12:1 {In the meantime} (en hois). It is a classic idiom to
start a sentence or even a paragraph as here with a relative, "in
which things or circumstances," without any expressed antecedent
other than the incidents in 11:53f. In 12:3 Luke actually
begins the sentence with two relatives anth' hōn hosa
(wherefore whatsoever).
12:2 {Covered up} (sugkekalummenon estin). Periphrastic perfect
passive indicative of sugkaluptō, an old verb, but here only in
the N.T., to cover up on all sides and so completely. Verses
2-9 here are parallel with Mt 10:26-33 spoken to the Twelve
on their tour of Galilee, illustrating again how often Jesus
repeated his sayings unless we prefer to say that he never did so
and that the Gospels have hopelessly jumbled them as to time and
place. See the passage in Matthew for discussion of details.
12:3 {In the inner chambers} (en tois tameiois). Old form tamieion, a store chamber (Lu 12:24), secret room (Mt 6:6;
Lu 12:3).
12:4 {Unto you my friends} (humin tois philois). As opposed to
the Pharisees and lawyers in 11:43,46,53.
12:5 {Whom ye shall fear} (tina phobēthēte). First aorist
passive subjunctive deliberative retained in the indirect
question. Tina is the accusative, the direct object of this
transitive passive verb (note apo in verse 4).
12:6 {Is forgotten} (estin epilelēsmenon). Periphrastic perfect
passive indicative of epilanthanomai, common verb to forget.
See Mt 10:29 for a different construction.
12:7 {Numbered} (ērithmēntai). Perfect passive indicative.
Periphrastic form in Mt 10:30 which see for details about
sparrows, etc.
12:8 {Everyone who shall confess me} (pas hos an homologēsei en
emoi). Just like Mt 10:32 except the use of an here which
adds nothing. The Hebraistic use of en after homologeō both
here and in Matthew is admitted by even Moulton ("Prolegomena",
p. 104).
12:9 {Shall be denied} (aparnēthēsetai). First future passive
of the compound verb aparneomai. Here Mt 10:33 has arnēsomai simply. Instead of "in the presence of the angels of
God" (emprosthen tōn aggelōn tou theou) Mt 10:33 has "before
my Father who is in heaven."
12:10 {But unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Spirit}
(tōi de eis to hagion pneuma blasphēmēsanti). This unpardonable
sin is given by Mr 3:28f.; Mt 12:31f. immediately after the
charge that Jesus was in league with Beelzebub. Luke here
separates it from the same charge made in Judea (11:15-20). As
frequently said, there is no sound reason for saying that Jesus
only spoke his memorable sayings once. Luke apparently finds a
different environment here. Note the use of eis here in the
sense of "against."
12:11 {Be not anxious} (mē merimnēsēte). First aorist active
subjunctive with mē in prohibition. Do not become anxious. See
a similar command to the Twelve on their Galilean tour (Mt
10:19f.) and in the great discourse on the Mount of Olives at
the end (Mr 13:11; Lu 21:14f.), given twice by Luke as we see.
{How or what ye shall answer} (pōs ē ti apologēsēsthe).
Indirect question and retaining the deliberative subjunctive apologēsēsthe and also eipēte (say).
12:12 {What ye ought to say} (hā dei eipein). Literally, what
things it is necessary (dei) to say. This is no excuse for
neglect in pulpit preparation. It is simply a word for courage in
a crisis to play the man for Christ and to trust the issue with
God without fear.
12:13 {Bid my brother} (eipe tōi adelphōi mou). This volunteer
from the crowd draws attention to the multitude (verses 13-21).
He does not ask for arbitration and there is no evidence that his
brother was willing for that. He wants a decision by Jesus
against his brother. The law (De 21:17) was two-thirds to the
elder, one-third to the younger.
12:14 {A judge or a divider} (kritēn ē meristēn). Jesus
repudiates the position of judge or arbiter in this family fuss.
The language reminds one of Ex 2:14. Jesus is rendering unto
Caesar the things of Caesar (Lu 20:25) and shows that his
kingdom is not of this world (Joh 18:36). The word for divider
or arbiter (meristēs) is a late word from merizomai (verse
13) and occurs here only in the N.T.
12:15 {From all covetousness} (apo pasēs pleonexias). Ablative
case. From every kind of greedy desire for more (pleon, more, hexia, from echō, to have) an old word which we have robbed
of its sinful aspects and refined to mean business thrift.
12:16 {A parable unto them} (parabolēn pros autous). The
multitude of verses 13,15. A short and pungent parable
suggested by the covetousness of the man of verse 13.
12:17 {Reasoned within himself} (dielogizeto en hautōi).
Imperfect middle, picturing his continued cogitations over his
perplexity.
12:18 {I will pull down} (kathelō). Future active of kathaireō, an old verb, the usual future being kathairēsō.
This second form from the second aorist katheilon (from
obsolete helō) like aphelei in Re 22:19.
12:19 {Laid up for many years} (keimena eis etē polla). Not in
D and some other Latin MSS. The man's apostrophe to his "soul"
(psuchē) is thoroughly Epicurean, for his soul feeds on his
goods. The asyndeton here (take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry)
shows his eagerness. Note difference in tenses (anapauou, keep
on resting, phage, eat at once, pie, drink thy fill, euphrainou, keep on being merry), first and last presents, the
other two aorists.
12:20 {Thou foolish one} (aphrōn). Fool, for lack of sense (a
privative and phrēn, sense) as in 11:40; 2Co 11:19. Old word,
used by Socrates in Xenophon. Nominative form as vocative.
12:21 {Not rich toward God} (mē eis theon ploutōn). The only
wealth that matters and that lasts. Cf. 16:9; Mt 6:19f. Some
MSS. do not have this verse. Westcott and Hort bracket it.
12:22 {Unto his disciples} (pros tous mathētas autou). So Jesus
turns from the crowd to the disciples (verses 22-40, when Peter
interrupts the discourse). From here to the end of the chapter
Luke gives material that appears in Matthew, but not in one
connection as here. In Matthew part of it is in the charge to the
Twelve on their tour in Galilee, part in the eschatological
discourse on the Mount of Olives. None of it is in Mark. Hence Q
or the Logia seems to be the source of it. The question recurs
again whether Jesus repeated on other occasions what is given
here or whether Luke has here put together separate discourses as
Matthew is held by many to have done in the Sermon on the Mount.
We have no way of deciding these points. We can only say again
that Jesus would naturally repeat his favourite sayings like
other popular preachers and teachers. So Lu 12:22-31
corresponds to Mt 6:25-33, which see for detailed discussion.
The parable of the rich fool was spoken to the crowd, but this
exhortation to freedom from care (22-31) is to the disciples.
So the language in Lu 12:22 is precisely that in Mt 6:25. See
there for mē merimnāte (stop being anxious) and the
deliberative subjunctive retained in the indirect question
(phagēte, endusēsthe). So verse 23 here is the same in Mt
6:25 except that there it is a question with ouch expecting
the affirmative answer, whereas here it is given as a reason
(gar, for) for the preceding command.
12:24 {The ravens} (tous korakas). Nowhere else in the N.T. The
name includes the whole crow group of birds (rooks and jackdaws).
Like the vultures they are scavengers. Mt 6:26 has simply "the
birds" (ta peteina).
12:25 {A cubit} (pēchun). Mt 6:27 has pēchun hena (one
cubit, though hena is sometimes merely the indefinite article.
{Stature} (\hēlikian) as in Matthew, which see.
12:26 {Not able to do even that which is least} (oude elachiston
dunasthe). Negative oude in the condition of the first class.
Elative superlative, very small. This verse not in Matthew and
omitted in D. Verse 27 as in Mt 6:28, save that the verbs for
toil and spin are plural in Matthew and singular here (neuter
plural subject, ta krina).
12:28 {Clothe} (amphiazei). Late Greek verb in the "Koinē"
(papyri) for the older form amphiennumi (Mt 6:30). See
Matthew for discussion of details. Matthew has "the grass of the
field" instead of "the grass in the field" as here.
12:29 {Seek not ye} (humeis mē zēteite). Note emphatic position
of "ye" (humeis). Stop seeking (mē and present imperative
active). Mt 6:31 has: "Do not become anxious" (mē
merimnēsēte), mē and ingressive subjunctive occur as direct
questions (What are we to eat? What are we to drink? What are we
to put on?) whereas here they are in the indirect form as in
verse 22 save that the problem of clothing is not here
mentioned: {Neither be ye of doubtful mind} (kai mē
meteōrizesthe). Mē and present passive imperative (stop being
anxious) of meteōrizō. An old verb from meteōros in midair,
high (our meteor), to lift up on high, then to lift oneself up
with hopes (false sometimes), to be buoyed up, to be tossed like
a ship at sea, to be anxious, to be in doubt as in late writers
(Polybius, Josephus). This last meaning is probably true here. In
the LXX and Philo, but here only in the N.T.
12:31 See Mt 6:33 for this verse. Luke does not have "first"
nor "his righteousness" nor "all."
12:32 {Little flock} (to mikron poimnion). Vocative with the
article as used in Hebrew and often in the "Koinē" and so in the
N.T. See both pater and ho patēr in the vocative in Lu
10:21. See Robertson, "Grammar", pp. 465f. Poimnion (flock) is
a contraction from poimenion from poimēn (shepherd) instead
of the usual poimnē (flock). So it is not a diminutive and mikron is not superfluous, though it is pathetic.
12:33 {Sell that ye have} (Pōlēsate ta huparchonta humōn). Not
in Matthew. Did Jesus mean this literally and always? Luke has
been charged with Ebionism, but Jesus does not condemn property
as inherently sinful. "The attempt to keep the letter of the rule
here given (Ac 2:44,45) had disastrous effects on the church of
Jerusalem, which speedily became a church of paupers, constantly
in need of alms (Ro 15:25,26; 1Co 16:3; 2Co 8:4; 9:1)"
(Plummer).
12:34 {Will be} (estai). Last word in the sentence in Luke.
Otherwise like Mt 6:21. See 1Co 7:32-34 for similar
principle.
12:35 {Be girded about} (estōsan periezōsmenai). Periphrastic
perfect passive imperative third plural of the verb perizōnnumi
or perizōnnuō (later form), an old verb, to gird around, to
fasten the garments with a girdle. The long garments of the
orientals made speed difficult. It was important to use the
girdle before starting. Cf. 17:8; Ac 12:8.
12:36 {When he shall return from the marriage feast} (pote
analusēi ek tōn gamōn). The interrogative conjunction pote and
the deliberative aorist subjunctive retained in the indirect
question. The verb analuō, very common Greek verb, but only
twice in the N.T. (here and Php 1:23). The figure is breaking
up a camp or loosening the mooring of a ship, to depart. Perhaps
here the figure is from the standpoint of the wedding feast
(plural as used of a single wedding feast in Lu 14:8),
departing from there. See on ¯Mt 22:2.
12:37 {He shall gird himself} (perizōsetai). Direct future
middle. Jesus did this (Joh 13:4), not out of gratitude, but to
give the apostles an object lesson in humility. See the usual
course in Lu 17:7-10 with also the direct middle (verse 8) of perisōnnuō.
12:38 {And if} (k'an = kai + ean). Repeated. Elthēi and heurēi, both second aorist subjunctive with ean, condition of
the third class, undetermined, but with prospect of being
determined.
12:39 {The thief} (ho kleptēs). The change here almost makes a
new parable to illustrate the other, the parable of the
housebreaking (verses 39,40) to illustrate the parable of the
waiting servants (35-38). This same language appears in Mt
24:43f. "The Master returning from a wedding is replaced by a
thief whose study it is to come to the house he means to plunder
at an unexpected time" (Bruce). The parallel in Mt 24:43-51
with Lu 12:39-46 does not have the interruption by Peter.
12:40 {Be ye} (ginesthe). Present middle imperative, keep on
becoming.
12:41 {Peter said} (Eipen de ho Petros). This whole paragraph
from verse 22-40 had been addressed directly to the disciples.
Hence it is not surprising to find Peter putting in a question.
This incident confirms also the impression that Luke is giving
actual historical data in the environment of these discourses. He
is certain that the Twelve are meant, but he desires to know if
others are included, for he had spoken to the multitude in verses
13-21. Recall Mr 13:37. This interruption is somewhat like
that on the Mount of Transfiguration (Lu 9:33) and is
characteristic of Peter. Was it the magnificent promise in verse
37 that stirred Peter's impulsiveness? It is certainly more
than a literary device of Luke. Peter's question draws out a
parabolic reply by Jesus (42-48).
12:42 {Who then} (tis ara). Jesus introduces this parable of
the wise steward (42-48) by a rhetorical question that answers
itself. Peter is this wise steward, each of the Twelve is, anyone
is who acts thus.
12:44 {Over all} (epi pāsin). See Mt 24-47 for epi with
locative in this sense. Usually with genitive as in verse 42
and sometimes with accusative as in verse 14.
12:45 {Shall say} (eipēi). Second aorist subjunctive, with ean, condition of the third class, undetermined, but with
prospect of being determined.
12:46 {Shall cut him asunder} (dichotomēsei). An old and
somewhat rare word from dichotomos and that from dicha and temnō, to cut, to cut in two. Used literally here. In the N.T.
only here and Mt 24:51.
12:47 {Which knew} (ho gnous). Articular participle (second
aorist active, punctiliar and timeless). The one who knows. So as
to mē hetoimasas ē poiēsas (does not make ready or do).
12:48 {To whomsoever much is given} (panti de hōi edothē polu).
Here is inverse attraction from hoi to panti (Robertson,
"Grammar", pp. 767f.). Note par' autou (from him) without any
regard to panti.
12:49 {I came to cast fire} (Pur ēlthon balein). Suddenly Jesus
lets the volcano in his own heart burst forth. The fire was
already burning. "Christ came to set the world on fire, and the
conflagration had already begun" (Plummer). The very passion in
Christ's heart would set his friends on fire and his foes in
opposition as we have just seen (Lu 11:53f.). It is like the
saying of Jesus that he came to bring not peace, but a sword, to
bring cleavage among men (Mt 10:34-36).
12:50 {I have a baptism} (baptisma de echō). Once again Jesus
will call his baptism the baptism of blood and will challenge
James and John to it (Mr 10:32f.; Mt 20:22f.). So here. "Having
used the metaphor of fire, Christ now uses the metaphor of water.
The one sets forth the result of his coming as it affects the
world, the other as it affects himself. The world is lit up with
flames and Christ is bathed in blood" (Plummer).
12:51 {But rather division} (all' ē diamerismon). Peace at any
price is not the purpose of Christ. It is a pity for family jars
to come, but loyalty to Christ counts more than all else. These
ringing words (Lu 12:51-53) occur in Mt 10:34-36 in the
address to the Twelve for the Galilean tour. See discussion of
details there. These family feuds are inevitable where only part
cleave to Christ. In Matthew we have kata with the genitive
whereas in Luke it is epi with the dative (and accusative
once).
12:54 {To the multitudes also} (kai tois ochlois). After the
strong and stirring words just before with flash and force Jesus
turns finally in this series of discourses to the multitudes
again as in verse 15. There are similar sayings to these verses
54-59 in Mt 16:1f; 5:25f. There is a good deal of difference
in phraseology whether that is due to difference of source or
different use of the same source (Q or Logia) we do not know. Not
all the old MSS. give Mt 16:2,3. In Matthew the Pharisees and
Sadducees were asking for a sign from heaven as they often did.
These signs of the weather, "a shower" (ombros, Lu 12:54) due
to clouds in the west, "a hot wave" (kausōn, verse 55) due to a
south wind (noton) blowing, "fair weather" (eudia, Mt 16:2)
when the sky is red, are appealed to today. They have a more or
less general application due to atmospheric and climatic
conditions.
12:56 {To interpret this time} (ton kairon touton dokimazein).
To test dokimazein as spiritual chemists. No wonder that Jesus
here calls them "hypocrites" because of their blindness when
looking at and hearing him. So it is today with those who are
willfully blind to the steps of God among men. This ignorance of
the signs of the times is colossal.
12:57 {Even of yourselves} (kai aph' heautōn). Without the
presence and teaching of Jesus they had light enough to tell what
is right (to dikaion) and so without excuse as Paul argued in
Ro 1-3.
12:58 {Give diligence to be quit of him} (dos ergasian
apēllachthai ap' autou). Second aorist active imperative dos
from didōmi. Apēllachthai, perfect passive infinitive of apallassō an old verb common, but only twice in the N.T. (here
and Ac 19:12). Used here in a legal sense and the tense
emphasizes a state of completion, to be rid of him for good.
{Hale thee} (katasurēi). Drag down forcibly, old verb, only
here in the N.T.
12:59 {Till thou have paid} (heōs apodōis). Second aorist
active subjunctive of apodidōmi, to pay back in full.
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