The instruction the Lord gives to His disciples in this chapter is in view of His rejection, putting His disciples in the place of witnesses for Him, the Holy Spirit using the Word through them, and bringing in heavenly and eternal things.
Verses 1-3. In the presence of a multitude of people, He warns His disciples of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. He had in the chapter before, told the Pharisees to their faces that they were hypocrites, and warns His disciples of the danger of falling into it—a warning we all need—and we must remember, everything must be uncovered. Their word of testimony and ministry is to be heard in the light and proclaimed from the housetops.
Verses 4, 5. There would be enemies who would oppose them, it might be even to death, but He speaks with authority and comfort to them as His friends. “Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him.” O how well it is for time and eternity with those who are God’s people. Notice, in this passage the man is seen distinct from his body. (Compare 2 Cor. 5:11For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (2 Corinthians 5:1)).
Verses 6, 7. Even the sparrow is not forgotten before God, and the very hairs of their head were all numbered. “Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Nothing can touch them without the Father.
Verses 8, 9. This encourages all to confess. Him before men, and He promises to confess them before the angels of God. And those who deny Him before men, will be denied before the angels of God. This is denying His person. Peter, through weakness and unwatchfulness, denied that He knew the Lord.
Verse 10. The Lord took a lowly place to serve. Those who spoke against Him as Son of Man might be forgiven; but how serious it is to speak blasphemously against the Holy Spirit, who wrought through Christ, and now would work through the disciples. Such diabolical enmity would not be forgiven.
Verses 11, 12. He would have men recognize the disciples as His servants, and they were not to take thought when brought before tribunals, how or what thing they shall answer, or what to say: “For the Holy Spirit shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.” Thus they were instructed, warned and encouraged for their path.
Verses 13-15. One of the company wanted Him to act as judge. It was not the time for Him to do that. He was there in grace and used this to bring out the uncertainty of time, and the sin and foolishness of laying up treasures on earth, and neglecting the things of God. He said unto them, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth,” as much as to say, The man who covets the inheritance and does not have it, is just as bad as the one who has it.
Verses 16-21. This shows us a rich man, whom the world calls a successful man, with super abundance, and he calls on his soul to have a good time, “Eat, drink, and be merry,” but he had not made any provision for eternity. God said unto him, “Thou fool,” and then he is called away from it all into eternity, lost forever, blinded by earthly prosperity, “the pleasures of sin for a season.” “So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Verses 22-31. Therefore I say unto you, “Take no thought for your life, (that is anxious, thought,) what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than food, and the body than raiment.” “Consider the ravens.” “God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?” What good will your worrying do? (Phil. 4:6, 76Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6‑7)). Tell the Father your need, trust Him to meet it. God clothes the lilies with glory greater than Solomon’s, and clothes the grass just for its short day, “How much more you, O ye of little faith?” Do not doubt Him. The nations of the world have only present things, seen and temporal, to seek after. “Your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Verses 32-34. “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” There will be difficulties and trials of divers sorts, but the Father’s good pleasure will carry them through to the destined glory with Christ, and this blessed assurance will enable them to sit loose to things here, to “sell that ye have,” and turn it into a means of good to others, and thus put it in a secure bank that will not fail, “bags which wax not old,” “a treasure in the heavens that faileth not.” (1 Tim. 6:17-1917Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. (1 Timothy 6:17‑19)). Where no thief can steal it, nor moth destroy it. “And where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Our hearts may be up there with Christ, while we are His treasure, and His heart is with us down here.
Verses 35-39. Then with girded loins, and lights burning, ready to go, they are to be like men that wait for their Lord, ready to open when He knocks. And this readiness is a pleasure to the Lord who will reward it in the glory. He shall gird Himself and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. It may be at any time, the second watch, or the third. They do not know when, no specified time, neither hour, nor month, nor year, but they are to watch. To His own—the watchers during the night—He will be the Bright and Morning Star. When He comes to the world, it will be like a thief in the night, unexpected and unwelcome.
Verse 40. “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”
Verses 41-48. Peter asks who this applies to.
The Lord shows its application, first to the faithful and wise steward, who will be honored by a ruler’s place over his Lord’s household, and he is called “blessed.” Then its application to the unfaithful servant who says in his heart, “My Lord delayeth His coming,” and beats his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with the drunken, tells us of the portion that will fall on Christendom as in heart unbelievers. The terrible end of all false profession. All men will not be judged alike. The servant that knew his Lord’s will and prepared not himself, neither did according to His will, shall be beaten with many stripes; but the heathen who knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. Righteous it will be, and terribly solemn.
Verses 49-53. “I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?” Had man been in a right state, this result of Christ’s coming would have been different, but men rejected Him and so judgment comes to them. Already it could be seen working, for those who would receive Him were rejected with Him, and the nearest ties of earth were separated because of Him. He says, “I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished. In His loving service here till His death, He was straitened. His love could not tell itself out; they could not receive it, or respond to it as they should. At His death the barrier would be removed, and God’s grace then could flow out without hindrance. He is not come to give peace on earth, but rather division, and the house is divided on account of Him. Such is man’s fallen state. Those who are faithful to Christ must share His outcast place, even with their relatives.
Verses 54-59. They could discern the face of the sky and of the earth, and He asks, “How is it ye do not discern this time?” Israel was going to the magistrate with his adversary. A right discernment would have told them of the danger they were in of being cut off. Here He tells them to “give diligence to be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.” And this has happened, and Israel is now scattered, and in prison, and there must remain “till thou hast paid the very last mite.”