THIS division of the Gospel of Luke, embracing nearly one third of the whole, contains for the most part matter peculiar to this Evangelist. A number of the incidents probably belong to an earlier period of the history. A few of these are mentioned by Matthew and Mark, though the greater number even... [ Continue Reading ]
The _second_ division of the discourse (chaps, Luke 10:1 to Luke 17:10), addressed _to the disciples._ The parable it contains presents great difficulties to the interpreter ; although the sense of the words is clear, and the general lesson obvious. The view given below seems to present the fewest d... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 16:14. AND THE PHARISEES ALSO. The preceding parable was addressed to the disciples (Luke 16:1), but the Pharisees HEARD ALL THESE THINGS. A continued act is meant, here and in what follows : AND THEY SCOFFED AT HIM. Their feeling was : This man makes riches of little account, but we know bette... [ Continue Reading ]
The response of the Pharisees (Luke 16:14) called forth another parable, in which another phase, of the same great truth is brought out, namely, that _neglect_ of the proper application of wealth becomes the source of eternal calamity. The rich man is no great sinner, but a respectable worldly man,... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 16:15. YE ARE THEY THAT JUSTIFY YOURSELVES, declare yourselves to be righteous IN THE SIGHT OF MEN; BUT GOD KNOWETH YOUR HEARTS. Plainly implying that in His sight they were not justified, accounted as righteous. FOR THAT WHICH IS LOFTY AMONG MEN, _i.e.,_ considered so by men. IS ABOMINATION... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 16:16-17. These verses may be thus paraphrased : ‘I have said that you are not justified in the sight of God, but are an abomination; and the standard of this judgment is one that you acknowledge.' THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS WERE UNTIL JOHN, that completed the preparatory work, and SINCE THAT T... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 16:18. EVERY ONE WHO PUTTETH AWAY HIS WIFE, etc. The law remains valid on a point about which many of the Pharisees were altogether wrong (comp. Matthew 19:3-9). If, as we believe, the verse occurs in its proper connection, there was in the opinions of the Pharisees present some occasion for re... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 16:19. A CERTAIN RICH MAN. His name is not given, but he is often called _Dives,_ which is the Latin word for ‘rich man.' Tradition gives him a name (_Nineue),_ but there is no proof that an actual person was referred to. IN PURPLE. The costly material for upper garments, brought from Tyre.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 16:19-31. THE PARABLE OF THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS. After rebuking the Pharisees, our Lord enforces the teaching which they derided by means of this parable. The two characters simply represent the classes to which they belong. All attempts to find deeper allusions are unsuccessful, for example,... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 16:20. A CERTAIN BEGGAR. Introduced in contrast with the rich man, who is the principal figure. NAMED LAZARUS. The significant name is mentioned in this case. It means ‘God a help,' not, as some suppose, ‘helpless.' The Lazarus of this parable has nothing save the name in common with Lazarus... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 16:21. AND DESIRING TO BE FILLED, etc. Some think he did not even obtain this desire, and thus heighten the negligence of the rich man. THE CRUMBS WHICH FELL, lit, ‘the things which fell;' the best authorities omitting ‘crumbs.' These would scarcely satisfy him ; in any case the rich man gave... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 16:22. THE BEGGAR DIED. No mention is made of his funeral. A pauper's burial would attract no attention. AND WAS BORNE AWAY. His soul is meant (so the Rabbins taught) in contrast to the burial of the body of the rich man. BY THE ANGELS. To be taken literally. The implied contrast is with th... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 16:23. AND IN HELL, Greek, ‘Hades,' _i.e.,_ in the _state_ or _place_ of departed spirits; which must not be confounded with Gehenna, the final state of eternal punishment, since in this case it includes ‘Abraham's bosom.' HE LIFTED UP HIS EYES. Either he looked up to a higher place, or he no... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 16:24. FATHER ABRAHAM. Even there the man does not forget that he is a Jew. SEND LAZARUS. It is possible, but not probable, that, he still fancies he has some right to the services of one who was his inferior on earth. THAT HE MAY DIP.... COOL MY TONGUE. The reason for this request is given... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 16:25. SON. The relation is acknowledged, in a tone of pity and tenderness, but that is of no avail. REMEMBER. Memory remains and is intensified in that state ; it is here appealed to so as to prove to the man in torment the picture of his lot. IN THY LIFE-TIME. Contrasted with ‘now.' DID... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 16:26. AND BESIDE ALL THIS. Besides the moral impropriety of granting the request, the wish was an impossible one. God has immutably decreed otherwise: THERE IS A GREAT GULF FIXED. The figure is that of an unfathomable abyss which cannot be spanned. Here our Lord reveals what was unknown to the... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 16:27-28. I PRAY THEE THEREFORE, etc. His brethren were living as he had done. ‘This is the _believing and trembling_ of James 2:9. His eyes are now opened to the truth ; and no wonder that his natural sympathies are awakened for his brethren. That a _lost spirit_ should feel and express such s... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 16:29. THEY HAVE MOSES AND THE PROPHETS, _i.e.,_ the Old Testament. LET THEM HEAR THEM. This implies that these men, though children of Abraham and possessors of the Old Testament, had never rightly attended to it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 16:30. NAY, FATHER ABRAHAM. This scarcely means : they will not hear them, but rather, Nay, but make the matter more sure. The advocate of more decided ‘spiritual manifestations' is a lost and still impenitent soul, without real discernment as to the best means of grace.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 16:31. IF THEY HEAR NOT MOSES, etc. The Old Testament Scriptures were sufficient to lead them to repentance, and if they were not rightly affected by them, no appearance from the other world would awaken faith, _conviction of the truth._ For the Jews at that time the Old Testament was sufficien... [ Continue Reading ]