Our Lord begins this chapter with the parable of the rich man's steward, who being called upon by his master to give up his accounts, in order to his being discharged from his office, casts about with himself what course he had best take to provide for his subsistence, when he should be turned out o... [ Continue Reading ]
WISELY, that is, discreetly, according to the wisdom of the men of this world, whose concern is only for the good things of this life. Christ commends him not absolutely, as. fit example to be followed in wasting his master's goods, but comparatively, as being worthy to be so far imitated by the chi... [ Continue Reading ]
Here our Saviour makes application of the forgoing parable to his disciples. Where note, 1. The title given by our Saviour to wealth and riches, he calls it MAMMON and MAMMON OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS: Mammon was the name given by the heathens to the god of riches; the mammon of unrighteousness, is riche... [ Continue Reading ]
Our blessed Saviour having declared to his followers, in the foregoing verses, the great advantage they shall reap by. charitable distribution of temporal good things, he acquaints them in these verses with the great detriment and disadvantage that will redound to them if they do otherwise. 1. If t... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here,. twofold master spoken of, God and the world. God is our Master by creation, preservation, and redemption; he has appointed us our work, and secured us our wages; the world is become our master by intrusion, usurpation, and. general estimation; too many esteeming it as their chief good... [ Continue Reading ]
The Pharisees were notoriously addicted to the sin of covetousness, accounting no man happy but them that were rich: and because the promises made to the Jews were generally, (though not only) of temporal blessings, they looked upon poverty as. curse, and esteemed the poor accursed, John 7:49 The Ph... [ Continue Reading ]
Here our Saviour sharply reproves the Pharisees for their horrible pride, their self-justification, and vain affectation of the opinion and esteem of others; as if Christ had said, "You bear up yourselves, and take. pride in this, that men know no ill by you, that no man can say, 'Black is your eye;... [ Continue Reading ]
Our Saviour in these words gives the Pharisees to understand that their contempt of his person and doctrine was the more inexcusable, because they lived in and under the clearest light of the gospel: the preaching of the law and the prophets continued but until John the Baptist came among you; since... [ Continue Reading ]
Our Saviour in his parabolical history of Dives and Lazarus, instructs us concerning the right use of riches, which is to capacitate us to do good to others; declaring that in the life to come, the pious poor man shall be eternally happy, while the unmerciful rich man shall be intolerably miserable.... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. That our Saviour represents all men, both good and bad, passing immediately out of this life into. state of happiness or misery; Lazarus DIED, AND WAS CARRIED BY ANGELS INTO ABRAHAM'S BOSOM. Thence note, 1. That the souls of men survive in sensibility and activity, after the disso... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The place where the rich man suffers, it is in hell: the souls of wicked men, when they leave their bodies, do certainly go into. place of torment, which is not only beyond expression, but our apprehension also; EYE HATH NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NOR HATH IT ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe, 1. The title given to the rich man by father Abraham, SON. He does not revile him, though. very bad man: if we revile the good, we are unjust, they deserve it not; if we revile the bad, we are unwise, we shall get nothing by it:. wise man knows not what it is to give bad language. Observe,... [ Continue Reading ]
The meaning is, that there neither is, nor can be, any commerce or interaction between glorified saints and damned sinners; but the state of souls at death is unalterably fixed and stated. Learn, that the miserable condition of damned souls in the next world, and the blessed condition of glorified... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the rich man is represented as retaining even in hell some tenderness for his relations on earth; yet others think, that the kindness intended, was rather to himself than to his relations; fearing that their sinning by his example should be an aggravation of his own torments. Note thence, that... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, they have the inspired writings of Moses and the prophets, which sufficiently declare the mind and will of God to mankind, and therefore it is unreasonable to expect any farther revelation. Learn thence, that. standing revelation of God is evidence sufficient for divine things: it is. more... [ Continue Reading ]
As if he had said, they have always had Moses and the prophets in their hands, but yet their hearts remain impenitent; but if. special messenger be sent to them from the dead, this will not fail to awaken them, and bring them to repentance. Learn hence, how prone we are to dislike God's method and... [ Continue Reading ]
A very awakening text this is, which speaks dreadfully to persons sitting all their days under the ministry of the gospel, and yet find not their understandings enlightened, their judgments convinced, their wills subdued, and their lives reformded by it. Were it possible for such persons to see one... [ Continue Reading ]