_And he also_, &c. To give a further check to the maliciousness of the Pharisees, and the obstinacy with which they opposed every thing that was good, he delivered, while they were still present, the parable of the crafty steward, whom he proposed as an example of the dexterous improvement which wor... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he called him, and said, How is it that I hear this of thee_ His lord, having called him, told him what was laid to his charge; and as he did not pretend to deny the accusation, he ordered him to give in his accounts, because he was determined he should occupy his office no longer. _Then the st... [ Continue Reading ]
_So he called_, &c. In pursuance of this scheme he sent for all those of his lord's debtors whom he could hope to oblige by so fraudulent a proposal, determining to lower the several articles in his book, which stood chargeable to the account of each of them: _and said to the first, How much owest t... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the lord_ Rather, _his lord_, or master, for it is Jesus, and not the evangelist, who speaks this, as is plain from both the structure of the parable itself, and from the application which Jesus makes of it in the next verse; _commended the unjust steward, because he had acted wisely_ Or, prude... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much_ Here our Lord proceeds in the application of the parable. As if he had said, Whether ye have more or less, see that ye be faithful as well as wise stewards: for if you make that use of your riches which I have been recommending,... [ Continue Reading ]
_No servant can serve two masters_ See note on Matthew 6:24. As if he had said, You cannot be faithful to God, if you trim between him and the world; if you do not serve him alone. Beware, therefore, of indulging, even in the least degree, the love of the world, for it is absolutely inconsistent wit... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Pharisees, who were covetous_ Of a very worldly spirit; _heard all these things_ Namely, concerning the true use of riches, and the impossibility of men's serving God and mammon at the same time; _and they derided him_ As a visionary, who despised the riches, honours, and pleasures of life for... [ Continue Reading ]
_The law and the prophets were_ in force _until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached_ The gospel dispensation takes place, and humble, upright men, receive it with inexpressible earnestness. Dr. Whitby's paraphrase on this passage shows its connection with the preceding paragraph, th... [ Continue Reading ]
_There was a certain rich man_, &c. Our Lord, in the last paragraph, having exposed those parts of the character of the Pharisees which were most odious in the sight of God, and the roots from whence their other wickedness sprang, namely, their hypocrisy and worldly spirit, proceeds now sharply to r... [ Continue Reading ]
_And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus_ According to the Greek pronunciation; or _Eliazar_, according to the Hebrew; a name very proper for a person in such a condition, signifying, _the help of God;_ or if, as some think, the word be derived from לא עזר, _lo azer, a helpless person. Which wa... [ Continue Reading ]
_And it came to pass_ In a little time; _that the beggar died_ Worn out with hunger, and pain, and want of all things; _and was carried by angels_ (amazing change of the scene!) _into Abraham's bosom_ So the Jews styled paradise; the place or state where the souls of good men remain from death to th... [ Continue Reading ]
_And in hell_ Εν τω αδη, _in hades;_ that is, in the unseen, or invisible world. It must be observed, that both the rich man and Lazarus were in _hades_, though in different regions of it: _he lifted up his eyes, being in torments_ Our Saviour adapts this circumstance of the parable, says Lightfoot,... [ Continue Reading ]
_He cried, Father Abraham, have mercy on me_ Being in an agony of pain, by reason of the flames, and the anguish felt in his conscience, he cried to Abraham to take pity on him, his son, and send Lazarus to give him, if it were but the very least degree of relief, by dipping the tip of his finger in... [ Continue Reading ]
_Besides all this_ As to the favour thou desirest from the hand of Lazarus, it is a thing impossible to be granted; for _between us and you there is a great gulf fixed_ Χασμα μεγα εστηρικται, _a great chasm_, or _void, is established._ Dr. Campbell renders the clause, _There lieth a huge gulf betwix... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he said, Nay, father Abraham_, &c. He answered, that the writings of Moses and the prophets had proved ineffectual to himself, and he feared would be so to his brethren; but that they would certainly change their sentiments, and reform their lives, if one actually appeared to them from the dead... [ Continue Reading ]