John Gill

Be careful, then, that the light within you is not darkness.

“Take heed therefore,.... By attending to the light of the Gospel, shining in the ministration of it, and do not neglect and despise it: that the light which is in thee be not darkness; lest being given up to a judicial blindness and hardness of…”

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

“And when the Pharisee saw it,.... That Christ laid himself down on one of the couches and began to eat: he marvelled; that so great a prophet as he was, and a man of so much religion and holiness, should show no regard to a…”

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

“But rather give alms of such things as ye have,.... The phrase τα ενοντα, is variously rendered, and so furnishes out various senses: the Syriac version renders it, "give that which is", which is yours; or "which is given to you", as the Persic version…”

Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without even noticing.”

“Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites,.... As they are all along called by Matthew; though only here by Luke.”

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

“Then answered one of the lawyers,.... Or Scribes, as the Syriac and Persic versions read: and so the Ethiopic version calls him, "a Scribe of the city": the Scribes and lawyers were the same sort of persons who were interpreters of the law, and equally…”

Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and others they will persecute.’

“Therefore also said the wisdom of God,..... The Syriac version only reads "wisdom"; by which seems to be meant not the perfection of God's wisdom: though it is usual with the Jews to represent the divine perfections as speaking, as the justice and mercy of…”

from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary.

“From the blood of Abel,.... "Righteous Abel", as in Mat 23:35 and so read the Arabic version here, and two manuscripts in the Bodleian library, and three of Stephens's copies; the Persic version renders it, "innocent Abel": he is mentioned because he was the first…”

waiting to catch Him in something He might say.

“Laying wait for him,.... To ensnare and entangle him, watching his words, observing what he said, and laying hold thereon: and seeking to catch something out of his mouth; like beasts of prey, or hunters, that were watching for their prey; or lay ambush, diligently…”

But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell.

“But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear, I will be your monitor, and direct you to the proper object of fear and reverence, and whom you should be careful to displease and offend: fear him, which after he hath killed; your body, as…”

And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

“And whosoever shall speak a word against the son of man, it shall be forgiven him,.... These words, though introduced by Luke among the sayings of Christ, recorded in Matt.”

For at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.”

“For the Holy Ghost shall teach you,.... Shall give both words and matter: in the same hour; instantly, immediately: what ye ought to say; what will be proper to be said, for the honour of Christ, the defence of the Gospel, and the confusion of…”

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.

“And he said unto his disciples,.... Having finished the parable which he spake to the whole audience in common, he directed himself to his disciples, who were poor, and apt to be over anxious about their living in the world: therefore I say unto you…”

Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storehouse or barn; yet God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the birds!

“Consider the ravens,.... According to the Jews (k) there are three sorts of ravens, the black raven, the raven of the valley, which is said to be white, and the raven whose head is like a dove.”

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

“And which of you with taking thought,.... In an anxious and distressing manner, for food and raiment, in order to preserve and continue life, add to his stature one cubit?”

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you, O…

“If then God so clothe the grass,.... lilies and tulips; for they are no other than grass, weak, frail, fading, short lived flowers, which have all their gaiety and beauty from the great Creator of them: which is today in the field, and tomorrow is…”

For the Gentiles of the world strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

“For all these things do the nations of the world seek after,.... That is, the Gentiles, as in Mat 6:32 who are frequently, in the Jewish writings, called, in distinction from the Jews, אומות העולם, "the nations of the world" (s).”

But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added unto you.

“But rather seek ye the kingdom of God,.... The Vulgate Latin version adds, "first", as also, "and his righteousness", as in Mat 6:33 and the Ethiopic version reads, "seek his kingdom and righteousness" meaning either the grace of God, which is not meat and drink…”

Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning.

“Let your loins be girded about,.... With the girdle of truth, Eph 6:14 keeping close to the doctrines of the Gospel, abiding faithfully by them, even unto death: the allusion is either to the eating of the first passover, Exo 12:11 or rather to servants…”

You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”

“Be ye therefore ready also,.... Not habitually, but actually, in the exercise of grace, and the discharge of duty, with loins girt, and lights burning.”

“Lord,” said Peter, “are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?”

“Then Peter said unto him, Lord,.... The Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions read, "our Lord": speakest thou this parable: of the master at the wedding, and his servants waiting for him, or of the housekeeper watching that his house be not broken up, or both…”

And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time?

“And the Lord said, who then is that faithful and wise steward,.... Christ does not directly, and in express words, answer to Peter's question, but suggests, that though he intended it as a caution to all his people, and in it spoke to them all…”

Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

“Of a truth I say unto you,.... This, with Christ, was a strong way of asserting the truth of any thing; and the sense is, you may assure yourselves of it, this will certainly be the happy case of such servant: that he will make…”

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

“I am come to send fire on the earth,.... Meaning either the Gospel, which is as fire, that gives both light and heat, warms the hearts of God's people, and causes them to burn within them; though very distressing and torturing to wicked men; so…”

Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division.

“Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth?.... To set up a temporal kingdom, in great pomp, and outward peace and tranquility?”

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

“I tell you, nay, They were not greater sinners than others of their neighbours, nor is it to be concluded from the bloody slaughter that was made of them; others might be much more deserving of such an end than they, who yet escaped it…”