Albert Barnes

But the Pharisee was surprised to see that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.

“Saw it - Saw that he sat immediately down without washing. Marvelled - Wondered. Was amazed. It was so unusual, and in his view so improper.”

“Now then,” said the Lord, “you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

“See Mat 23:25. “Ravening.” Robbery, plunder. Here the sense is that the cup and platter were filled with what had been unjustly taken from others. That is, they lived by their wickedness; their food was procured by dishonesty and extortion.”

But give as alms the things that are within you, and you will see that everything is clean for you.

“Alms - Charity. Benefactions to the poor. Such things as ye have - Your property; though it has been gained unjustly: though you have lived by rapine, and have amassed wealth in an improper manner, yet, since “you have it,” it is your duty to…”

Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God.

“See Mat 23:23. Rue - This is a small garden plant, and is used as a medicine. It has a rosy flower, a bitter, penetrating taste, and a strong smell.”

One of the experts in the law told Him, “Teacher, when You say these things, You insult us as well.”

“Lawyers - Men learned in the law; but it is not known in what way the lawyers differed from the “scribes,” or whether they were Pharisees or Sadducees. Thus saying, thou ...”

Woe to you! You build tombs for the prophets, but it was your fathers who killed them.

“See the notes at Mat 23:29-36. Luk 11:49 The wisdom of God - By the “wisdom of God,” here, is undoubtedly meant the Saviour himself. What he immediately says is not written in the Old Testament.”

As Jesus went on from there, the scribes and Pharisees began to oppose Him bitterly and to ply Him with questions about many things,

“To urge him vehemently - To press upon him “violently.” They were enraged against him. They therefore pressed upon him; asked him many questions; sought to entrap him, that they might accuse him. Provoke him ...”

waiting to catch Him in something He might say.

“Laying wait for him - Or, rather, laying “snares” for him It means that they endeavored to entangle him in his talk; that they did as men do who catch birds - who lay snares, and deceive them, and take them unawares.”

In the meantime, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling one another.

“In the mean time - While he was discoursing with the scribes and Pharisees, as recorded in the last chapter. An innumerable multitude - The original word is “myriad’s,” or ten thousands.”

There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.

“Nothing covered - See the notes at Mat 10:26-32. Luk 12:3 Shall be proclaimed upon the housetops - See the notes at Mat 10:27. The custom of making proclamation from the tops or roofs of houses still prevails in the East. Dr.”

Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

“One of the company - One of the multitude. This man had probably had a dispute with his brother, supposing that his brother had refused to do him justice.”

And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

“Beware of covetousness - One of these brothers, no doubt, was guilty of this sin; and our Saviour, as was his custom, took occasion to warn his disciples of its danger.”

So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’

“He thought within himself - He reasoned or inquired. He was anxious and perplexed. Riches increase thought and perplexity.”

Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

“Much goods - Much property. Enough to last a long while, so that there is no need of anxiety or labor. Take thine ease - Be free from care about the future. Have no anxiety about coming to want.”

This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”

“So is he - This is the portion or the doom. Layeth up treasure for himself - Acquires riches for his own use - for “himself.” This is the characteristic of the covetous man. It is all for “himself.” His plans terminate there.”

Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.

“Sell that ye have - Sell your property. Exchange it for that which you can use in distributing charity. This was the condition of their being disciples.”

Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning.

“Let your loins ... - This alludes to the ancient manner of dress. They wore a long flowing robe as their outer garment. See the notes at Mat 5:38-41.”

Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns.

“Shall gird himself - Shall take the place of the servant himself. Servants who waited on the table were girded in the manner described above. Shall make them sit ... - Shall place them at his table and feast them.”

That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows.

“Which knew his lord’s will - Who knew what his master wished him to do. He that knows what God commands and requires. Many stripes - Shall be severely and justly punished.”

I have come to ignite a fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!

“I am, come ... - The result of my coming will be that there will be divisions and contentions.”

Then Jesus said to the crowds, “As soon as you see a cloud rising in the west, you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and that is what happens.

“See the notes at Mat 16:2-3. South wind - To the south and southwest of Judea were situated Arabia, Egypt, and Ethiopia, all warm or hot regions, and consequently the air that came from those quarters was greatly heated.”

No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

“I tell you, Nay - It is improper to suppose that those on whom heavy judgments fall in this world are the worst of people. This is not a world of retribution.”

So he said to the keeper of the vineyard, ‘Look, for the past three years I have come to search for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any.

“The dresser of his vineyard - The man whose duty it was to trim the vines and take care of his vineyard.”

and a woman there had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was hunched over and could not stand up straight.

“There was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity - Was infirm, or was weak and afflicted. This was produced by Satan, Luk 13:16. Eighteen years - This affliction had continued a long time.”

When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your disability.”

“Thou art loosed from thine infirmity - This was a remarkable declaration. It does not appear that the woman “applied” to him for a cure; yet Jesus addressed her, and the disease departed.”