18 And he said, This will 1 I do: | fool, this night thy soul shall be I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, 2 thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, 3 drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou 1 Deut. vi. 11, 12; viii. 12-14. Jas. iv. 15, 16. Our word fruits is not applied to grain. 18. I will pull down my barns. The word barns, here, properly means granaries, or places exclusively designed for storing wheat, barley, &c. They were commonly made, by the ancients, under ground, where grain could be kept a long time, more safe from thieves and from vermin. required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 6 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, 7 and is not rich 8 toward God. 4 Or, do they require thy soul. Jas. ii. 5. 5 Job xx. Jas. iv. 14. Jer. xvii. 11. 1 Tim. vi. 18. approach of pain and death. This night, &c. What an awful sentence to a man who, as he thought, had got just ready to live and enjoy himself! In one single moment all his hopes were blasted, and his soul summoned to the bar of his long-forgotten God. So, many are surprised as suddenly, and as unprepared. They are snatched from their pleasures, and hurried to a world where is no pleasure, and where all their wealth cannot purchase one moment's ease from the gnawings of the worm that never dies. If it be asked why he did not let the old Shall be required of thee. Thou shalt ones remain, and build new ones, it may be answered that it would be easier to enlarge those already excavated in the earth than to dig new ones. 19. Much goods. Much property. Enough to last a long while, so that there is no need of anxiety or labour. Take thine ease. Be free from care about the future. Have no anxiety about provision for want. Eat, drink, and be merry. This was just the doctrine of the ancient Epicureans and Atheists. And it is, alas! too often the doctrine of those who are rich. They think that all that is valuable in life is to eat, and drink, and he cheerful, or merry. Hence their chief anxiety is to obtain the luxuries from all the world; to secure the productions from every clime at any expense; and to be distinguished for splendid repasts and luxurious living. What a portion is this for an immortal soul! What folly to think that all that a man lives for is to satisfy his sensual appetites; to forget that he has an intellect to be cultivated, a heart to be purified, a soul to be saved from eternal death. be required to go to God, to die, and to give up your account. Then whose, &c. Whose they may be is of little consequence to the man that lost his soul to gain them. But they are often left to heirs that dissipate them much sooner than the father procured them, and thus they secure their ruin as well as his own. See Psa. xvii. 14. 21. So is he. This is the portion, or the doom, &c. 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 here. He lives only for himself, and acts only with regard to his own interest. Rich towards God. Has no inheritance in the kingdom of God, no riches laid up in heaven. His affections are all on the world, and he has none for God. From this instructive parable we learn : 1. That wicked men are often signally prospered; their ground brings forth plentifully. God gives them their desire, but sends leanness into their souls. 2. That riches bring with them always an increasing load of cares and anxieties. 3. That 20. Thou fool. If there is any supreme folly, it is this. As though riches could prolong the life, or avert for a moment the ❘ they steal away the affections from God; 22 And he said unto his disci- | 28 If then God so clothe the ples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. 23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. 24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? 25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? 26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? 27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 1 Matt. vi. 25-34. 2 Job xxxviii. 41. Psa. cxlvii. 9. they are sly, insinuating, and dangerous to the soul. 4. That the anxiety of a covetous man is not what good he may do with his wealth, but where he may hoard it, and keep it secure from doing any good. 5. That riches cannot secure their haughty owners from the grave. Death will come upon them suddenly, unexpectedly, awfully. In the very midst of the brightest anticipations, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, it "nay come, and all their wealth cannot alleviate one pang, or drive away one fear, or prolong one moment of their life. 6. That the man who is trusting to his riches in this manner, is a fool in the sight of God. Soon, also, he will be a fool in his own sight, and will go to hell with the consciousness that his life has been one of eminent folly. 7. That the path of true wisdom is to seek first the kingdom of God, and to be ready to die; and then it matters little what is our portion here, or how suddenly or soon we are called away to meet our Judge. If our affections are not fixed on our riches, we grass, which is to-day in the field, and to-morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? 29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ve of doubtful mind. 30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 32 Fear not, little flock; 6 for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 7 33 Sell & that ye have, and give alms: provide yourselves bags 4 Matt. 3 Or, live not in careful suspense. Rom. viii. 31. 32. 6 Isa. xl. 11. John x. 27. 38. shall leave them without regret. If our treasures are laid up in heaven, death will be but going home, and happy will be that moment when we are called to our rest. 22-31. See this passage explained in Matt. vi. 25-33. 32. Little flock. Our Saviour often represents himself as a shepherd, and his followers as a flock, or as sheep. The figure was beautiful. In Judea it was a common employment to attend flocks. The shepherd was with them, defended them, provided for them, led them to green pastures and beside still waters. In all these things, Jesus was and is eminently the Good Shepherd. His flock was small. Few really followed him, compared with the multitude who refused to love him. But though small in numher, they were not to fear. God was their friend. He would provide for them. It was his purpose to give them the kingdom, and they had nothing to fear. See Matt. vi. 19-21. 33. Sell that ye have. Sell your pro which wax not old, a treasure 1 in | that, when he cometh and knocketh, the heavens that faileth not, where they may open unto him immeno thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. perty. Exchange it for that which ye can use in distributing charity. This was the condition of their being disciples. Their property they gave up; they for sook it, or they put it into common stock, for the sake of giving alms to the poor. Acts ii. 44; iv. 32. John xii. 6. Acts v. 2. Bags which wax not old. The word bags, here, means purses, or the bags attached to their girdles, in which they carried their money. See Notes, Matt. v. 38. By bags which wax not old, Jesus means that we should lay up treasure in heaven; that our aim should be to he prepared to enter there, where all our wants will be for ever provided for. Purses, here, grow old and useless. Wealth takes to itself wings. Riches are easily scattered, or we must soon leave them; but that wealth which is in heaven abides for ever. It never is corrupted; never flies away; never is to be left. War. This word is from an old Saxon word, and in the Bible means to grow. 35. Let your loins, &c. This alludes to the ancient manner of dress. They wore a long flowing robe as their outer garment. See Notes, Matt. v. 38-41. When they laboured, or walked, or ran, it was necessary to gird or tie this up by a sash or girdle about the body, that it might not impede their progress. Hence, to gird up the loins means to be ready, be active, be diligent. Compare 2 Kin. iv. 29; ix. 1. Jer. i. 17. Acts xii. 8. Your lights burning. This expresses the same meaning. Be ready at all times to leave the world and enter into rest, when your Lord shall call you. Let every obstacle be out of the way; every earthly care be removed, and be prepared to follow him diately. 37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. 38 And if he shall come in the 4 Matt. xxiv. 46-51. into his rest. Servants were expected to be ready for the coming of their lord. If in the night, they were expected to keep their lights trimmed and burning. This expression refers to the duty of servants, when their master was away, and when he would return from a wedding, as they knew not the hour, they were to be continually ready. Compare Notes on Matt. xxv. So we, as we know not the hour when God shall call us, should be always ready to die. 36. See Notes on Matt. xxv. 1-13. 37. 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, &c. Shall place them at his table, and feast them. This evidently means that if we are faithful to Christ, and are ready to meet him when he returns, he will receive us into heaven, will admit us to all its blessings, and make us happy there, as if he should serve us and minister to our wants. It will be as if a master, instead of sitting down at the table himself, should place his faithful servants there, and be himself the servant. This shows the exceeding kindness and condescension of our Lord. For us, poor and guilty sinners, he denied himself, took the form of a servant, Phil. ii. 7, and ministered to our wants. In our nature he has wrought out saivation; and has done it in one of the humblest conditions of the children of men. How should our bosoms burn with gratitude to him, and how should we be willing to serve one another! See Notes on John xiii. 1-17. 38-46. See Matt. xxiv. 42-51. Second watch. See Matt. xiv. 25. second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. 40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. 41 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? 42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, 3 whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. 11 Thess. v. 2. 2 Pet. iii. 10. xvi. 15. 2 Ch. xxi. 34, 36. iv. 2. 4 Ver. 37. Rev. iii. 3; 31 Cor. 47. Which knew his lord's will. Who knew what his master wished him to do. ne that knows what God commands and requires. Many stripes. Shall be severely and justly punished. They who have many privileges, who are often warned, who have the gospel, and do not repent and believe, and do good works, shall be far more severely punished than others. They who are early taught in Sunday schools, or by pious parents, or in other ways, and grow up in sin and impenitence, will have much more to answer for than they who have no such privileges. They will justly suffer more than almost any other class of mankind. 48. Few stripes. The Jews did not inflict more than forty stripes for one offence. Deut. xxv. 3. For smaller offences they inflicted only four, five, six, 45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat 5 the men-servants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; 46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will 6 cut him in sunder, 7 and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47 And that servant, which 8 knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For 11 unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. 49 I am come to send fire on &c., according to the nature of the crime. In allusion to this our Lord says that he that knew not, that is, he who had comparatively little knowledge, shall suffer a punishment proportionably light. He re fers, doubtless, to those who have fewer opportunities, smaller gifts, or more ignorant or fewer teachers. Much is given. They who have much committed to their disposal, as stewards, &c. See the parable of the talents, in Matt. xxv. 14-30. 49. I am come, &c. The result of my coming shall be that there will be divisions and contentions. He does not mean that he came for that purpose, or that he sought and desired it; but that, such was the state of the human heart, such the opposition of men to the truth, that that would be the effect of his coming. See Matt. x. 34. Fire. Fire, here, is the emblem of discord and contention, and the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? 50 But I have a baptism1 to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! 51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division : 52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. 53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. consequently of calamities. used in Psa. lxvi. 12. 3 Matt. Thus it is Isa. xliii. 2. And what will I, &c. This passage might be better expressed in this man- hanner: And what would I, but that it were kindled. Since it is necessary for the advancement of religion that such divisions should take place; since the gospel cannot be established without conflicts, and strifes, and hatreds; I am even desirous that they should come. Since the greatest blessing of mankind must be attended with such unhappy divisions, I am willing, nay, desirous, that they should come. He did not wish evil in itself; but, as it was the occasion of good, he was desirous that, if it must take place, it should take place soon. From this we learn: 1. That the promotion of religion may be expected to produce many contests and bitter feelings. 2. That the heart of man must be exceedingly wicked, or it would not oppose a work like the christian religion. 3. That though God cannot look on evil with approbation, yet, for the sake of the benefit which may grow out of it, he is willing to permit it, and suffer it to come into the world. 50. A baptism. See Matt. xx. 22. Am 54 And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. 55 And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. 56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time? 57 Yea, and why even of 6 yourselves judge ye not what is right? 58 When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in 8 the way, give diligence that thou mayest 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. Matt. xvi. 2-4. 61 Cor xi. 14. Matt. v. 25. 8 Isa. lv. 6. I straitened. How do I earnestly desire South wind. On the south and southwest of Judea, Arabia, Egypt, and Ethiopia were situated, all warm or hot regions, and consequently the air that came from those quarters was greatly heated. This time. You see a cloud rise, and predict a shower; a south wind, and expect heat. These are regular events. So you see my |