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John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 12:1-59

The Leaven of the Pharisees. The Rich Fool1-12. Jesus warns His followers against Pharisaic hypocrisy, and exhorts them to be courageous in face of opposition. This speech is not unsuitable to the context in St. Luke, but the whole of the sayings are found also in St. Matthew’s Gospel, generally in a more natural connexion (mostly in the charge to the Twelve, Luke 10:5-42). Perhaps St. Luke here groups together savings spoken at different times.1. When there were] RV ’when the many thousands of... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Luke 12:15

(15) Take heed, and beware of covetousness.—The better MSS. give, “of all (i.e., every form of) -covetousness.” Our Lord’s words show that He had read the secret of the man’s heart. Greed was there, with all its subtle temptations, leading the man to think that “life” was not worth living unless he had a superfluity of goods. The general truth is illustrated by a parable, obviously selected by St. Luke, as specially enforcing the truth which he held to be of primary importance. (See... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Luke 12:1-59

Luke 12:1 The words follow an account of the Pharisees' attempt to ensnare Jesus, and Weiss's contention is that Jesus warns His disciples, not against the 'simulatio' of the Pharisees, who 'cloaked their real disposition under the appearance of extreme piety, but simply against "dissimulatio" in the sense of Galatians 2:13 , i.e. the temper which would hide its true convictions owing to the fear of man'. The man who practises ὑπόκρισις of any kind plays a part. He is insincere. But his... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Luke 12:10-21

Chapter 23THE ESCHATOLOGY OF THE GOSPEL.COIFI, in his parable to the thanes and nobles of the North Humber country, likened the present life of man to the flight of a sparrow through one of their lighted halls, coming out of the night, and then disappearing in the dark winter whence it came; and he asked for Christianity a candid hearing, if perhaps she might tell the secrets of the beyond. And so indeed she does, lighting up the "dark winter" with a bright, though a partial apocalypse. It is... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Luke 12:1-59

CHAPTER 12 1. Warning Against Hypocrisy. (Luke 12:1-3 ) 2. Encouragements. (Luke 12:4-14 ) 3. Warning Against Covetousness. (Luke 12:15-21 ) 4. Warning Against Anxiety. (Luke 12:22-31 ) 5. The Disciples Comfort and Hope. (Luke 12:32-40 ) 6. The Parable of the Steward. (Luke 12:41-48 ) 7. The Purpose of God and the Resulting Division. (Luke 12:49-53 ) 8. Concerning signs. (Luke 12:54-57 ) 9. The Failure of Israel. (Luke 12:58-59 .) Luke 12:1-31 Nearly all of the entire twelfth chapter... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Luke 12:15

12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of {c} covetousness: for a man’s life {d} consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.(c) By covetousness is meant that greedy desire to get, commonly causing hurt to other men.(d) God is the author and preserver of man’s life; goods are not. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 12:1-59

THE PEOPLE WARNED AGAINST FALSE LEADERS (vs.1-12) At a time when the crowd was extremely large, the Lord addressed His disciples "first of all," warning them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. We have seen that their meticulous formality was only a coverup of inward evil. Why? Because their object was to impress the crowd. How great a danger this is even for true disciples! We like the recognition of others and forget to seek only the approval of God. Let us not be... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Luke 12:1-59

WARNINGS This chapter, almost entirely original with Luke, consists of four warnings against hypocrisy (Luke 12:1-12 ), covetousness (Luke 12:13-24 ), carelessness (Luke 12:25-48 ), and ignorance (Luke 12:49-59 ). HYPOCRISY (Luke 12:1-12 ) Note the fearlessness of Christ (Luke 12:1 ), and in the same verse the typical use of “leaven” in the sense of evil, which is never used otherwise in the Bible. Hypocrisy will not avail in the day of judgment (Luke 12:2-3 ), and one of its causes, the... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Luke 12:1-59

The Rich Fool Luk 12:16-20 Let us find out where this man, called a "fool," got wrong. There seem to be some points of common-sense in the man. One is, therefore, curious to know where he breaks away from good thinking into foolish planning, and where he proves himself to be an atheist. "The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully" ( Luk 12:16 ). There is nothing wrong in that. There is no harm in having good crops, fields beautiful with the produce of nature. You cannot... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Luke 12:13-21

(13) And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. (14) And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge, or a divider, over you? (15) And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness; for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. (16) And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: (17) And he thought within himself, saying, What... read more

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