Lu 12:1
12:1 In {1} the mean time, when there were gathered together {a}
     an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they
     trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples
     first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees,
     which is hypocrisy.

 (1) The faithful teachers of God's word, who are appointed by
     him for his people, must both take good heed of those who
     corrupt the purity of doctrine with smooth speech, and also
     take pains through the help of God to set forth sincere
     doctrine, openly and without fear.
     (a) Literally, "ten thousand of people", a certain number
         which is given for an uncertain number.

Lu 12:4
12:4 {2} And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them
     that kill the body, and after that have no more that they
     can do.

 (2) Although hypocrites have princes to execute their cruelty,
     yet there is no reason why we should be afraid of them,
     even by the smallest amount that may be, seeing that they
     can do nothing except that which pleases God, and God does
     not will anything that may be against the salvation of his
     elect.

Lu 12:5
12:5 But I will {b} 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.

     (b) He warns them of dangers that presently hang over their
         heads, for those that come upon one suddenly make a
         greater wound.

Lu 12:8
12:8 {3} Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before
     men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the
     angels of God:

 (3) Great is the reward of a constant confession: and horrible
     is the punishment for denying Christ; yea, it will be
     impossible to call the punishment back again, if on
     purpose, both with mouth and heart we blaspheme a known
     truth.

Lu 12:11
12:11 {4} And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and
      [unto] magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or
      what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:

 (4) It is a great and difficult conflict to confess the truth,
     yet God who can do all things and is almighty will provide
     strength to the weakest who struggle greatly and do battle
     in God's appointed time.

Lu 12:13
12:13 {5} And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to
      my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.

 (5) For three reasons Christ would not be a judge to divide an
     inheritance.  First, because he would not support and
     uphold the fleshly opinion that the Jews had of Messiah:
     secondly, because he wanted to distinguish the civil
     government from the ecclesiastical: thirdly, to teach us to
     beware of those which abuse the show of the gospel, and
     also the name of ministers, for their own private
     well-being.

Lu 12:15
12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of {c}
      covetousness: for a man's life {d} consisteth not in the
      abundance of the things which he possesseth.

      (c) By covetousness is meant that greedy desire to get,
          commonly causing hurt to other men.
      (d) God is the author and preserver of man's life; goods
          are not.

Lu 12:16
12:16 {6} And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The {e}
      ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

 (6) There are none more mad than rich men who depend upon their
     riches.
     (e) Or rather country, for here is set forth a man that
         possesses not only a piece of ground, but a whole
         country, as they do who join house to house, and field
         to field; Isa 5:8.

Lu 12:17
12:17 And he {f} thought within himself, saying, What shall I
      do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

      (f) Reckoned with himself, which is the characteristic of
          covetous surly men who spend their life in those
          trifles.

Lu 12:19
12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid
      up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, [and] {g}
      be merry.

      (g) Be merry and make good cheer.

Lu 12:21
12:21 So [is] he that layeth up treasure {h} for himself, and is
      not rich toward God.

      (h) Caring for no man but for himself, and making sure to
          trust in himself.

Lu 12:22
12:22 {7} And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto
      you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat;
      neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

 (7) Earnestly thinking upon the providence of God is a present
     remedy for this life against the most foolish and wasting
     worry of men.

Lu 12:29
12:29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink,
      neither {i} be ye of doubtful mind.

      (i) A metaphor taken of things that hang in the air, for
          those that care too much for this worldly life, and
          rely upon the arm of man, always have wavering and
          doubtful minds, swaying sometimes this way, and
          sometimes that way.

Lu 12:31
12:31 {8} But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these
      things shall be added unto you.

 (8) They will lack nothing who are diligent for the kingdom of
     heaven.

Lu 12:32
12:32 {9} Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good
      pleasure to give you the kingdom.

 (9) It is a foolish thing not to look for small things at the
     hands of him who freely gives us the greatest things.

Lu 12:33
12:33 {10} Sell that ye have, and give {k} alms; provide
      yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the
      heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth,
      neither moth corrupteth.

 (10) A godly bountifulness is a proper way to get true riches.
      (k) This is the figure of speech metonymy, for by this
          word "alms" is meant that compassion and friendliness
          of a heart that cares tenderly for the misery and poor
          condition of a man, and shows this feeling by some
          gift, and has the name given to it in the Greek language
          of mercy and compassion: and therefore he is said to
          give alms who gives something to another, and gives to
          the poor, showing by this that he pities their poor
          condition.

Lu 12:35
12:35 {11} Let your loins be girded about, and [your] lights
      burning;

 (11) The life of the faithful servants of God in this world is
      certainly a diligent journey, having the light of the word
      going before the journey.

Lu 12:40
12:40 {12} Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh
      at an hour when ye think not.

 (12) None need to watch more than they that have some degree of
      honour in the household of God.

Lu 12:42
12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise
      steward, whom [his] lord shall make ruler over his
      household, to give [them their] {l} portion of meat in due
      season?

      (l) That is, every month the measure of corn that was
          given to them.

Lu 12:48
12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of
      stripes, shall be beaten with few [stripes]. For unto
      whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required:
      and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask
      {m} the more.

      (m) More than the one who did not receive as much.

Lu 12:49
12:49 {13} I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I,
      if it be already kindled?

 (13) The gospel is the only reason of peace between the godly,
      and so it is the occasion of great trouble among the
      wicked.

Lu 12:54
12:54 {14} And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud
      {n} rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh
      a shower; and so it is.

 (14) Men who are very quick to see with regard to earthly
      things are blind with regard to those things which pertain
      to the heavenly life, and this through their own malice.
      (n) Which appears, and gathers itself together in that
          part of the air.

Lu 12:57
12:57 {15} Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is
      right?

 (15) Men that are blinded with the love of themselves, and
      therefore are detestable and stubborn, will bear the
      punishment of their folly.

Lu 12:58
12:58 When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate,
      [as thou art] in 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 {o} officer, and the officer
      cast thee into prison.

      (o) To him that has to demand and gather the fines from
          those who were fined at the discretion of the court,
          people who had wrongly troubled men: moreover, the
          magistrate's officers make those who are condemned pay
          what they owe, yea and often if they are obstinate,
          they not only take the fine, but also imprison them.