15 And they brought to him also infants that he might touch them, but the disciples when they saw [it] rebuked them. 16 But Jesus calling them to [him] said, Suffer little children to come to me, and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of God. 17 Verily I say to you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
18 And a certain ruler asked him saying, Good teacher, having done what, shall I inherit eternal life? 19 But Jesus said to him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, God. 20 Thou knowest the commandments: Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. 21 And he said, All these things have I kept from my youth. 22 And when Jesus had heard this, he said to him, One thing is lacking to thee yet: Sell all that thou hast and distribute to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in the heavens, and come, follow me. 23 But when he heard this he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. 24 But when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, he said, How difficultly shall those who have riches enter into the kingdom of God; 25 for it is easier for a camel to enter through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26 And those who heard it said, And who can be saved? 27 But he said, The things that are impossible with men are possible with God. 28 And Peter said, Behold, we have left all things and have followed thee. 29 And he said to them, Verily I say to you, There is no one who has left home, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, 30 who shall not receive manifold more at this time, and in the coming age life eternal.
31 And he took the twelve to [him] and said to them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written of the Son of man by the prophets shall be accomplished; 32 for he shall be delivered up to the nations, and shall be mocked, and insulted, and spit upon. 33 And when they have scourged [him] they will kill him; and on the third day he will rise again. 34 And they understood nothing of these things. And this word was hidden from them, and they did not know what was said.
35 And it came to pass when he came into the neighbourhood of Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the wayside begging. 36 And when he heard the crowd passing, he inquired what this might be. 37 And they told him that Jesus the Nazaraean was passing by. 38 And he called out saying, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. 39 And those [who were] going before rebuked him that he might be silent; but he cried out so much the more, Son of David, have mercy on me. 40 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be led to him. And when he drew nigh he asked him [saying], 41 What wilt thou that I shall do to thee? And he said, Lord, that I may see. 42 And Jesus said to him, See: thy faith has healed thee. 43 And immediately he saw, and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people when they saw [it] gave praise to God.
191 And he entered and passed through Jericho. 2 And behold, [there was] a man by name called Zacchaeus, and he was chief tax-gatherer, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was: and he could not for the crowd, because he was little in stature. 4 And running on before, he got up into a sycamore that he might see him, for he was going to pass that [way]. 5 And when he came up to the place, Jesus looked up and saw him, and said to him, Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for to-day I must remain in thy house. 6 And he made haste and came down, and received him with joy. 7 And all murmured when they saw [it], saying, He has turned in to lodge with a sinful man. 8 But Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I return [him] fourfold. 9 And Jesus said to him, To-day salvation is come to this house, inasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of man has come to seek and to save that which is lost.
11 But as they were listening to these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem and they thought that the kingdom of God was about to be immediately manifested. 12 He said therefore, A certain high-born man went to a distant country to receive for himself a kingdom and return. 13 And having called his own ten bondmen, he gave to them ten minas, and said to them, Trade while I am coming. 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent an embassy after him, saying, We will not that this [man] should reign over us. 15 And it came to pass on his arrival back again, having received the kingdom, that he desired these bondmen to whom he gave the money to be called to him, in order that he might know what every one had gained by trading. 16 And the first came up, saying, [My] Lord, thy mina has produced ten minas. 17 And he said to him, Well [done], thou good bondman; because thou hast been faithful in that which is least, be thou in authority over ten cities. 18 And the second came, saying, [My] Lord, thy mina has made five minas. 19 And he said also to this one, And thou, be over five cities. 20 And another came, saying, [My] Lord, lo, [there is] thy mina, which I have kept laid up in a towel. 21 For I feared thee because thou art a harsh man: thou takest up what thou hast not laid down, and thou reapest what thou hast not sowed. 22 He says to him, Out of thy mouth will I judge thee, wicked bondman: thou knewest that I am a harsh man, taking up what I have not laid down and reaping what I have not sowed. 23 And why didst thou not give my money to [the] bank; and I should have received it, at my coming, with interest? 24 And he said to those that stood by, Take from him the mina and give [it] to him who has the ten minas. 25 And they said to him, Lord, he has ten minas. 26 For I say unto you, that to every one that has shall be given; but from him that has not, that even which he has shall be taken from him. 27 Moreover those mine enemies, who would not [have] me to reign over them, bring them here and slay [them] before me.
28 And having said these things, he went on before, going up to Jerusalem. 29 And it came to pass as he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany at the mountain called [the mount] of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, 30 saying, Go into the village over against [you], in which ye will find, on entering it, a colt tied up, on which no [child] of man ever sat at any time: loose it and lead it [here]. 31 And if any one ask you, Why do ye loose [it]? thus shall ye say to him, Because the Lord has need of it. 32 And they that were sent, having gone their way, found as he had said to them. 33 And as they were loosing the colt, its masters said to them, Why loose ye the colt? 34 And they said, Because the Lord has need of it. 35 And they led it to Jesus; and having cast their own garments on the colt, they put Jesus on [it]. 36 And as he went, they strewed their clothes in the way. 37 And as he drew near, already at the descent of the mount of Olives, all the multitude of the disciples began, rejoicing, to praise God with a loud voice for all the works of power which they had seen, 38 saying, Blessed the King that comes in the name of [the] Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. 39 And some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to him, Teacher, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answering said to them, I say unto you, If these shall be silent, the stones will cry out.
41 And as he drew near, seeing the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, even at least in this thy day, the things that are for thy peace: but now they are hid from thine eyes; 43 for days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall make a palisaded mound about thee, and shall close thee around, and keep thee in on every side, 44 and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children in thee; and shall not leave in thee a stone upon a stone: because thou knewest not the season of thy visitation.
45 And entering into the temple, he began to cast out those that sold and bought in it, 46 saying to them, It is written, My house is a house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of robbers. 47 And he was teaching day by day in the temple: and the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, 48 and did not find what they could do, for all the people hung on him to hear.
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.