Luk_12:1-12 Christ teacheth his disciples to avoid hypocrisy, and
not to be fearful in publishing his doctrine.
Luk_12:13-21 He refuseth to be judge in a civil cause, and warns the
people to beware of covetousness by the parable of a
rich man, who boasted himself in his multiplied stores.
Luk_12:22-32 He exhorteth, not to be over anxious about the
provisions of this life; but to seek the kingdom of God,
Luk_12:33,34 to lay up treasure in heaven by giving alms,
Luk_12:35-40 and to be always ready against our Lord’s coming.
Luk_12:41-48 By the parable of a good and a wicked steward he
showeth the duty of his ministers in particular.
Luk_12:49-53 He foretells the divisions on account of the gospel,
Luk_12:54-56 reproveth the people for not discerning the times,
Luk_12:57-59 and showeth the danger of neglecting the means of
reconciliation offered them.
We read of such a caution given to the disciples, Mat_16:6. But that is not the same caution with this; there he compared their doctrine to leaven, for the aptness of it to infect others; here he compares their lives to the same thing, and for the same reason: this appeareth to be the same sense of our Saviour here, because he saith their leaven is hypocrisy. There are none so like to do mischief to the better sort of people, as those that, under a mask and exterior disguise of severity and strictness, indulge themselves in corrupt affections and vicious inclinations.