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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Luke 12:1 - 12:1
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
In the meantime (en hois). It is a classic idiom to start a sentence or even a paragraph as here with a relative, “in which things or circumstances,” without any expressed antecedent other than the incidents in Luk 11:53. In Luk 12:3 Luke actually begins the sentence with two relatives anth' hōn hosa (wherefore whatsoever).
Many thousands (muriadōn). Genitive absolute with episunachtheisōn (first aorist passive participle feminine plural because of muriadōn), a double compound late verb, episunagō, to gather together unto. The word “myriads” is probably hyperbolical as in Act 21:20, but in the sense of ten thousand, as in Act 19:19, it means a very large crowd apparently drawn together by the violent attacks of the rabbis against Jesus.
Insomuch that they trode one upon another (hōste katapatein allēlous). The imagination must complete the picture of this jam.
Unto his disciples first of all (pros tous mathētas autou prōton). This long discourse in Luke 12 is really a series of separate talks to various groups in the vast crowds around Jesus. This particular talk goes through Luk 12:12.
Beware of (prosechete heautois apo). Put your mind (noun understood) for yourselves (dative) and avoid (apo with the ablative).
The leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy (tēs zumēs hētis estin hupocrisis tōn Pharisaiōn). In Mar 8:15 Jesus had coupled the lesson of the Pharisees with that of Herod, in Mat 16:6 with that of the Sadducees also. He had long ago called the Pharisees hypocrites (Mat 6:2, Mat 6:5,Mat 6:16). The occasion was ripe here for this crisp saying. In Mat 13:33 leaven does not have an evil sense as here. See note on Mat 23:13 for hypocrites. Hypocrisy was the leading Pharisaic vice (Bruce) and was a mark of sanctity to hide an evil heart.