Jesus Blesses Little Children

15 And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. 16 But Jesus called for them, saying , "Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these . 17 "Truly I say to you, whoever e does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all."

The Rich Young Ruler

18 A ruler questioned Him, saying , "Good Teacher , what shall I do to inherit eternal life ?" 19 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good ? No one is good except God alone . 20 "You know the commandments , ' DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY , DO NOT MURDER , DO NOT STEAL , DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS , HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER .' " 21 And he said , "All these things I have kept from my youth ." 22 When Jesus heard this, He said to him, "One thing you still lack ; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor , and you shall have treasure in heaven ; and come , follow Me." 23 But when he had heard these things , he became very sad , for he was extremely rich . 24 And Jesus looked at him and said , " How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God ! 25 "For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God ." 26 They who heard it said , "Then who can be saved ?" 27 But He said , " The things that are impossible with people are possible with God ." 28 Peter said , "Behold , we have left our own homes and followed You." 29 And He said to them, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children , for the sake of the kingdom of God , 30 who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come , eternal life ."

Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time

31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold , we are going up to Jerusalem , and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished . 32 " For He will be handed over to the Gentiles , and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, 33 and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again ." 34 But the disciples understood none of these things , and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said .

A Blind Beggar Healed near Jericho

35 As Jesus was approaching Jericho , a blind man was sitting by the road begging . 36 Now hearing a crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was. 37 They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he called out, saying , "Jesus , Son of David , have mercy on me!" 39 Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet ; but he kept crying out all the more , " Son of David , have mercy on me!" 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near , He questioned him, 41 "What do you want Me to do for you?" And he said , "Lord , I want to regain my sight !" 42 And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight ; your faith has made you well ." 43 Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, glorifying God ; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God .

Jesus and Zaccheus

191 He entered Jericho and was passing through . 2 And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus ; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich . 3 Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable e because of the crowd , for he was small in stature . 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place , He looked up and said to him, "Zaccheus , hurry and come down , for today I must stay at your house ." 6 And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly . 7 When they saw it, they all began to grumble , saying , "He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner ." 8 Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord , "Behold , Lord , half of my possessions I will give to the poor , and if I have defrauded anyone of anything , I will give back four times as much ." 9 And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house , because he, too , is a son of Abraham . 10 "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost ."

The Parable of the Ten Pounds

11 While they were listening to these things , Jesus went on to tell a parable , because He was near Jerusalem , and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately . 12 So He said , " A nobleman e went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself , and then return . 13 "And he called ten of his slaves , and gave them ten minas and said to them, 'Do business with this until e I come back.' 14 "But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying , 'We do not want this man to reign over us.' 15 "When he returned , after receiving the kingdom , he ordered that these slaves , to whom he had given the money , be called to him so that he might know what business they had done . 16 "The first appeared , saying , 'Master , your mina has made ten minas more .' 17 "And he said to him, 'Well done , good slave , because you have been faithful in a very little thing , you are to be in authority over ten cities .' 18 "The second came , saying , 'Your mina , master , has made five minas .' 19 "And he said to him also , 'And you are to be over five cities .' 20 "Another came , saying , 'Master , here is your mina , which I kept put away in a handkerchief ; 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man ; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow .' 22 "He said to him, 'By your own words I will judge you, you worthless slave . Did you know that I am an exacting man , taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow ? 23 'Then why e did you not put my money in the bank , and having come , I would have collected it with interest ?' 24 "Then he said to the bystanders , 'Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas .' 25 "And they said to him, 'Master , he has ten minas already.' 26 " I tell you that to everyone who has , more shall be given , but from the one who does not have , even what he does have shall be taken away . 27 "But these enemies of mine , who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence ."

The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

28 After He had said these things , He was going on ahead , going up to Jerusalem . 29 When He approached Bethphage and Bethany , near the mount that is called Olivet , He sent two of the disciples , 30 saying , "Go into the village ahead of you; there , as you enter , you will find a colt tied on which no one e yet has ever sat ; untie it and bring it here. 31 "If anyone asks you, 'Why e are you untying it?' you shall say , 'The Lord has need of it.' " 32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as He had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt , its owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt ?" 34 They said , "The Lord has need of it." 35 They brought it to Jesus , and they threw their coats on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As He was going , they were spreading their coats on the road . 37 As soon as He was approaching , near the descent of the Mount of Olives , the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen , 38 shouting : " BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE Lord ; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest !" 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher , rebuke Your disciples ." 40 But Jesus answered , "I tell you, if these become silent , the stones will cry out!"

41 When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying , "If you had known in this day , even you, the things which make for peace ! But now they have been hidden from your eyes . 43 "For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side , 44 and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another , because e you did not recognize the time of your visitation ."

The Cleansing of the Temple

45 Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling , 46 saying to them, "It is written , ' AND MY HOUSE SHALL BE A HOUSE OF PRAYER ,' but you have made it a ROBBERS' DEN ." 47 And He was teaching daily e in the temple ; but the chief priests and the scribes and the leading men among the people were trying to destroy Him, 48 and they could not find anything that they might do , for all the people were hanging on to every word He said.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 1:0

Complete     Concise

Chapter 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.