Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Luke
Book: Luke
Chapter: 6
Overview:
The disciples pluck
Corn On the
Sabbath.
(1-5) Works of
Mercy
suitable to the
Sabbath Day.
(6-11) The apostles
Chosen.
(12-19)
Blessings and woes declared.
(20-26) Christ exhorts to
Mercy.
(27-36) And to
Justice and sincerity.
(37-49)
1-5 Christ justifies his disciples in a work of necessity for
themselves
On the
Sabbath Day, and that was plucking the ears of
Corn when they were hungry. But we must take heed that we
mistake not this liberty for leave to commit
Sin.
Christ will
have us to know and remember that it is his
Day, therefore to be
spent in his service, and to his honour.
6-11 Christ was neither ashamed nor afraid to own the purposes
of his
Grace. He healed the
Poor Man, though he knew that his
enemies would take advantage against him for it. Let us not be
drawn either from our duty or from our usefulness
By any
opposition. We may
Well be amazed, that the sons of men should
be
So wicked.
12-19 We often think one half
Hour a great
Deal to spend in
meditation and secret
Prayer, but
Christ was whole nights
engaged in these duties. In serving
God, our great care should
be not to lose time, but to make the
End of one good duty the
beginning of another. The twelve apostles are here named; never
were men
So privileged, yet one of them had a
Devil, and proved
a traitor. Those who have not
Faithful preaching near them, had
better travel far than be without it. It is indeed worth while
to go a great way to hear the
Word of
Christ, and to go out of
the way of other business for it. They came to be cured
By him,
and he healed them. There is a
Fulness of
Grace in
Christ, and
healing virtue in him, ready to go out from him, that is enough
for all, enough for each. Men regard the diseases of the body as
greater evils than those of their souls; but the
Scripture
teaches us differently.
20-26 Here begins a discourse of
Christ, most of which is also
found in Mt 5; 7. But some think that this was preached at
another time and place. All believers that take the precepts of
the
Gospel to themselves, and live
By them, may take the
promises of the
Gospel to themselves, and live upon them. Woes
are denounced against prosperous sinners as miserable people,
though the world envies them. Those are blessed indeed whom
Christ blesses, but those must be dreadfully miserable who fall
under his woe and
Curse! What a vast advantage will the
Saint
have over the sinner in the other world! and what a wide
difference will there be in their rewards, how much soever the
sinner may prosper, and the
Saint be afflicted here!
27-36 These are hard lessons to
Flesh and
Blood. But if we are
thoroughly grounded in the
Faith of
Christ's
Love, this will
make his commands easy to us. Every one that comes to him for
Washing in his
Blood, and knows the greatness of the
Mercy and
the
Love there is in him, can say, in
Truth and sincerity,
Lord,
what wilt thou have me to do? Let us then aim to be merciful,
even according to the
Mercy of our heavenly
Father to us.
37-49 All these sayings
Christ often used; it was easy to apply
them. We ought to be very careful when we blame others; for we
need allowance ourselves. If we are of a giving and a forgiving
Spirit, we shall ourselves reap the benefit. Though full and
exact returns are made in another world, not in this world, yet
Providence does what should encourage us in doing good. Those
who follow the multitude to do evil, follow in the broad way
that leads to
Destruction. The tree is known
By its fruits; may
the
Word of
Christ be
So grafted in our hearts, that we may be
fruitful in every good
Word and work. And what the mouth
commonly speaks, generally agrees with what is most in the
Heart. Those only make sure work for their souls and eternity,
and take the course that will profit in a trying time, who
think, speak, and act according to the words of
Christ. Those
who take pains in religion, found their
Hope upon
Christ, who is
the
Rock of Ages, and other foundation can
No Man lay. In
Death
and
Judgment they are safe, being kept
By the power of
Christ
through
Faith unto
Salvation, and they shall never perish.