PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 2
Henry Donald Maurice Spence [1836–1917] · 272,049 words · 292 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 2 — Section 181
remuneration, their worth in GoJ's sight is nothing or next to nothing. If they are do_n~ to h0~our an~ to please Jesus Christ., 01 prompted by pure benevolence, or in the spmt of :filrnl obedience, they have a real worth and are the objects of Divine approval. But the teaching of our text is that actions are worthy…
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Ver. 13.-...4/terwards. "No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness." Concerning any course we take the question how it affects us now is not so important as is the question to what it leads, or, in the words of the text, "to…
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Vers. 14-19.-Inevitable trial and unfailin,q resources. Here we have one more illustration of the faithfulness of Jesus Christ toward his apostles. So far was he from encouraging in them the thought that their path would be one of easy conquest and delightful possession, that he was frequently warning them of a cont…
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Ver. 28.-The second redemption. "Lift up your heads; for yourredemptiondraweth nigh." Jesus Christ led his disciples to think that beyond the redemption which he was working out for them, and subsequent to it in time, wa.~ another great deliverance which should prove of unspeakable value to them. This is true now of ou…
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Ver. 34.-0hristian and unchristian carefulness. Take care not to be overtaken and overweicrhted by care is the simple and intelligible paradox of the text; in other words have ea wise care lest you have much care that is unwise. There is a carefulness that l1l eminently godly and worthy, the absence of which is not onl…
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his tnlrnt.s here ,,ill be found worthy to stand before the Kin", and to be employed by him in brond and blessed spheres of service there. If we would be" accounted worthy·" to do this, we must" watch and pray." 1. We must spend much time with God-in the stndy of his will and in suppliclltion for the quickening influen…
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will precede his second coming. But his people need be no sharers in this fear. So far from this, o.s soon as the judgment-signs begin thsy are to lift up their heads, assured that redemption is drawing nigh. The outlook may be wintry for the world, but it is summer for the saints of God. And here we may notice : 1. …
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decided the go\"erning body with RB little was, seems to point to vulgar ~reed, and to delay as possible to compass the Reformer's the idea of making friends with the domi- deRth. The temporary withdrawal of the nRnt party in the state now that his Lord after the great miracle deferred their l\Ie.ster evidently look…
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(' Diol. oum Trypbo,' ob. iii.). 'fo the over the couches for the reception of guests. some effect write Irenoms (' Adv. li,or.,' " In this large upper cham her thus pre- iv. 23) and Tertullian (' Adv. J adreos,' pared," said the Lord, " make the neces- eh. 8). Clement of Alexa.ndriB is most sary arrangements for the…
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BB the Founder of a great religion, he pur• " I will not drink " Likewise n.lso tho posed.on this momentous occasion, transform• of tbe fruit of the cup nfter Supper'' ing_the mos~ solemn festal gathering of the vine, until the king- (vcr. 20). &nc1ont Jewish people, which commemorated dom of God sh11ll their greatest …
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tic11l religious life. Now, we possess a Divine solemn private declaration that it is hia commentary on this sacrament instituted by deliberate wish to suffer with hia Lord nnd our Lord. It is noticeable tbe.t St. John, for his Lord's sake; that it is, too, his firm whose Gospel we.g the le.teat or well-nigh purpose to…
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"·riltrn, ""l10sc sorrows are like unto my he was tcachiug them, the world-tcnohers of sorrows?" must make trial of this bitterness. the future, that in self-sacrifice consisted the Chrysostom thinks that the Master, in sec1·et of truo greatness. In the kingdom of some of thPse re['eatrd allusions during tho heaven …
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you, that he may sift you as wheat. The Ver. 33.-And he said unto him, Lord, I majority of the more ancient authorities am ready to go with thee, both into prison, omit the words, "ancl the Loni said." and to death. This kind of confident 'fbese woros were possibly inserted a.t an r·nthm,iasm is usually II sign of weak…
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likrnlnrss, nnrl, e.s " reply, produred two Canon Westcott suggests that the succes- swords. ns if these two poor wenpons could sion of the mo.in events recorded by the four help them in the coming times of sore need. evangolists was as follows:- If they were to stnnd firm in the long tria.1- senson which lny befor…
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c11lled Getbeem11ne. It belongs to the horrors which preceded it and o.ccompanied Lntin communit,Y in Jerui!lllem. In it nre it-to the trrason of J nclas; the denial or eight very e.nc1ent olive treee. When Peter ; the desertion of the apostles: the Henry Mo.undrell visited the spot, in 1697, cruel, relentless enmity o…
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n~cient manuscripts was probably due to What should wring this from thee?'-ye 1111stnkcn reverence. The two oldest o.nd lo.ugh o.nd o.sk. most_ a.uthoritative translations, the ltala Wha_t wrung it? Even o. torchlight 1111d a (Latin) and Peshito (Syrillc), contain them, noise, howe'l'er, as do the most important Fa…
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Each of the evo.n~eliels mention the presence given up to you to effect this sad trinmph, or the traitor. It was evidently e. strange and this (i.e. the power hy which you work) and startling detail for the writers of these is the power of darkness ( i.e. the power of memoirs that one or the chosen twelve should the sp…
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c0mp:1ninn. Pcter's motive in p?'<'ssing into the interrOJ:\'Rtion before Ce.illplma to be ex- what he knew for him was a locality full of amined before the Sanhedrin 11ssemblod in peril, is gi'l"en by St. Matthew (xi.vi. 58), solemn council, he hea.rd his servant's well• "to see the end." There was no doubt known v…
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11.wCul solemnity ndjured him to sny whether pigeons were sold for the sncrificcs of' all ho wns the Christ, the Son of God. So ad- Israel. Derenbourg conjectures that these jurecl,_Jesus answered definitely in the affinn- booths on the Mount of Olives were part of ntivo. Then Cainpbas rent bis robe, and the famous Boo…
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HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-30.-Weclnesday and Thursday of Passion Week. Look a.t t'hat picture- the Son of God awaiting the hour; spending the last day before the arrest and the trfal in the d('ep seclusion of the Bethany home. Over that day the veil of an impenetrable secrecy hangs. One thing only is certain-it was a tim…
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duo to him. An upper room. Poor and sorry is the life that has no upper room ; blesAed is the life whoso upper room is reserved for him. A furnisher!, room, all in readiness for his presence-a heart and will furnished for every good work. 3. Its con- secration. How realized? On our side, by an unreserved surrender: "…
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Vers. 31-34.-The special word to Simon. Its solemnity is indicated by the twice- repeated "Simon." Observe, when the warnino- is given, this is the name used· after- wards (ver. 34;,, in reply ~ the disciple's protesbl.tion, "I am ready to go both t~ prison and to death, the name is changed, " I tell thee, Peter." H…
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he h11.ve been selected· ns the Rock-m11.n, wl10 wae BO often rash, 11.nd who BO weakly denied his Master? Through o.11 there was etill the faith. He had quicker insight into the secrets of hie Master's power and presence thim any of his fellows; he had a higher and fuller perception of o.nd trust in him. Were this to …
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of a region beyond all that our thought can trace, in which the Christ or God wns trellding the wine-press alone. Detter, in view of this, a holy reticence than o. zeal which is eager with explanatious. If we must speak of the special fearfulness nnd trembling of Gethsemane, let us simply say that there, in all its oru…
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in self-indulgence and sin I Oh that the gentle, reproachful "why?" may be as ao alarum-clock to conscience, a continual incitement to will and heart l The spirit may be willing, but the flesh is ever weak. "Rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation! • Ver. 47-ch. :xxiii. 46.-Thursday night to Friday evening. It is…
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his imperial mnster would cost him his government, if" not his life, they hnve the ruler whom they cnn rule. Two nppearnnccs (eh. x:xiii.) of our Lord before the governor are recorded, and between them srands the episode with which the name of Herod is asso- ciated. There is nothing more s.,d than the record of the …
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Vers. 3-6.-The deepest wound, etc. When everything has been allowed for Judas that the most ingenious a.nd the most charitable ba.ve begged us to consider, we must judge him to be a. mo.n whose conduct is to be solemnly o.nd seriously condemned. It is l>ivine Love it11elf that decides this question (see ver. 22; Matt. …
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Vers. 15, 16.-The Passion, from two standpoints. I. As IT r.oo:i;:m TO OUR LoBD WHEN HE WAS APPROACHING IT. It was to him a terrible trial, which he was eager to reach e.nd pass through. "With desire he desired" the time to arrive when he should suffer and should complete his work. He did not wish to escape it; be wa…
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Lord's Supp<)r was closely connected, not only in time but in apostolio thought, with the act of _th~ beLrayal (see 1 Cor._ xi. 23)-the in~titution of the greatest privilege with the comm1ss10n of the darkest cmne. Our Lords demeanour on this occasion is well worthy of our most reverent thought. I. JEsus A?H> JooAs…
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by the exhibition of a contentious and an ambitious spirit. It was a. l!a<l failure on their part. How often do his disciples fail him now! How often do they let the opportunity of loving and effective service pass unused I When the hour strikes for faithfulness, or for courage, or for self-sacrifice, or for humilit…
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toward me in all my times of trial, and I will reward you." Such was, such is, the gracious, considerate, generous Master. " His anger is 110 slow to rise, So rendy to abate." It is the flying shadow which the wind-driven cloud caste upon tlie field, chased by tb~ bastenin~ sunshine. "0 slow to strike and swift to s…
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Ver. 32 (latter part).-Ths privi1ege of spiritual maturity. "When thou art con- verted, strengthen thy brethren." 'l.'his forward-looking injunction of Christ reminds us of- I. Otra NEED OF BTRIINOTHENINO POWER. Such are the manifold and effective forces opposed to us, invisible as well as visible and human (see Eph. …
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Vers. 33, 34(with 55-62).-Tli.e apostle's/all. From this most memorable incident, recorded with noticeable candour by all the evangelists, many lessons spring. I. How IGNORA~'T OF HIMSELF EVEN A GOOD MAN MAY Pll0VE I (Ver. 33.) Peter believed himself to be capable of daring and enduring the very last extremity in th…
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bears long wHh us; he seeks to win us back through added pt·ivile"e and multiplied mercy; ho deals very patiently and gently with us; only when other and milder methods foil does he mercirully afflict us, that in some way and by &0me means be may redeem us from folly and from ruin, VI. WHITHER CamsT BEEKS To LEAD THE …
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imd ngc>ny of soul for which our language has no nnme, our heart no room, our life no rxpc:ience. \\·e a_sk-What was that intolera_ble and overwhelming anguish, which the Sanour askc,I might pass from him, and which had so marvellous and so terribly ~i'.'.nificant an effect. on his bodily natu_re (vers. 42-44)? Our …
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II. 'l'HE HOUB AND ACT OF SPIRITUAL SURRENDER. When does the human spirit return to God, and by what act? That hour and that act, we reply, are not found at t.he time of any intellectual apprehension of the truth. A man may understand but little of Christian doctrine, and yet may be within the kingrlom of heaven; or, o…
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Ver. 53.-Tlie power of spiritoo,7, darkness. .As our Lord, declining to avail himself of the physical forces at his command, surrendered himself to the will of his assailants, he used an expression which was full of spiritual significance. "'l'his is your hour," he sa,d, "and the power of dnrkness." By this he intim…
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down, to lay a hard hand upon them and keep them harmless because helpless. H is in tho blinding, misleading, deteriorating effects upon the soul itself that the very worst results of da rkncss are to be seen. II. Oun norE CONCERNING IT. The "power of darkness" was coinciucnt with "the hour" of the enemies of our Lorc…
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Ver. 61.-Tlie look of our Lo1·d. "And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter." 'What was there then, and what is there now, in the glance of Jesus Christ? I. Rrs LOOK OF PEKETRATION, ,ve read of one of the earliest disciples beine1 con- ,·inced by our Lord's discernment of him under the thick foliage of the ficr tr;…
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Vers. 1-23.-Tlie last Passover of our Lord. After the significant survey of J eru- salem's fate which is given in the previous chapter, Jesus seems to have remained quietly at Bethany, or in the Mount of Olives, until the time for the Passover. The seaijon of solitude was brief, but all the more important in consequenc…
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wickeilness which goes on in the world; a cowardice, moreover, which is gcnernlly overtaken by jnst and terrible retribution. lT. PREPARATIONS FOR TlIE LAST PASSOVER. (Vers. 7-13.) Jesus meanwhile clirects the two disciples, Peter and John, to make ready the Passover. He so times tl~e celebrnlion as to have it over…
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where he hRe juet conRidered how he could serve others. To minister, not be ministered unto, wo.s hie continuo.l care. To make the service of others glorious in the eyes of discerning men was one great purpose of his earthly life. This reveals also the very spirit of the Divine life.1 God ie Lord of all because Servant…
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Vers. 39-53.-Gethscmane. After the Passover and the address crivon in John xiv. he. icd the disciples out through tl)e vineyards, _where most lik~ly John xv. wa~ dehl'ercd to them, and John xvi., until he reached Ins usual rendezvous in Gethsemane 1•art of t!:e Mount of Oli~es. ~ere Jct us suppose the high~priestly …
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Vera. 54-71.-C'lwist's t,,ia7s in tl,e higl, priest's palace. The agony of G~thsemane is over, and our Lord has met his enemies iu the calmness of real courage. Ile allows Limself to be led to the palace of the high priest, and we have now t.o consider all the trials through which he passed there. '!'he first of these …
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EXPOSITION. CHAPTEil XXIII. majority in the Sanhedrin WAS repugnant to, or even opposed by, the Pharisee element in Vcrs. I-4.-'.l1,e trial before Pilate: First the great assembly. Pilate, Pontius Pilato, examination. a Romo.n knight, owed his high position as Yer. 1.-And the whole multitude of them Procure.tor of…
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we must reo.d St. John's account in hiB members or tho.t ho.tcd nation he had been eighteenth chapter (ver. 28 o.nd following). brought into such familar contact with; From the place of meeting of the So.nbedrin, utterly nnselfish, noble with o. strange no- J csue wo.e led to the po.Ince of Pilate, the bility, which wa…
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hA<l neither worcls nor mirncles for R mnn so Jesus after 110 hnd undergone this drendful <lispose<l, in whom, besides, he saw with and disgraceful punishment; would so.tiefy, horror the murderer of John the Baptist. porlmps melt to pity, the hearkl of tbeeo ]\,•fore this perBOnage, a monstrous mixture restless enem…
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11mong thnt flcldo crowd. Pi!Rte wns deter- terrible. Not only the mugcJes of the back, mined to cnrry out his threo.t of scourging but the breast, the face, tlie eyes, were torn ; tbo Innocent. That might satisfy tl,om, the very entrails were laid hare, the anatomy perhaps excite thoir pity. Something whis- peml to hi…
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recognizC's his innooenee by a white robe; before a Romnn tribunal, to &8k for death the flonrnn soldiery his royalty by the to be inflicted ou e. Je IV beccmso he had sceptre nnd the erown of thorns, and thnt injured the m~jesty of Rome, wns e. deep hu become the highest of all crowns, as degradation; but the Sanhe…
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body would ha.ve fnllen. The cross was not hist.: ry; so passionately longed lhnt thi, very high, scarcely twice the height of an barrt-'Ilness might not he their portion ! ordinary ma.n. Strong nails were driven Ver. 30.-Tbeu ohall they begin to say to thr1Jugh the hanrle and feet. The victim the moUI1tains, Fall on u…
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the SRNed wounds on his skull, his soul was cross:" Jndroi clamnnt, 'Crueifigol' Christu ■ translnted to Paradise. A tradition tl'ace- olrttu!lt, 'Iguosce 1' l\lagna illornm iniquitns, able to the fourth e.entury hns identifie,l this sed mnjor tuo., 0 Domino. pietns I" And •pnt with the building known as the Church the…
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hore by St. Luke, seems to imply tlmt the insulting la.ngnage "-a mneb stronger term. soldiers mooked hie agony of thiret----one of Farrar suggest.a that at first, during the the tortures induced by crucifi:r.:ion-by early hours of the Crucifixion, in the madneBB liftiu.!l' up to his parched, fevered lips, of anguish a…
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nrny 'l"ery eMily ho.ve been the cMe at Jer11- of the great Copernicus, and alludes to thl11 salem, nnd does not directly presuppose o.ny prayer nnd its nnswer. Pamdise. 'l'his is instructions on the part of Jesus; altho11gh the only instance we have of our Lord's he may also have henrd him him~elf, nnd using this w…
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genernlly rccknncrl hie hours from miclnig-ht. tl10 earth: it probably wnA cnnfinecl to Palos- 'l'he Uomnns reckoned their civil dnys from tine and the o.djncent countriea. midnight, and there are also traces of reckon- Ver. 45.-And the veil of the temple wa.~ ing the J,ours from midnight in Asi11, Minor. rent in th…
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sbkc. wl,en his enemies were triumphantly together to that sight, beholding the thing■ ;.:i1inc; ov<>r his soul to devil8, sai<i with no which were done, smote their b1·oaste, 11nd l0ss 1hPological aPcuracy t.hau with sure, returned. We must remember thnt the oon- ralm faith, "But I commit my spirit into demnation of t…
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(It would be tho sabbnth, Bn<l the de.y of the the Ticsnrreclion which so enonunnsly in- Passover.) crco.sod the number and raised the character This terrible, but perhaps merciful, end to of the followers of Jesus. When he wna gone, men reflected on the inimitable lifr, the tortures of the cross seems not to have on…
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HOMILETICS. Vere. 47-56.-Fdda.y '11.ight until Sunday morning. "It is flnisl,ed I" But there nre witnesses to the solemnity of the moment and the significance of the word, whose testimony gives weight to the voice of conscience. 'J.'he rumble and reel of the earth- quake are felt. \Vben '' the loud voice" is uttere…
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recorded in vers. 60-53. And, in connection with it, we light on a word which is need at the hour when we should least have expected to find it. One of the Sanhedrists-a man universally esteemed for piety nnd prudence-Joseph or Arim11threa-had not consented to the counsel and deed of his colfoagues, Hitherto he had nev…
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of disciples? The last to leave the place where the body of Jesus was laid, as the first to haRten to the tom? when the sabbath is past, are the holy women (vers. 66, 66). ,ve see them on Friday evening watching the tomb, and observiug how the lifeless fo':11 was at~ended to, and then hastening into the city, that t…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vera. 1-3.-The Divine kingdom. Deeply Interesting is this interview between the Nazarene and the Roman, the Jewish Prisoner and the Iloman judge; the one then brought forth as e. malefactor e.nd now seated on the throne of the world, the other then exalted on the seat of power e.ud now sun…
827 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.