Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you.

“Ac 28:5); but the next words, "and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you," show that the glorious power of faith to "overcome the world" and "quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one," by the…”

Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

“"Rejoice" is too weak a word. It is "exulted in spirit"--evidently giving visible expression to His unusual emotions; while, at the same time, the words "in spirit" are meant to convey to the reader the depth of them.”

Jesus took up this question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers.

“A certain man--a Jew. from Jerusalem to Jericho--a distance of nineteen miles northeast, a deep and very fertile hollow--"the Temple of Judea" [TRENCH]. thieves--"robbers."”

But when a Samaritan on a journey came upon him, he looked at him and had compassion.

“Samaritan--one excommunicated by the Jews, a byword among them, synonymous with heretic and devil (Joh 8:48; see on Lu 17:18).”

Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

“(3) Making him commend one of a deeply hated race. And he does it, but it is almost extorted. For he does not answer, "The Samaritan"--that would have sounded heterodox, heretical--but "He that showed mercy on him."”

“The one who showed him mercy,” replied the expert in the law. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

“Exclaims GREGORY NAZIANZEN (in the fourth century), "He hungered, but He fed thousands; He was weary, but He is the Rest of the weary; He is saluted 'Samaritan' and 'Demoniac,' but He saves him that went down from Jerusalem and fell among thieves," &c.”

Give us each day our daily bread.

“Perhaps our Lord purposely left that part open: and as the grand Jewish doxologies were ever resounding, and passed immediately and naturally, in all their hallowed familiarity into the Christian Church, probably this prayer was never used in the Christian assemblies but in its present…”

I tell you, even though he will not get up to provide for him because of his friendship, yet because of the man’s persistence, he will get up and give…

“The sense is obvious: If the churlish and self-indulgent--deaf both to friendship and necessity--can after a positive refusal, be won over, by sheer persistency, to do all that is needed, how much more may the same determined perseverance in prayer be expected to prevail with…”

When a strong man, fully armed, guards his house, his possessions are secure.

“21, 22. strong man--meaning Satan. armed--pointing to all the subtle and varied methods by which he wields his dark power over men. keepeth--"guardeth." his palace--man whether viewed more largely or in individual souls--how significant of what men are to Satan!”

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.

“(3) Fear of hell is a divinely authorized and needed motive of action even to Christ's "friends." (4) As Christ's meekness and gentleness were not compromised by such harsh notes as these, so those servants of Christ lack their Master's spirit who soften down all…”

But Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?”

“The influence of religious teachers in the external relations of life has ever been immense, when only the INDIRECT effect of their teaching; but whenever they intermeddle DIRECTLY with secular and political matters, the spell of that influence is broken.”

Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, those servants will be blessed.

“A too common case this with Christians. But if the servant have himself and all under his charge in such a state that at any hour when his master knocks, he can open to him "immediately," and hail his "return"--that is the most enviable, "blessed"…”

But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!

“But . . . a baptism, &c.--clearly, His own bloody baptism, first to take place. how . . . straitened--not, "how do I long for its accomplishment," as many understand it, thus making it but a repetition of Lu 12:49; but "what a pressure of…”

Make every effort to reconcile with your adversary while you are on your way to the magistrate.

“When thou goest, &c.--(See on Mt 5:25, 26). The urgency of the case with them, and the necessity, for their own safety, of immediate decision, was the object of these striking words.”

At that time some of those present told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

“About this time that party would be at its height, and if Pilate caused this detachment of them to be waylaid and put to death as they were offering their sacrifices at one of the festivals, that would be "mingling their blood with their sacrifices"…”

Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a man tossed into his garden.

“It yields more real satisfaction to see in this brief parable just the all-penetrating and assimilating quality of the Gospel, by virtue of which it will yet mould all institutions and tribes of men, and exhibit over the whole earth one "Kingdom of our Lord…”

“Lord,” someone asked Him, “will only a few people be saved?” Jesus answered,

“Lord, &c.--one of those curious questions by talking of which some flatter themselves they are religious. said unto them--the multitude; taking no notice of the man or his question, save as furnishing the occasion of a solemn warning not to trifle with so momentous a…”

And he will answer, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers.’

“But he shall say, &c.--(See on Mt 7:23). No nearness of external communion with Christ will avail at the great day, in place of that holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.”

But when you are invited, go and sit in the last place, so that your host will come and tell you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’

“Friend--said to the modest guest only, not the proud one (Lu 14:9) [BENGEL]. worship--honor. The whole of this is but a reproduction of Pr 25:6, 7.”

When one of those reclining with Him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is everyone who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

“Our Lord's reply is in substance this: "The great Feast is prepared already; the invitations are issued, but declined; the feast, notwithstanding, shall not want abundance of guests; but not one of its present contemners--who shall yet come to sue for admission--shall be allowed to…”

But one after another they all began to make excuses. The first one said, ‘I have bought a field, and I need to go see it. Please excuse me.’

“Each differs from the other, and each has its own plausibility, but all come to the same result: "We have other things to attend to, more pressing just now."”

For I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will taste my banquet.’”

“I say unto you, That none--Our Lord here appears to throw off the veil of the parable, and proclaim the Supper His own, intimating that when transferred and transformed into its final glorious form, and the refusers themselves would give all for another opportunity, He…”

Then Jesus told them this parable: “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and…

“Occurring again (Mt 18:12-14); but there to show how precious one of His sheep is to the Good Shepherd; here, to show that the shepherd, though the sheep stray never so widely, will seek it out, and when he hath found, will rejoice over it.”

comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’

“Rejoice with me, &c.--The principle here is, that one feels exuberant joy to be almost too much for himself to bear alone, and is positively relieved by having others to share it with him.”

In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to…

“In other words, such as have grown up from childhood in the fear of God and as the sheep of His pasture.”