Pastors Jim and Marie Watt
3. 12:22-53 KINGDOM PROVISION, PREPARATION, REWARD AND DIVISION
a. 12:22 A DISCIPLE IS TO REST IN GOD FOR ALLNEEDS
EIpen de pros tous matheTAS auTOU, DiA TOUto LEgo huMIN,
And he said unto his :disciples, Therefore I say unto you,
me me-rimNAte [2309] te psuCHE, ti PHAgete; meDE to SOma-ti huMON, ti enDUses-the [1746].
Be not anxious for the soul, what you shall eat; nor yet for your :body, what you shall put on.
b. 12:23 For the soul is more than the food, and the body than the raiment.
hegar psuCHEPLEI-ON es-tin tes troPHES, kai to SOma tou enDUma-tos [1742].
c. 12:24 THE CAREFREE EXAMPLE OF BIRDS
ka-ta-noEsa-te [2657] tous KOra-kas [2876], HOti ou SPEIrou-sin [4687], ouDE theRIzou-sin [2325];
Consider the ravens, that they do not sow, neither reap;
hois ouk EStin taMEIon [5009] ouDE a-poTHEke [596]; kai ho TheOS TREphei [5142] auTOUS:
which have no store-chamber nor barn; and :God feeds them:
POso MALlon huMEIS di-aPHEre-te [1508] ton pe-teiNON [4071]!
of how much more value are you than the birds!
d. 12:25 And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit unto the measure of his life?
tis de ex huMON me-rimNON DUna-tai ePI ten he-liKIan [2244] auTOU prosTHEInai [4369] PEchun [4083]?
e. 12:26 If then you cannot do even what is least, why are you anxious concerning the rest?
ei oun ouDE eLAchi-ston [1646] DUnas-the, ti peRI ton loiPON me-rimNAte?
f. 12:27 LILIES WITHOUT SELF-EFFORT, OUTSHINE BEST OF MAN'S EFFORT
ka-ta-noEsa-te [2657] ta KRIna [2918], pos auXAnei [837]: ou ko-piA, ouDE NEthei; LEgo de huMIN,
Consider the lilies, how they grow: they toil not, neither do they spin; yet I say unto you,
ouDE So-loMON en PAse te DOxe auTOU pe-ri-eBAle-to [4016] hos hen TOUton.
Not even Solomon in all his :glory was arrayed like one of these.
g. 12:28 GOD WILL PROVIDE FOR MAN ABOVE TEMPORARY GRASS
ei de en aGRO ton CHORton [5528] ONto SEme-ron,
But if :God does so clothe the grass in thefield,
kai AUri-on eis KLIba-non [2823] balLOme-non, ho TheOS HOUtos am-phiAzei [294];
which today is, and tomorrow is cast into theoven;
POso MALlon huMAS, o-liGOpi-stoi?
how much more you, youof little faith?
h. 12:29 And seek not YOU what you shalleat, and what you shalldrink, neither be of doubtful mind.
kai huMEIS mezeTEIte ti PHAge-te, kai ti PIe-te, kai meme-te-oRIzes-the [3349].
i. 12:30 NATIONS WORRY, BUT SAINTS REST
TAUta gar PANta ta ETHne tou KOSmou e-pi-zeTOUsin:
For all these do the nations of the world seek after:
huMON de ho paTER OIden HOti CHREze-te [5536] TOUton.
but your :Father knows that you have need of these things.
j. 12:31 Yet seek his :kingdom, and these shall be added to you.
plen zeTEIte ten ba-siLEIan auTOU, kai TAUta pro-steTHEse-tai [4369]huMIN.
k. 12:32 Fear not, little :flock; for it is your :Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
me phoBOU, to miKRON POIMni-on; HOti euDOke-sen ho paTER huMON DOUnai huMIN ten ba-siLEIan.
l. 12:33 WISDOM: LAY ASIDE HINDRANCES TO POSSESS GOD'S TREASURE
poLEsa-te [4453] ta huPARchon-ta [5224] huMON, kai DOte e-le-e-moSUnen [1654];
Sell the thingsyou have, and give alms;
poiEsa-te he-auTOIS balLANti-a [905] me pa-laiOUme-na [3822],
make for yourselves purses which do not grow old,
the-sauRON aNEkleip-ton [413] en tois ou-raNOIS,
unfailing treasure in the heavens,
HOpou KLEPtes [2812] ouk egGIzei [1448], ouDE ses di-aTHEIrei [1311].
where no thief draws near, neither moth destroys.
m. 12:34 For where your :treasure is, there will your :heart be also.
HOpou GAR es-tin ho the-sauROS huMON, eKEI kai he karDIa huMON EStai.
n. 12:35-36 WISDOM: BE PREPARED FOR THE LORD'S RETURN
Esto-san huMON hai osPHUes [3751] pe-ri-e-zosMEnai [4024], kai hoi LUCHnoi kaiOme-noi [2545];
Let your :loins be girded about, and the lamps burning;
kai huMEIS HOmoi-oi anTHROpois pros-de-choMEnois [4327] ton KUri-on he-auTON,
36and be YOU like unto men looking for their lord,
POte a-naLUse [360] ek ton GAmon [1062]; HIna, elTHONtos
when he shall return from the marriage feast; that, when he comes
kai KROUsan-tos, euTHEos aNOIxo-sin auTO.
and knocks, they may straightway open to him.
o. 12:37 THE BLESSING AWAITING THOSE READY FOR THEIR LORD'S COMING
maKAri-oi hoi DOUloi eKEInoi, hous elTHON ho KUri-os
Blessed arethose :bondmen, whom the lord when he comes
heuREsei gre-goROUNtas [1127]: aMEN LEgo huMIN, HOti pe-riZOse-tai [4024],
shall find watching: Amen I say unto you, that he shall gird himself,
kai a-na-kliNEI auTOUS, kai pa-relTHON di-a-koNEsei [1247] auTOIS.
and make them sit down to meat, and shall come andserve them.
p. 12:38 MUST BE READY AT ALL TIMES FOR THE BLESSING
ka' 'n en te deuTEra,
And if he shall come in the second watch,
ka' 'n en te TRIte, phu-laKE [5438] ELthe, kai HEUre HOUtos, maKAriOI ei-sin eKEInoi.
and if in the third, and find themso, blessed are those.
q. 12:39 ILLUSTRATION: BE READY AS FOR A THIEF
TOUto de giNOske-te, HOti Edei ho oi-ko-deSPOtes POIa HOra
But know this, that if the house-master had known in what hour
ho KLEPtes ERche-tai, e-greGOre-sen [1127] an, kai ouk aPHEken di-o-ruchTHEnai [1358] ton OIkon auTOU.
the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not have left his :house to be dug through.
r. 12:40 Be YOU also ready: for in an hour you think not the Son of :man comes.
kai huMEIS GInes-the HEtoi-moi [2092]: HOti he HOra ou doKEIte ho huiOS tou anTHROpou ERche-tai.
s. 12:41 And :Peter said, Lord, do you speak this :parable unto us, or even unto all?
EIpen de ho PEtros, KUri-e, pros heMAS ten pa-ra-boLEN [3850] TAUten LEgeis, e kai pros PANtas?
t. 12:42 A FAITHFUL STEWARD: ONE WHO RECEIVES RULERSHIP
kai EIpen ho KUri-os, Tis Ara esTIN ho piSTOS oi-koNOmos,
And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful steward,
ho PHROni-mos [5429], hon ka-taSTEsei [2525] ho KUri-os ePI tes the-raPEIas [2322] auTOU,
the wise, whom the lord shall set over his :household,
tou diDOnai en kaiRO to si-toMEtri-on [4620]?
to :give themtheirportion of food in season?
u. 12:43 Blessed that bondman, whom his :lord when he comes shall find so doing.
MaKAri-os ho DOUlos eKEInos, hon elTHON ho KUri-os auTOU heuREsei poiOUNta HOUtos.
v. 12:44 Truly I say unto you, that he will set him over all the thingshe has.
a-leTHOS LEgohuMIN, HOti ePI PAsin tois huPARchou-sin [5224]auTOU ka-taSTEsei [2525]auTON.
w. 12:45-46 JUDGMENT: FOR THE UNFAITHFUL STEWARD
eAN de EIpe ho DOUlos eKEInos en te karDIa auTOU, ChroNIzei [5549] ho KUriOS mou
But if that :bondman shall say in his :heart, My :lord delays
ERches-tha; kai ARxe-tai TUPtein [5180] tous PAIdas
his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants
kai tas paiDIskas, esTHIein te kai PInein, kai meTHUskes-thai [3182];
and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
HExei ho KUri-os tou DOUlou eKEInou en heMEra he ou pros-doKA [4328],
46the lord of that :bondman shall come in a day when he expects not,
kai en HOra heou geNOskoi,
and in an hour when he knows not,
kai di-cho-toMEsei [1371] auTON, kai to MEros auTOU meTA ton aPIston [571] THEsei.
and shall cut him asunder, and appoint his :portion with the unfaithful.
x. 12:47-48a DEGREE OF JUDGMENT: PROPORTIONAL TO DEGREE OF LIGHT!
eKEInos de ho DOUlos, ho gnous to THEle-ma tou kuRIou auTOU, kai me he-toiMAsas,
And that :bondman, who knew the will of his :lord, and made not ready,
he poiEsas pros to THEle-ma auTOU, daREse-tai [1194] polLAS;
nor did according to his :will, shall be beaten with many stripes;
ho de me gnous, poiEsas de Axi-a pleGON, daREse-tai oLIgas.
48abut he that knew not, and did thingsworthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few.
y. 12:48b TO ADDED PRIVILEGE COMES ADDED RESPONSIBILITY
panTI de ho eDOthe poLU, poLU ze-teTHEse-tai [2212] par' auTOU;
And to whomever much is given, of him shall much be required;
kai he paREthen-to [3908] poLU, pe-risSOte-ron aiTEsou-sin auTON.
and to whom they committed much, of him will they ask the more.
z. 12:49 I came to cast a fire upon the earth; and what do I desire, if it is already kindled?
Pur [4442] ELthon baLEIN ePI ten gen; kai ti THElo, ei Ede aNEPHthe [381]?
aa. 12:50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
BAPtis-ma de Echo bap-tisTHEnai; kai pos suNEcho-mai [4912] HEos HOtou te-lesTHE [5055]!
bb. 12:51a Do you think that I am come to give peace in the earth?
doKEIte HOti eiREnen pa-re-geNOmen DOUnai en tege?
cc. 12:51b-52 DIVISION IN FAMILIES: THE IMMEDIATE RESULT OF GOSPEL
ouCHI, LEgo huMIN; all' e di-a-me-risMON [1267]:
I tell you, No; but rather division:
Eson-tai gar aPO tou nun PENte en heNI OIko di-a-me-me-risMEnoi [1266],
52for from :now on five shall be in one house divided,
treis ePI duSIN, kai DUo ePI triSIN.
three against two, and two against three.
dd. 12:53 DIVISION BETWEEN CLOSE RELATIVES BECAUSE OF GOSPEL
di-a-me-risTHEson-tai, paTER ePI huiO, kai huiOS ePI paTRI;
They shall be divided, father against son, and son against father;
MEter ePI thu-gaTEra, kai thuGAter ePI ten meTEra;
mother against daughter, and daughter against :mother;
pen-theRA [3384] ePI ten NUMphen [3565] auTES, kai NUMphe ePI ten pen-theRAN.
mother in law against her :daughter in law, and daughter in law against :mother in law.
4. 12:54-59 KNOW SIGNS OF SPIRITUAL TIMES - AND ACT WISELY
a. 12:54 PEOPLE PREDICT WEATHER BY SIGNS OF THE SKY
Ele-gen de kai tois OCHlois,
And he said also to the crowds,
HOtan Ide-te nePHElen a-naTELlou-san [393] ePI dusMON, euTHEos LEge-te
When you see a cloud rising in thewest, straightway you say
[HOti] OMbros [3675] ERche-tai, kai GIne-tai HOUtos.
[that] A shower comes, and so it comes to pass.
b. 12:55 ALSO BY THE DIRECTION OF WIND
kai HOtan NOton PNEon-ta [4156], LEge-te [HOti]
And when you seea south wind blowing, you say [that]
KAUson [2742] EStai; kai GIne-tai.
There will be a scorching heat; and it comes to pass.
c. 12:56 SPIRITUAL SEASONS CAN BE PREDICTED JUST AS THE WEATHER
hu-po-kriTAI, to PROso-pon tes ges kai tou ou-raNOU OIda-te
Hypocrites, you know how to interpret the face of the earth and the
do-kiMAzein [1381]; ton kaiRON de TOUton pos ouk OIda-te do-kiMAzein?
heaven; but how is ityou do not know how to interpret this :season?
d. 12:57 And why even of yourselves do you not judge what is:right?
ti de kai aph' he-auTON ou KRIne-te to DIkai-on?
e. 12:58 IF POSSIBLE - SETTLE PROBLEMS OUT OF COURT
hos gar huPAgeis meTA tou an-tiDIkou [476] sou ep' ARchon-ta,
For as you are going with your :adversary before a ruler,
en te hoDO dos er-gaSIan [2039] a-pelLACHthai [525] ap' auTOU;
on the way give diligence to be quit of him;
ME po-te ka-taSUre [2694] se pros ton kriTEN,
lest haply he drag you unto the judge,
kai ho kriTES se pa-raDOsei [3860] to PRAKto-ri [4233], kai ho PRAKtor se baLEI eis phu-laKEN [5438].
and the judge shall deliver you to the exacter, and the exacter shall cast you into prison.
f. 12:59 I tell you, You shall in no wise come out from there, till you have paid the very last penny.
LEgo soi, ou me eXELthes eKEIthen, HEos kai to EScha-ton lepTON a-poDOS [591].
NOTE: (2010-12-03) - 12:22-53 - Various Kingdom Insights. Much of this section is parallel to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew. It does however emphasize in a fresh manner here - concerning the necessity of an ever-watchful attitude for the Lord's Return. Carelessness, having a non-watchful attitude, not understanding the importance for sanctification in continually looking forward to the Lord's return - these are some of the attitudes that will spare us embarrassment at the Judgment Seat of Christ following His return. Revelation 22:10-20 seals the above.
Then at this point Jesus ensures that we understand the “dividing” nature of His Kingdom. As soon as I entered, immediately there was a division between my father, mother, brother and me. What I thought would be news making them happy - was instead a report that caused them deep concern. At one point my mother asked me while I was drying dishes for her - “Jim, would you be offended if I made a suggestion?” “Not at all, Mother,” I said. Her suggestion was - “Jim, don't try and win the whole world to Jesus all by yourself!” I was certainly trying! I'm not an evangelist, but my first-love for the Lord - had me seeking to share Him with everybody I knew and met!
12:54-59 - The closing words of Jesus for this section is set apart as a subdivision complete in itself. He wants all of us to understand that it ispossible to know the nature of the times in which we live! The cost of failure to apprehend the exacttime in which we live, can be extremelycostly. 12:57-59 is Jesus' way of impressing upon our minds the serious penalty of failure to know the closing time in which we live, and the appropriatetype of action for living we need to take in this light. J.A.W.