commentary on Selected Books

Luke 12:11-12

Vers. 11 and 12. The Aid. “ When they bring you unto the synagogues, and before 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. ” Jesus seems to take pleasure in enumerating all the different kinds of powers whose hostility they shall have to feel. Συναγωγαί, the Jewish tribunals, having a religious character; ἀρχαί, Gentile authorities, purely civil, from provincial prefects up to the emperor; ἐξουσίαι, any power whatsoever. But let them not make preparation to plead! Their answer will be supplied to them on the spot, both as to its form (πῶς, how) and substance (τί, what). And their part will not be confined to defending themselves; they will take the offensive; they will bear testimony (τί εἴπητε, what ye shall say). In this respect, also, everything shall be given them. Witness Peter and Stephen before the Sanhedrim, St. Paul before Felix and Festus; they do not merely defend their person; they preach the gospel. Thus the Holy Spirit will so act in them, that they shall only have to yield themselves to Him as His mouthpiece. The parallel passage occurs in Matthew in the instructions given to the Twelve (Luke 10:19-20). The form is different enough to prove that the two compilations are not founded on the same text. Comp. also a similar thought (John 15:26-27).

This saying attests the reality of the psychological phenomenon of inspiration. Jesus asserts that the Spirit of God can so communicate with the spirit of man, that the latter shall be only the organ of the former.

Holtzmann sees in all those sayings, Luke 12:1-12, only a combination of materials arbitrarily connected by Luke, and placed here in a fictitious framework. A discourse specially addressed to the disciples seems to him out of place in the midst of this crowd (p. 151). Yet he cannot help making an exception of Luke 12:1-3, which may be regarded as suitably spoken before a large multitude. But if we admit ever so little the historical truth of the striking words, I say unto you, you my friends (Luke 12:4), we must acknowledge that they serve to distinguish the disciples from other persons present, and who are not of the same mind. The promise addressed to faithful confessors (Luke 12:9) also receives from the hostile surroundings a quite peculiar appropriateness. The threat of Luke 12:10 supposes the presence of adversaries who have calumniated Jesus. In short, the announcement of persecutions, and the promise of the Holy Spirit's aid, Luke 12:11-12, find a natural explanation if, at the very moment, the disciples were in a perilous situation. All the elements of this discourse are thus in perfect keeping with the historical frame in which it is set by Luke. And this frame is only an invention of the evangelist!

9. The Position of Man and of the Believer in relation to this World's Goods: Luke 12:13-59.

The occasion of this new discourse is supplied by an unexpected event, and without any relation to what had just happened. This piece embraces: 1 st. A historical introduction (Luke 12:13-14); 2 d. A discourse addressed by Jesus to the multitude on the value of earthly goods to man in general (Luke 12:15-21); 3 d. A discourse, which He addresses specially to the disciples, on the position which their new faith gives them in respect of those goods (Luke 12:22-40); 4 th. A still more special application of the same truth to the apostles (Luke 12:41-53); 5 th. In closing, Jesus returns to the people, and gives them a last warning, based on the threatening character of present circumstances (Luke 12:54-59).

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Godet's Commentary on Selected Books

Luke 12:11-12

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