15 And they were bringing near also the babes, that he may touch them, and the disciples having seen did rebuke them, 16 and Jesus having called them near, said, 'Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the reign of God; 17 verily I say to you, Whoever may not receive the reign of God as a little child, may not enter into it.'
18 And a certain ruler questioned him, saying, 'Good teacher, what having done—shall I inherit life age-during?' 19 And Jesus said to him, 'Why me dost thou call good? no one 'is' good, except One—God; 20 the commands thou hast known: Thou mayest not commit adultery, Thou mayest do no murder, Thou mayest not steal, Thou mayest not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.' 21 And he said, 'All these I did keep from my youth;' 22 and having heard these things, Jesus said to him, 'Yet one thing to thee is lacking; all things—as many as thou hast—sell, and distribute to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, be following me;' 23 and he, having heard these things, became very sorrowful, for he was exceeding rich. 24 And Jesus having seen him become very sorrowful, said, 'How hardly shall those having riches enter into the reign of God! 25 for it is easier for a camel through the eye of a needle to enter, than for a rich man into the reign of God to enter.' 26 And those who heard, said, 'And who is able to be saved?' 27 and he said, 'The things impossible with men are possible with God.' 28 And Peter said, 'Lo, we left all, and did follow thee;' 29 and he said to them, 'Verily I say to you, that there is not one who left house, or parents, or brothers, or wife, or children, for the sake of the reign of God, 30 who may not receive back manifold more in this time, and in the coming age, life age-during.'
31 And having taken the twelve aside, he said unto them, 'Lo, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things shall be completed—that have been written through the prophets—to the Son of Man, 32 for he shall be delivered up to the nations, and shall be mocked, and insulted, and spit upon, 33 and having scourged they shall put him to death, and on the third day he shall rise again.' 34 And they none of these things understood, and this saying was hid from them, and they were not knowing the things said.
35 And it came to pass, in his coming nigh to Jericho, a certain blind man was sitting beside the way begging, 36 and having heard a multitude going by, he was inquiring what this may be, 37 and they brought him word that Jesus the Nazarene doth pass by, 38 and he cried out, saying, 'Jesus, Son of David, deal kindly with me;' 39 and those going before were rebuking him, that he might be silent, but he was much more crying out, 'Son of David, deal kindly with me.' 40 And Jesus having stood, commanded him to be brought unto him, and he having come nigh, he questioned him, 41 saying, 'What wilt thou I shall do to thee?' and he said, 'Sir, that I may receive sight.' 42 And Jesus said to him, 'Receive thy sight; thy faith hath saved thee;' 43 and presently he did receive sight, and was following him, glorifying God; and all the people, having seen, did give praise to God.
191 And having entered, he was passing through Jericho, 2 and lo, a man, by name called Zaccheus, and he was a chief tax-gatherer, and he was rich, 3 and he was seeking to see Jesus, who he is, and was not able for the multitude, because in stature he was small, 4 and having run forward before, he went up on a sycamore, that he may see him, because through that 'way' he was about to pass by. 5 And as Jesus came up to the place, having looked up, he saw him, and said unto him, 'Zaccheus, having hastened, come down, for to-day in thy house it behoveth me to remain;' 6 and he having hastened did come down, and did receive him rejoicing; 7 and having seen 'it', they were all murmuring, saying—'With a sinful man he went in to lodge!' 8 And Zaccheus having stood, said unto the Lord, 'Lo, the half of my goods, sir, I give to the poor, and if of any one anything I did take by false accusation, I give back fourfold.' 9 And Jesus said unto him—'To-day salvation did come to this house, inasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.'
11 And while they are hearing these things, having added he spake a simile, because of his being nigh to Jerusalem, and of their thinking that the reign of God is about presently to be made manifest. 12 He said therefore, 'A certain man of birth went on to a far country, to take to himself a kingdom, and to return, 13 and having called ten servants of his own, he gave to them ten pounds, and said unto them, Do business—till I come; 14 and his citizens were hating him, and did send an embassy after him, saying, We do not wish this one to reign over us. 15 'And it came to pass, on his coming back, having taken the kingdom, that he commanded these servants to be called to him, to whom he gave the money, that he might know what any one had done in business. 16 'And the first came near, saying, Sir, thy pound did gain ten pounds; 17 and he said to him, Well done, good servant, because in a very little thou didst become faithful, be having authority over ten cities. 18 'And the second came, saying, Sir, thy pound made five pounds; 19 and he said also to this one, And thou, become thou over five cities. 20 'And another came, saying, Sir, lo, thy pound, that I had lying away in a napkin; 21 for I was afraid of thee, because thou art an austere man; thou takest up what thou didst not lay down, and reapest what thou didst not sow. 22 'And he saith to him, Out of thy mouth I will judge thee, evil servant: thou knewest that I am an austere man, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow! 23 and wherefore didst thou not give my money to the bank, and I, having come, with interest might have received it? 24 'And to those standing by he said, Take from him the pound, and give to him having the ten pounds— 25 (and they said to him, Sir, he hath ten pounds)— 26 for I say to you, that to every one having shall be given, and from him not having, also what he hath shall be taken from him, 27 but those my enemies, who did not wish me to reign over them, bring hither and slay before me.'
28 And having said these things, he went on before, going up to Jerusalem. 29 And it came to pass, as he came nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, unto the mount called of the Olives, he sent two of his disciples, 30 having said, Go away to the village over-against, in which, entering into, ye shall find a colt bound, on which no one of men did ever sit, having loosed it, bring 'it'; 31 and if any one doth question you, Wherefore do ye loose 'it'? thus ye shall say to him—The Lord hath need of it.' 32 And those sent, having gone away, found according as he said to them, 33 and while they are loosing the colt, its owners said unto them, 'Why loose ye the colt?' 34 and they said, 'The Lord hath need of it;' 35 and they brought it unto Jesus, and having cast their garments upon the colt, they did set Jesus upon it. 36 And as he is going, they were spreading their garments in the way, 37 and as he is coming nigh now, at the descent of the mount of the Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began rejoicing to praise God with a great voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 38 saying, 'blessed 'is' he who is coming, a king in the name of the Lord; peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.' 39 And certain of the Pharisees from the multitude said unto him, 'Teacher, rebuke thy disciples;' 40 and he answering said to them, 'I say to you, that, if these shall be silent, the stones will cry out!'
41 And when he came nigh, having seen the city, he wept over it, 42 saying—'If thou didst know, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things for thy peace; but now they were hid from thine eyes. 43 'Because days shall come upon thee, and thine enemies shall cast around thee a rampart, and compass thee round, and press thee on every side, 44 and lay thee low, and thy children within thee, and they shall not leave in thee a stone upon a stone, because thou didst not know the time of thy inspection.'
45 And having entered into the temple, he began to cast forth those selling in it, and those buying, 46 saying to them, 'It hath been written, My house is a house of prayer—but ye made it a den of robbers.' 47 And he was teaching daily in the temple, but the chief priests and the scribes were seeking to destroy him—also the chiefs of the people— 48 and they were not finding what they shall do, for all the people were hanging on him, hearing him.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 1:0
Complete ConciseChapter Contents
The Preface. (1-4) Zacharias and Elisabeth. (5-25) Christ's birth announced. (26-38) Interview of Mary and Elisabeth. (39-56) The birth of John the Baptist. (57-66) The song of Zacharias. (67-80)
Commentary on Luke 1:1-4
(Read Luke 1:1-4)
Luke will not write of things about which Christians may safely differ from one another, and hesitate within themselves; but the things which are, and ought to be surely believed. The doctrine of Christ is what the wisest and best of men have ventured their souls upon with confidence and satisfaction. And the great events whereon our hopes depend, have been recorded by those who were from the beginning eye-witnesses and ministers of the word, and who were perfected in their understanding of them through Divine inspiration.
Commentary on Luke 1:5-25
(Read Luke 1:5-25)
The father and mother of John the Baptist were sinners as all are, and were justified and saved in the same way as others; but they were eminent for piety and integrity. They had no children, and it could not be expected that Elisabeth should have any in her old age. While Zacharias was burning incense in the temple, the whole multitude of the people were praying without. All the prayers we offer up to God, are acceptable and successful only by Christ's intercession in the temple of God above. We cannot expect an interest therein if we do not pray, and pray with our spirits, and are not earnest in prayer. Nor can we expect that the best of our prayers should gain acceptance, and bring an answer of peace, but through the mediation of Christ, who ever lives, making intercession. The prayers Zacharias often made, received an answer of peace. Prayers of faith are filed in heaven, and are not forgotten. Prayers made when we were young and entering into the world, may be answered when we are old and going out of the world. Mercies are doubly sweet that are given in answer to prayer. Zacharias shall have a son in his old age, who shall be instrumental in the conversion of many souls to God, and preparing them to receive the gospel of Christ. He shall go before Him with courage, zeal, holiness, and a mind dead to earthly interests and pleasures. The disobedient and rebellious would be brought back to the wisdom of their righteous forefathers, or rather, brought to attend to the wisdom of that Just One who was coming among them. Zacharias heard all that the angel said; but his unbelief spake. In striking him dumb, God dealt justly with him, because he had objected against God's word. We may admire the patience of God towards us. God dealt kindly with him, for thus he prevented his speaking any more distrustful, unbelieving words. Thus also God confirmed his faith. If by the rebukes we are under for our sin, we are brought to give the more credit to the word of God, we have no reason to complain. Even real believers are apt to dishonour God by unbelief; and their mouths are stopped in silence and confusion, when otherwise they would have been praising God with joy and gratitude. In God's gracious dealings with us we ought to observe his gracious regards to us. He has looked on us with compassion and favour, and therefore has thus dealt with us.
Commentary on Luke 1:26-38
(Read Luke 1:26-38)
We have here an account of the mother of our Lord; though we are not to pray to her, yet we ought to praise God for her. Christ must be born miraculously. The angel's address means only, Hail, thou that art the especially chosen and favoured of the Most High, to attain the honour Jewish mothers have so long desired. This wondrous salutation and appearance troubled Mary. The angel then assured her that she had found favour with God, and would become the mother of a son whose name she should call Jesus, the Son of the Highest, one in a nature and perfection with the Lord God. JESUS! the name that refreshes the fainting spirits of humbled sinners; sweet to speak and sweet to hear, Jesus, a Saviour! We know not his riches and our own poverty, therefore we run not to him; we perceive not that we are lost and perishing, therefore a Saviour is a word of little relish. Were we convinced of the huge mass of guilt that lies upon us, and the wrath that hangs over us for it, ready to fall upon us, it would be our continual thought, Is the Saviour mine? And that we might find him so, we should trample on all that hinders our way to him. Mary's reply to the angel was the language of faith and humble admiration, and she asked no sign for the confirming her faith. Without controversy, great was the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh, 1 Timothy 3:16. Christ's human nature must be produced so, as it was fit that should be which was to be taken into union with the Divine nature. And we must, as Mary here, guide our desires by the word of God. In all conflicts, let us remember that with God nothing is impossible; and as we read and hear his promises, let us turn them into prayers, Behold the willing servant of the Lord; let it be unto me according to thy word.
Commentary on Luke 1:39-56
(Read Luke 1:39-56)
It is very good for those who have the work of grace begun in their souls, to communicate one to another. On Mary's arrival, Elisabeth was conscious of the approach of her who was to be the mother of the great Redeemer. At the same time she was filled with the Holy Ghost, and under his influence declared that Mary and her expected child were most blessed and happy, as peculiarly honoured of and dear to the Most High God. Mary, animated by Elisabeth's address, and being also under the influence of the Holy Ghost, broke out into joy, admiration, and gratitude. She knew herself to be a sinner who needed a Saviour, and that she could no otherwise rejoice in God than as interested in his salvation through the promised Messiah. Those who see their need of Christ, and are desirous of righteousness and life in him, he fills with good things, with the best things; and they are abundantly satisfied with the blessings he gives. He will satisfy the desires of the poor in spirit who long for spiritual blessings, while the self-sufficient shall be sent empty away.
Commentary on Luke 1:57-66
(Read Luke 1:57-66)
In these verses we have an account of the birth of John the Baptist, and the great joy among all the relations of the family. He shall be called Johanan, or "Gracious," because he shall bring in the gospel of Christ, wherein God's grace shines most bright. Zacharias recovered his speech. Unbelief closed his mouth, and believing opened it again: he believers, therefore he speaks. When God opens our lips, our mouths must show forth his praise; and better be without speech, than not use it in praising God. It is said, The hand of the Lord was working with John. God has ways of working on children in their infancy, which we cannot account for. We should observe the dealings of God, and wait the event.
Commentary on Luke 1:67-80
(Read Luke 1:67-80)
Zacharias uttered a prophecy concerning the kingdom and salvation of the Messiah. The gospel brings light with it; in it the day dawns. In John the Baptist it began to break, and increased apace to the perfect day. The gospel is discovering; it shows that about which we were utterly in the dark; it is to give light to those that sit in darkness, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. It is reviving; it brings light to those that sit in the shadow of death, as condemned prisoners in the dungeon. It is directing; it is to guide our feet in the way of peace, into that way which will bring us to peace at last, Romans 3:17. John gave proofs of strong faith, vigorous and holy affections, and of being above the fear and love of the world. Thus he ripened for usefulness; but he lived a retired life, till he came forward openly as the forerunner of the Messiah. Let us follow peace with all men, as well as seek peace with God and our own consciences. And if it be the will of God that we live unknown to the world, still let us diligently seek to grow strong in the grace of Jesus Christ.