_And it came to pass_ About this time, probably just as our Lord was
finishing his journey through Herod's dominions; _he went into the
house of one of the chief Pharisees_ Τινος των
αρχοντων Φαρισαιων, _of a certain one of the ruling
Pharisees_, that is, of a magistrate, or a member of the great
co... [ Continue Reading ]
_And answered them_ Accordingly, while the Pharisees were considering
with themselves how to turn the miracle against him, he disconcerted
them by proving the lawfulness of what he had done from their own
practice. _Which of you shall have an ass, &c., fallen into a pit on
the sabbath day_ Will you,... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he put forth a parable_ The ensuing discourse is so termed,
because several parts of it are not to be understood literally. _To
those which were bidden_ From this circumstance, that the guests were
bidden, and from what is said, Luke 14:12, it appears that this was a
great entertainment, to whi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said he also to him that bade him_ In the time of dinner, Jesus
directed his discourse to the person who had invited him, and showed
him what sort of people he should bid to his feasts. _When thou makest
a dinner, &c., call not thy friends_ That is, I do not bid thee call
thy friends, or thy r... [ Continue Reading ]
_When one of them that sat at meat heard these things_, being touched
therewith, _he said, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom
of God_ Blessed is the man who shall live in the time of the Messiah,
and share the entertainments he will prepare for his people, when
these virtues of humili... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said he, A certain man_, &c. He delivered the following parable
to show the person who made the remark, and others, that how great
soever the happiness would be of those who should share the blessings
of the Messiah's kingdom, yet that many, who, under mistaken notions
of it, professed to desi... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they all with one consent_ Απο μιας is all that is in the
original. It seems most natural to supply the ellipsis by the word
γνωμης, _consent_, as our translators have done, an
interpretation maintained by Beza and Wolfius. _Began to make excuse_
As if by mutual agreement they had all contrived... [ Continue Reading ]
_So that servant came, and showed his lord these things_ So ministers
ought to lay before the Lord in prayer the obedience or disobedience
of their hearers. _Then the master of the house_ Who had made the
entertainment; _being angry_ As he reasonably might be, to see such an
affront put upon his spl... [ Continue Reading ]
_And there went great multitudes with him_ It seems they accompanied
him from place to place, with eager desire, doubtless, to have the
Messiah's kingdom erected; proposing to themselves all manner of
wealth and temporal advantage therein. One day, therefore, as they
were on the road with him, he th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Which of you, intending to build a tower_, (the word πυργος
here signifying the same as the Hebrew _migdol_, seems to denote any
great building whatever,) _sitteth not down first and counteth the
cost_ To illustrate the necessity of their weighing deliberately,
whether they were able and prepared t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Salt is good_ If you are not my disciples indeed, your outward
profession will be very insignificant: for, though salt in general is
a good thing, and my servants, as I formerly intimated (see on Matthew
5:13,) are the salt of the earth; yet I must again add, _if the salt
have lost his savour_ Or b... [ Continue Reading ]