Luk 12:1-12 | JFB | STEP | 1-3. meantime-- in close connection, probably, with the foregoing scene. Our Lord had been speaking out more plainly than ever before, as matters were coming to a head between Him and His enemies, and this seems to have suggested to His own mind the warning here. He had just Himself illustriously exemplified His own precepts. his disciples first of all-- afterwards to "the multitudes" ( ). covered-- from the view.

‏ Luke 12:1-12

CHAPTER 12 Lu 12:1-12. Warning against Hypocrisy.

1-3. meantime--in close connection, probably, with the foregoing scene. Our Lord had been speaking out more plainly than ever before, as matters were coming to a head between Him and His enemies, and this seems to have suggested to His own mind the warning here. He had just Himself illustriously exemplified His own precepts.

his disciples first of all--afterwards to "the multitudes" (Lu 12:54).

covered--from the view.

4-5. I say, &c.--You will say, That may cost us our life. Be it so; but, "My friends, there their power ends." He calls them "my friends" here, not in any loose sense, but, as we think, from the feeling He then had that in this "killing of the body" He and they were going to be affectingly one with each other.

6-7. five ... for two farthings--In Mt 10:29 it is "two for one farthing"; so if one took two farthings' worth, he got one in addition--of such small value were they.

than many sparrows--not "than millions of sparrows"; the charm and power of our Lord's teaching is very much in this simplicity.

8-9. confess ... deny--The point lies in doing it "before men," because one has to do it "despising the shame." But when done, the Lord holds Himself bound to repay it in kind by confessing such "before the angels of God." For the rest, see on Lu 9:26.

10. Son of man ... Holy Ghost--(See on Mt 12:31, 32).