Luk 12:35-49 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 35. Let your loins ] Be active, diligent, determined ready; let all hinderances be removed out of the way; and let the candle of the Lord be always found burning brightly in your hand. .

‏ Luke 12:35-49

Verse 35. Let your loins] Be active, diligent, determined ready; let all hinderances be removed out of the way; and let the candle of the Lord be always found burning brightly in your hand. See Clarke on Lu 12:37.

Verse 36. That wait for their lord] See Clarke on Mt 25:1, &c.

The wedding] How the Jewish weddings were celebrated, see in the notes on Mt 8:12; 22:13.

Verse 37. He shall gird himself] Alluding to the long garments which were worn in the eastern countries; and which, in travelling and serving, were tucked up in their belts. That those among the Romans who waited on the company at table were girded, and had their clothes tucked up, appears from what Horace says, Sat. b. vi. l. 107: Veluti SUCCINCTUS cursitat HOSPES, He runs about like a girded waiter. The host himself often performed this office. And ibid. viii. 10: Puer alle cinctus: and that the game custom prevailed among the Jews appears from Joh 13:4, 5, and Lu 17:8. From this verse we may gather likewise, that it was the custom of those days, as it was, not long since, among us, for the bridegroom, at the wedding supper, to wait as a servant upon the company. See Bishop PEARCE.

Verse 38. If he shall come in the second watch] See Clarke on Mt 14:25.

Verse 40. Be ye therefore ready also] It is pretty evident that what is related here, from verse 35 to 49, Lu 12:35-49 was spoken by our Lord at another time. See Mt 24:42, &c., and the notes there.

Verse 42. Faithful and wise steward] See Clarke on Mt 24:45; where the several parts of the steward's office are mentioned and explained. Those appear to have been stewards among the Jews, whose business it was to provide all the members of a family, not only with food, but with raiment.

Verse 45. Begin to beat, &c.] See the different parts of this bad minister's conduct pointed out on Mt 24:48, 49.

Verse 46. With the unbelievers.] Or, rather, the unfaithful; των σπιστων. Persons who had the light and knowledge of God's word, but made an improper use of the privileges they received. The persons mentioned here differ widely from unbelievers or infidels, viz. those who were in a state of heathenism, because they had not the revelation of the Most High: the latter knew not the will of God, Lu 12:48, and, though they acted against it, did not do it in obstinacy; the former knew that will, and daringly opposed it. They were unfaithful, and therefore heavily punished.

Verse 47. Shall be beaten with many stripes.] Criminals among the Jews could not be beaten with more than forty stripes; and as this was the sum of the severity to which a whipping could extend, it may be all that our Lord here means. But, in some cases, a man was adjudged to receive fourscore stripes! How could this be, when the law had decreed only forty? Answer: By doubling the crime. He received forty for each crime; if he were guilty of two offences, he might receive fourscore. See Lightfoot.

Verse 48. Shall be beaten with few] For petty offences the Jews in many cases inflicted so few as four, five, and six stripes. See examples in Lightfoot.

From this and the preceding verse we find that it is a crime to be ignorant of God's will; because to every one God has given less or more of the means of instruction. Those who have had much light, or the opportunity of receiving much, and have not improved it to their own salvation, and the good of others, shall have punishment proportioned to the light they have abused. On the other hand, those who have had little light, and few means of improvement, shall have few stripes, shall be punished only for the abuse of the knowledge they possessed. See at the end of the chapter. Lu 12:59

Verse 49. I am come to send fire] See this subject largely explained on Mt 10:34, &c. From the connection in which these words stand, both in this place and in Matthew, it appears as if our Lord intended by the word fire, not only the consuming influence of the Roman sword, but also the influence of his own Spirit in the destruction of sin. In both these senses this fire was already kindled: as yet, however, it appeared but as a spark, but was soon to break out into an all-consuming flame.