PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1
Henry Donald Maurice Spence [1836–1917] · 342,562 words · 357 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 301
are dcrivorl frnm the realm of darknoea; now, of interpretrttion, which, while 1?enernlly show us thnt our suspicion is hnseloss by preserving tho traditional exposition of the somo splendid sigu of tl,e visible approval various details, supplies the connr.<lting of Heaven." thought between ver. 23 (" He that is not V…
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•ollttereth. Our Lorrl here ie referring to spirits. There is 11nother well-known his- lh~ c>xnrcistR, an<l c,ontro.l\ting their impcrfeot torioal reference contained in these words of work with l1i8, showing how hopeless a task Josue, which speak of the triumphant return it wns to attempt tn (l(•mbat the evil one an…
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contrasted by the l\fo,ter; at 1111 evente, no Christi,in Individual, hna~cJi.,[,J, or con- ~he ht,c] rightly comprehended hie worde. gregation but could at 0nco fill up the rletails "How mnny women have blessed the holy originally spoken by the L0rd here. In tho Virgin,11nd desired to be such & mother a.a she catacomb…
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No rnRn li1;hts I\ lRrnp tn hide: eo will it be whole body sh1tll he pcnetrnted with light, wilb lbni aigu which will be given to {·nu." without thore being in thee the least trace Jeans wns sp<'Rking 611 the while o the of darkness, then the phenomenon which mighty sign of his reanl'J'ootion. will be wrought in the…
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being <'On@<'ions ,cltat they were "·11lking trentises existed then in tl10 oral tmditlrn~ over 11nd touchin/Z', All contaC't with which it Wl\8 tho Iifo-work' of scholnrs nn<l sopuloliree involved ceromoni11l defilement; pedsnta, like tho lawyer to whom Jee11s henC'e thll f11ot of their being constantly w1111 then …
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ftpoorypho.1 book, known or unknown. (2) leaely suft'or at the hands of the Jews ;-he St. Luke is here quoting from the similar looked on to the state of Israel growing pnssage in Bt. Matthew'& Gospel, which, worBe and worse, till the doy when the storm when he was compiling his Gospel, lay of Di vine anger at le.et bu…
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HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-13.-C'hrist teaching hia duiciples to pray. "He was praying in a certain place." Might not he have d)spensed with the special sea.son and act of prayer? Was not Ma whole life one contmnous act of prayer? Did he not always realize that communion _with the Father t.o which praying is the means? Ye…
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be slav!ehly used_. His own deviations i!I the second from the first giving of it l\re suggestive of flex1bleness, And so e.lso hie comma.ode. In the Third Goepel we rea.<l, "say ye;" but in the first.," After this manner pray ye.'' Have tfieee sentences in the heart; let the mind realize the fulness that ie in them; a…
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warfa1:9 on enrtb. Tc11.Ch us to pray, 0 Lord I' And then," adde hie biographer, " he burst into a flood of tears, aud begged me lo pray for him. Oh, what a sight was there I" Vel'II. 14-26.-0hrist and his adversariu. Obeerve- 1. 'I'B:E OONTRAST. "He was casting out a devil, and it was dumb." Thie wae hia work. As …
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tho.t o. nego.tive attitude is virtually an Rttit·11de of hostility. It is, by so much, a sub- traction of the strength to he utilized against the enemy. It is an occasion of stumbling to others. Mora than this, it withdraws from the attraction of his presence and love, and lays the heart open to alienating influences.…
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?r I he generations who should eall Mary blessed, The an■ wer of Christ ]., 'f'Ory alriking ID respect of- l. THAT WRICH IT IMPLICITLY CONDEMNS. We Pee, in this Incident the germ of Mariolatry. . A natur_al interest in ~he one who had been BO highly favnu~ed grew, and corrupted as 1t grew, into a veneration for her …
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epiritual condition in which this force i, realized; (3) of the ruponsibility with regard lo it which resls on '" individv.ally. I. TeE PROPER AND OBARAOTERISTJO ll'OROE OJI' TRUTH. Christ Is grieved with the generation whoso ropresentatives are with him. He bad wrought in their presence the works of God; he ho.d spok…
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light of th~ soul. All is then beheld in ,ita real force and its right proportions. Du, 1101 otherwise. And therefore the great Teacher emphasizes the need of II the aingle ,·ye," the miud purely intentioned to know God and hie will and truth and this i11tention undisturbed by appetite of sense, or by prejudice clos…
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I. Tam INFLUENOl!l OP' A Dl':VOUT EXAMPf,E. "As he was prayin~ .•. ono of hi~ disciples eaid unto him, Lord, teach us to pray." It was the sight of hi~ MaHter in the act of prayer which prompted thia disciple to make his request. Thus devotion in him beg11t devotion in them. All actions, good and bad, are contagions. B…
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Christ, the exaltation of our Divine Father in the minds 1111d in the lives of mm. h ~uggPsl~ to us the oonsidC'ration whether we 1tre as much concerned as our Master would ha~·e _us ~ fo~ this great isBlle. How much do we care that God's N11me le prof11ned a~ 1t_1•, his will left undone and v10l1tted as it is, hie …
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Vera. o--10.-Oontinuan~ in prayer. These words of our Lord are not intended to present God to us as one that is reluctant to respond to our prayer, and t1,at, conse- quently, has to be besought and entreated with growing energy anrl ardrrnr, a.s Baal's prophets imagined to be the case with the deity they worshipped (1 …
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tinuing for many genernUons and acting under all skiee,-" no doubt" that Is from above; it is of God. If we find that ChriHtianity had proved itself to b•! the rJ11H great benignant power in the world, exerting a gracious, redeeming, elevating influence on humanity, than "no doubt the kingdom of God is come" upon us. W…
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II. MANY A C'HRil'TIAN CauROH. Delivere,l from worldliness, from VBnity, from .-iC'll, in the first instanc11, many a Church hae cherishe<l tho cruel demon of persecution, or the evil domon of pride, or the dangerous demon of fom1Rlity, And it proves to be herder t-0 a\\·eken the sinful Church, living under its Lord…
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Ver. 32.-0omparative guat: The main truth of the text, that the wei~ht of our guilt depends on the measure of our privilege, rests on the solid foundation of- I. MAN'S MORAL FREEDOM. However much character may he affected by circum- stance, it remains true that man is a free agent. When we condemn ourselves or others,…
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Vers. 34-36.-Spiritwil sight. • The light of the body is the eye;• i.e. the eye is ~~~ or~~. t~ro~gh which light enters _so lhat the min? perceives; and if our eye is smgle, 1f 1t 1s sound, and does not. give a double or distorted or coloured impres8ion, then the "wh<l)e body is full of light," then the man knows exa…
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tho eyes of the children of men, leaving them in the rlarkness of error and of sin? Who Cl\n understand his errors? Who of us can be sure that he is not allowing some folly, some unworthy habit of the body or the mind, to intervene between the pure truth of Christ and bis own spiritual understanding? The thought of Jes…
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lessnn~ on prn~·er which Josue giwe his ,lisciplcs. He had been enjoying whnt we ~h,,uld now call e. "retreat" with them, e.nd had himself led the devotions of the lit Lie band. Struck by the beauty of his petitions, one of his disciples a.eked him to te,\cb tl,em_ to p~ay, e.e J~hn he.d taught his disciples. 'l'o t…
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food which hie hum hie house cont11ins; when, lo I to hie surprise, 11 friend 11rrive~ nftcr 11 long journey, hungry as well ae weary-a most fitting object, theref<:,re, of hospitaliry. What ie to be done? He quickly decides. Having most probably arranged for the w11shing of the guest's feet, he passes out into the dar…
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b1Ul mnde the poor po~Bcssc,l one duml,, hRd ohcycd CbriRt'e commnnd an,l left his ,,ieLirn. Dut so far from tbiB demonstrating Christ's goodneBS to their suspicious soul~, :t only demonstrated his league witb the chief of the devils. It is truly wonderful hn1v unl,oly hea.ts can twist the clearest demonstrations int…
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III. Tm: THEORY OP' TNSUP'FICIF.NT BtoNs. (Vers. 16, 29-36.) The miracles of healing, it woultl seem, were insuflicient to cc,nvince Christ's enemies that he was from God. They demanded more-a sign from heaven; something, that is, which would connect him with the heavenly world. 1. Now, the way OUI Lord meets this unre…
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1. C11i.1,T's EXI'0SITION OI" PHARTRAJC nvroCRTRY. (Vars. 37-44.) Ph1uisnisrn ~!I.I' a~uprc•111e regiu:d for a1:1p..·arances. Long; g.irll?ents, phylactrnies, multiplied ablu- twns, long rrafer~ m public pl~s, ostent.ations tithing of little thingR, combined to make up Pha.nsa.1sm, & repnta~1on b&sed upon e~terna.ls.…
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EXPOSITION', OHAPTER XII. ye have 11}1 lli:811 In da.rkne~• shall be heard in the lighT. The day would come when his Vere. 1-59.-The Lo-rd, after lea'Ving ~ estimate of this now popular ten.chi11g of Pharisee's house, ,peaks at great length to a the Pharisees would be found to have been numerou, oro,od waiting for h…
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evc>r, bcvond wbieh hnm,.n mnliC'e Rn,l knowled11:e of, hie crning for, the life or enmity were utterly powerleee; he would denth of one of his proved ,m,l gnllnnt fol- have his servants tum their thoughts on lowers. These little sparrows wero sold in that serene region where men 11,11 men would the markots, strung …
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whioh consisted in plnying the renega,lo followers of Jesus whir,h we possess is the nnd the oownrd; which refueocl to euff"r for grave and ete.tely A.pology of St0pl1en before him here; which, out of slavish fear of man, the Sanhedrin. Peter'e epi;ech before tho consented to abandon hie pure and righteous same tribuna…
1,043 wordsSECTION 330The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 330
mmning perfectly cli,u, the Lord told them wise in all ml\ltc!'B or eRrthly b11sinc111, the following pRrable-story, which ro11ds enspect the awful doom wae 80 close to him I like l\n e:i.:perienM or mrmory of something He forgot Solomon's word~, "D011~t not "·1,i"h hRd no!.ue.lly lmppenrd. thyself of to-morrow" (Pr…
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<lemnocl by Joeus Christ; nor even the to w~ar " lire away in toilit1g fnr lo•s than vrowing richer. Among the so.inte of God whet God simply gat1a to ruv"n and to lily? ID both 'l'eeto.mente are many noto.ble rich Buch wo.a the Master's argum,•nt, adorned, men, whose poeeeseione eecm to have helped we may well conceiv…
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wnrd•; but benc>nth &11 this thcv <'.'nnld, spednlly nddressecl, viz. the ,l 1soiplee. Whilo nnd no tlouht often in later rlrws did, rl'Rd to the Chureh gonernlly tl,ey convey thia in the wor<ls n cleR.r oxprrasi'on of their deep, far-reaching loBSon, a Jpsson all would- dPnr Lord's "ill in fayour of the utmost be e…
1,035 wordsSECTION 333The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 333
tion of equality with their muster. These of the simile is obvi0ue. The disciples rm,l true fnithful ones nre no longer hie servantY; e.11 followers of J eaus would d0 well to they aro hlY friends. He even deigns him- remain always on the we.tell for th•) s~cond eolf t0 minister to their ,•111nte. A similar B<lveut of …
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IlH·s0. Hw fni Iltful 11nd wiae stcwR1-<ls, ~hould the unbelievers," to uud~retand the word ae tl1<·11 T0Pl'il'P wnulrl b0 fl,e being made ruler8 an equivalent for scourging; eo in tho L11t.ln ,,,.,.,. nil 1/,nt th, Lnrd l,nf/1. 'fhe Rnewer of we find flagellis diBcindere, to scourge tho t ii<' llfaeter th0n told Pe…
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all: and ae for you, my disciples, do you eolvee, my di•~iplos; f.ho great rhangi, nho1Jt h1Lve nothing to do with these periehahle to be inAngurat,e<l will ouly he cnrrie,rl out goods." And bore, with an abrupt solemnity, in war a.nd by diviHi"ns in the individ1111.l probably the voice cl,anging h~re, and rin1;- ho…
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of the God of tl,cir fatbeTR? (2) Politfral tl1l'('nd f\8 they nlt Rre, but it WM especially ,,1.,,1/inn. lli,I none or them notice the epoken to that generation in view of the 1.,•rribl, strain<>d relntione between the nwful ruin which he knew WBB BO eoon to Homa1i or Hcr0dian, end tl,e great national fall on every…
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But now thou muat enter on a new phase of thy ministry• henceforth the iHsues tow&l'd■ which thou hut been looking will be hutened. ' • Bide on, ride on in majesty I The wingM squadrons of the airy Look down with sad and wondering eyea To 1ee the approaching aacri.ftce." •In the mean time," whilst the dinner with …
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F.nd m:m. The l'harhrcs whom onr Lord oondemned were not----at least we mRy In charity so suppose-intentionally false. If they prRyed to be seen of men, we need not irntl.gine that they secrelly mocked at and disbelieved in the dnty of prayer. The leaven was the endeavour to ~aintain a reputation with which they wer…
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Vere. 18-31.- Worldlines.,. To the earnest teacher nothina can he more irritatina than a bnlf-e.ttentive attitude or a rem11rk which indicates pr~cupation of mind wit~ other e.nd inferior things. Think of Christ, towards the close of a day of controversy with the Pharisees, and in the midst of solemn speech as to the …
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iR rc~Rn1r<l BI! the soul·s I:'°rti~n; wb~n th11t 1B the mRn's main interPet; aM, looking on to s0rne rl~y ";hen tlrn_ pile will be complete, he RI\Y8 in himself, 11 Then oat, drink, 11nd ?r merry. \ cry 11tr1k111g tl!e ~enhmce (~er. 20) 11 God ea.ye, 'l'hou fool!" Folly ~11deed I Tlrn~as ,~dams qnamtly says," 'lhe …
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 2, 3.-Hidden things. Our Lord's affirmation implies that there is a great deal which has been long beneath the surface, and we naturally ask-Does God hide, And the answer is-Yes, truly," thou art a God that hiJest thyself." He hides his own glory, that we may not be dazzled thereby; …
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Vers. 4, 6.-The power to hurl and ble,ss. We are admonished of'- L THE POWER WHICH MAN JUB TO HURT us. 1. He can wound our body. He can amite, can wound, co.n slay us. The sad story of human persecution contains only too many illustrations of this fact. 2. He can wound our spirit. This is a course he can, and still…
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Vers. 8, 9.-0onfeasin_q Christ. From these solemn words we gather- I. THAT CHRISTIANITY CENTRES IN THE PERSON 01!' JESUS CHRIST. Our Lord taught us much concerning ourselves-the inestimable value of our spiritual nature; the real source and spring of evil in our own souls; the true excellency of a human life; whom we …
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will buy. But it i~ a mi~erable delusion-a. delusion which ha.s elain the pea.ce and prospec~s of m_rny a. thousan~ ~ouls-that the one wa.y to secure the excellency of life 1~ to gem am ph tude of matenal resources. 1. Muchness of money does not even ensure human happiness. The wealth that lives in fine houses and s…
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Ver. 21.-" Rich toward God." Jesus Christ is here drawing a contrast between the Inward and the abiding on the 1)ne hand, and the outward and the perishing on the other hand. When he disparages the act of" laying up treasure for ourselves," he docs not mean to say either (1) that material wealth is not of God, for it i…
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Vers. 22--80.-Anxiety or trus(fulnessP We read of "care-encumbered men;" nnrl truly we Sl'e more than we could wish of them. As we look into the faces of those we meet daily, we are saddened with the thought that a great weight of care rests on our race as a heavy burden. And when we see, as we do, a few faces that …
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Ver. 31.-Service and sufficiency. It hae been mnch debated whether God ehonld be rPpreeented as the Sovereign or the Father of mankind. It has been but a foolish strife; it hae been another case in which both disputants have been right and both wrong. God is the Sovereign of the world, and a great deal more than that ;…
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Vers. 35-40.-Death a Divine 'l!Uitati(Jfl,. To 118 the coming of the Son of m11n means the hour of de11tb; that is the practical view and therefore the wise view of the su hject. And we may well regard our de~'\rture from this world ae a coming of God to 118. I. D_EATH AB A _D1nNE VISITATI~N. 1. ~t death God comes …
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epirit yearned with II profound R.nd vehement desire for t,he hour to oomo when these heavenly forces should he prepared and be freer! to do their sacred and blesH<sd work. 2. A human longing'to pas.9 through the trial thatawaite<I him. "Biit "-there was not only an interval of time to elapse, there was a periotl of…
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Vers. 58, 69.-The in~Of'able. From the lips of such a parabolic teacher as Jesus Christ we expect to have some striking illustration of a general principle, our duty being to detect that principle and to make our own practice.I applications of it. Here the grea.t Teacher adduces an illustration drawn from the legal …
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laet farthing h88 been paili," U there should be any breach, however minute it may bo, hasten to repair it. I_II. _A BREAOH OIi' Tl!E LAW OIi' PRIVILEGE, Privilege and peril, opportunity and obhgELt1on go together, hke substance and shadow; they cannot be dissociated. From those to whom much is given will much be requ…
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r-rl',st.cr is he who le for them thnn All who Are Against them, an<l that hie cAre ls BO 11,inutc as to extend to the numbering of the hAirs of their hend. A great Being on our side, so minute and CAreful in bis interest, is fit to inspire with dauntless courage every one who renlizee his presence by faith and trus…
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leo.cling the clo.imant to the poesession of better riches, then all will be well. Anrl bore we notice- !. A MAN OAN NEVEB BK AATISll'IED WITH THINGS. (Ver. 15.) This is the great mistBke men are making. '£hey imflgine that things can ea.tiefy their hearts; whereaR we are so constituted, with our affections and emotio…
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Vers. 22_-40.-LesSOM from IM fowl., and Ulia. Our Lord, ~aving related the 1"'1&ble agarnst covetousn01111, or the selfish use of money, proceeds in the present section to show how foolish the anxioUB thought is about these teruporal things, And her& we have to- I. C-0NSIDER HOW POOR 7HE LIFB IS WHICH MAKBB BATING …
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Vers. 41-59.-The glories and respcmsi1nUtuB of tM Ohristian miniswy. The previous parable attracts Peter by reason of its glorious promise, and he according!} wonders if it can apply to all believers or to the apostles only. Havin~ asked OU> Lord, he receives light upon the responsibilities and glories of the ministeri…
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THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. VOLUME L CHAPTER L TBXICB PAOa mmm FAGB The Circumcision, and Presentation Preface to the Goepel ••• 13 in the Temple . .. 46 Zacharias a.nd his Vision 14 The Child.hood and the Waiting-Time 48 The Announcement to the Virgin 15 Christ excluded ... 50 The Two Expectant Mothers 16 Welc…
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CHAPTER XI. CHAPTER IX. Christ teaching hie Disciplee to pray 310 The Life saved, and the Life lost 2-1,6 Christ and hie Adversaries 312 The Tranefigurntion 248,258 The Voice out of the Crowd 313 Humility and Charity 250 Truth ; the Conditions of its Recep- 'l'he Face steadfastly set 251 tior,, and our Responsib…
373 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.