Luk 16:13-18 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 13. No servant can serve two masters ] The heart will be either wholly taken up with God, or wholly engrossed with the world. .

‏ Luke 16:13-18

Verse 13. No servant can serve two masters] The heart will be either wholly taken up with God, or wholly engrossed with the world. See Clarke on Mt 6:24.

Verse 14. They derided him] Or rather, They treated him with the utmost contempt. So we may translate the original words εξεμυκτηριζοναυτον, which literally signifies, in illum emunxerunt-but must not be translated into English, unless, to come a little near it, we say, they turned up their noses at him; and why! Because they were lovers of money, and he showed them that all such were in danger of perdition. As they were wedded to this life, and not concerned for the other, they considered him one of the most absurd and foolish of men, and worthy only of the most sovereign contempt, because he taught that spiritual and eternal things should be preferred before the riches of the universe. And how many thousands are there of the very same sentiment to the present day!

Verse 15. Ye-justify yourselves] Ye declare yourselves to be just. Ye endeavour to make it appear to men that ye can still feel an insatiable thirst after the present world, and yet secure the blessings of another; that ye can reconcile God and mammon,-and serve two masters with equal zeal and affection; but God knoweth your hearts,-and he knoweth that ye are alive to the world, and dead to God and goodness. Therefore, howsoever ye may be esteemed among men, ye are an abomination before him. See Clarke on Lu 7:29.

Verse 16. The law and the prophets were until John] The law and the prophets continued to be the sole teachers till John came, who first began to proclaim the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and now, he who wishes to be made a partaker of the blessings of that kingdom must rush speedily into it; as there will be but a short time before an utter destruction shall fall upon this ungodly race. They who wish to be saved must imitate those who take a city by storm-rush into it, without delay, as the Romans are about to do into Jerusalem. See also Clarke on "Mt 11:12".

Verse 17. For heaven and earth to pass] See Clarke on Mt 5:17; "Mt 5:18".

Verse 18. Putteth away (or divorceth) his wife] See on Mt 5:31, 32; 19:9, 10; Mr 10:12; where the question concerning divorce is considered at large. These verses, from the 13th to the 18th Lu 16:13-18 inclusive, appear to be part of our Lord's sermon on the mount; and stand in a much better connection there than they do here; unless we suppose our Lord delivered the same discourse at different times and places, which is very probable.