Lucas 12
Thomas Constable · Citado em PreceptAustin
Lucas 12
Constable says Verse 3 probably is a positive encouragement rather than an ominous threat. Jesus used it that way in the other contexts in which He made this statement (cf. Lk 8:17; Matt. 10:26-27; Mark 4:22). If so, He meant the good witness that the disciples might try to hide because of the threat of persecution would come out into the open eventually. Deffinbaugh has a novel interpretation - The words of our Lord in verses 2 and 3 may be taken several ways: (1) Jesus may be saying that the evil men do will eventually be revealed. (2) Jesus may be saying that the good news of the gospel will inevitably be revealed, in spite of our hypocrisy. (3) Jesus may be saying that all truth, good or evil, will be revealed, so that in essence both “a” and “b” above are true. Fortner - Has the Lord God revealed to us the gospel of his grace? Then let us proclaim it from the housetop. Lange's Comment is interesting regarding who the "you" is in Lk 12:3 - Therefore, whatsoever you have spoken in darkness.—A singular statement, if we bring it exclusively into connection with the apostolic kerugma (ED: I.E., JESUS IS ADDRESSING THE 12 APOSTLES PRIMARILY IN THIS VERSE LIKE MACDONALD, ET AL SUGGEST), for we read indeed of the Saviour that He preached to His disciples in the ear (Matt. 10:27), but their preaching was from the beginning destined to the greatest publicity. Therefore the opinions (De Wette: “an incongruous expression.” Bengel: cum timore aliquo.
Lucas 12
Constable says "Whenever a person's talk and walk conflict it is usually his walk rather than his talk that reveals what he really is (1 John 1:6)." Interesting! How can one continually walk with Jesus, if he continually denies Him? This verb is used to describe the men in Titus 1:16+ who "profess (homologeo in the present tense) to know God" indicating this is continually their confession. The problem is that they counter their confession with a continual denial of Him by their deeds continually "deny" God (arneomai in the present tense)! Yes, we are to confess Christ (Ro 10:9-10-note), but if our life (works) does not authenticate or back up our words, then our words are a lie and we are still dead in our trespasses and sins. While one might argue these are not the same context, let's look at another statement in John's epistle Whoever denies (arneomai in the present tense) the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses (homologeo in the present tense) the Son has the Father also.(1 John 2:23+) Comment - This passage speaks of a lifetime (habitual practice or lifestyle - present tense) of denying the Son not momentarily lapses we have all experienced! Even in this very clear passage in First John, Constable does not say John is describing the attitude and actions of an unbeliever but instead says "If they rejected the Son, they could not expect an intimate relationship with the Father." That is not what the text says. John is not speaking of fellowship (Constable's view) in this verse but of sonship, of one of the marks of those who are not in God's family, but have a spirit of antichrist. John
Lucas 12
Constable - Since God provides so bountifully for His own, it is not only foolish but pagan to fret about the basic necessities of life. The fretting disciple lives as an unbeliever who disbelieves and disregards God. Such a person devotes too much of his or her attention to the accumulation of material goods and disregards the more important things in life. (Tom Constable's Expository Notes on the Bible) Though I know not what awaits me, What the future has in store, Yet I know the Lord is faithful, For I've proved Him oft before. -Anon. But your Father knows that you need these things - The word "your" is emphatic (first word in this clause). The key words here are "need" not greed and "these things", the essentials of food and clothing. God's knowledge is like the title of the popular 1950's television show "Father knows best!" Notice that the use of the phrase "your Father" (cf Mt 6:9-note) indicates that this teaching is clearly intended for those who are believers in Jesus Christ.