A.D. 339 – 1871 11 witnesses 15 excerpts
“Or by the eagles feeding on the dead animals, he has here described the rulers of the world, and those who shall at that time persecute the saints of God, in whose power are left all those who are unworthy of being taken up, who are called the body or carcase. Or by the eagles are meant the avenging powers which shall fly about to torment the wicked.”
“He rightly says, night, for Antichrist is the hour of darkness, because he pours a dark cloud over the minds of men while he declares himself to be Christ. But Christ as lightning shines brightly, that we may be able to see in that night the glory of the resurrection.”
“For God is not unjust that He should separate in His reward of their deserts men of like pursuits in life, and not differing in the quality of their actions. But the habit of living together does not equalize the merits of men, for not all accomplish what they attempt, but he only who shall persevere to the end shall be saved.”
“(de Qu. Ev. lib. ii. qu. 41.) Or He says, in that night, meaning in that tribulation.”
“(de Con. Ev. l. ii. c. 7.) these things which Luke has given us in a different place from Matthew, he either relates by anticipation, so as to mention beforehand what was afterwards spoken by our Lord, or he means us to understand that they were twice uttered by Him.”
“For by the two men in one bed, He seems to denote the rich who repose themselves in worldly pleasures, for a bed is a sign of rest. But not all who abound in riches are wicked, but if one is good and elect in the faith, he will be taken, but another who is not so will be left. For when our Lord descends to judgment, He will send His Angels, who while they leave behind on the earth the rest to suffer punishment, will bring the holy and righteous men to Him; according to the Apostle’s words, We shall be caught up together in the clouds to meet Christ in the air. (1 Thess 4:17.)”
“When He said that some should be taken up, the disciples not unprofitably inquire, ‘Where, Lord?’”
“As if He said, As when a dead body is thrown away, all the birds which feed on human flesh flock to it, so when the Son of man shall come, all the eagles, that is, the saints, shall haste to meet Him.”
“Our Lord had just before said, that he who is in the field must not return back; and lest this should seem to have been spoken of those only who would openly return from the field, that is, who would publicly deny their Lord, He goes on to shew, that there are some who, while seeming to turn their face forward, are yet in their heart looking behind.”
“Or He teaches us the suddenness of Christ’s coming, which we are told will be in the night. And having said that the rich can scarcely be saved, He shews that not all the rich perish, nor all the poor are saved.”
“In that night there shall be two men in one bed By the word night it may be thought that the universal judgment of Christ will take place at night, for the greater terror of men. But I reply, That which in verse 31 is called day, is here called night First, Because the day of judgment will be to very many, and certainly to all who have fallen away, fatal and most calamitous. For night and darkness are symbols of calamity. Secondly, As night closes the day and the time of labour, so will that day also close the time of labouring and meriting, according to the words, “ The night cometh when no man can work.” John ix. 4. Rightly then is the day of judgment called night. VOL. VL a b Digitized by Google ( 434 ) CHAPTER XVIII. 3 Of the importunate widow. 9 Of the Pharisee and the publican . 15 Children brought to Christ . 1 8 A ruler that would follow Christ , but is hindered by his riches. 28 The reward of them that leave all for his sake. 31 He foresheweth his death , 35 and restoreth a blind man to his sight. AND he spake a parable unto them to this endt that men ought always to pray, and not to faint ; 2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man : 3 And there was a widow in that city ; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4 And he would not for a while : but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man ; 5 Yet because this widow txoubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them ? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son ol man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth ? 9 And he spake thU parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others : 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray ; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 1 1 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, 1 thank thee, that I am not as other men are , extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other ; for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased ; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 15 And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them : but when his disciples saw */, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them unto him^ and said, Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not ; for of such is the kingdom of God. 17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein. Digitized by Google THE HOLY GOSPEL OF ST. LUKE. 435 18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life ? 19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good ? none *> good, save one, that is, God. 20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. 21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. 22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven : and come, follow me. 23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful : for he was very rich. 24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God ! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26 And they that heard it said. Who then can be saved ? 27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. 28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. 29 And he said unto them. Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, 30 Who shall not receive manifold moie in this time, and in the world to come life everlasting. 31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on : 33 And they shall scourge him , and put him to death : and the third day he shall rise again. 34 And they understood none of these things : and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken. 35 T And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging : 36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. 37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. 38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. 39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace : but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. 40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him : and when he was come near, he asked him, 41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee ? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. 42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight : thy faith hath saved thee. 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God { and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God”
“Two women shall be grinding together,.... In Mat 24:41 it is added, "in the mill"; in the house where the mill was, and at one and the same mill; and so the Ethiopic version here, "two shall grind in one mill": and it was common for two women to grind at one hand mill; and though the word "women" is not in the text, it is rightly put into the translation; since the word used is of the feminine gender, and since grinding was the business of women; and so the Persic version here supplies it, as we do; See Gill on Mat 24:42. The one shall be taken and the other left; the Roman soldiers entering the mill, will lay hold on the one, and carry her away with them, and leave the other; and for which no other reason can be given, but the sovereign will and providence of God, which should overrule and dispose the minds of these men, to act in such a manner.”
“On the subject of these verses see Mat 24:40, Mat 24:41 (note). The 36th verse is, without doubt, an interpolation. It was probably borrowed from Mat 24:40. The whole verse is wanting in - ABEGHKLQS, more than fifty others, the Coptic, Ethiopic, Gothic, Slavonic, and many of the fathers: Griesbach has left it out of the text. Well might our translators say in the margin, This 36th verse is wanting in most of the Greek copies. Griesbach thinks it might have been omitted on account of the similar ending, (see the preceding verse), or that it was borrowed from Mat 24:40.”
“By these different examples, Christ wishes to insinuate that good and bad men will be found in every state of life. By those in bed, are understood the rich, by those in the mill, are understood the poor; whilst those in the field designate the pastors of his flock, who are labouring in the vineyard of the Lord. (St. Cyril and St. Ambrose)”
“two in one bed--the prepared and unprepared mingled in closest intercourse together in the ordinary walks and fellowships of life, when the moment of severance arrives. Awful truth! realized before the destruction of Jerusalem, when the Christians found themselves forced by their Lord's directions (Luk 21:21) at once and for ever away from their old associates; but most of all when the second coming of Christ shall burst upon a heedless world.”
The in-app commentary runs from the Fathers to the early-modern record, then stops — that's where the public-domain sources end, not where the reading does. For the modern reading, follow the sources directly.