Bible Commentaries
Luke 11

Verse 1

it came to pass. A Hebraism. See Luke 2:1 .

as He was praying = in(Greek. en. App-104 .)

His praying . The sixth of seven such occasions.

praying. Greek. proseuchomai. App-134 .

in . Greek. en. App-104 . Not the same word as in verses: Luke 11:2 , Luke 11:6 , Luke 11:7 , Luke 11:33 -.

when = as.

unto = to. Greek. pros. App-104 . Not the same word as in verses: Luke 11:24 , Luke 11:51 .

Lord. Note the disciple's form of address.

as = even as.

Verse 2

heaven = the

heavens. See note on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .

Hallowed = Sanctified.

Thy name . See note on Psalms 20:1 .

Thy kingdom. See App-111 , 112, 113, 114.

come = Let . . . come.

be done = come to pass. heaven (singular) See note on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .

in = upon. Greek. epi. App-104 .

earth . Greek. ge. App-129 .

Verse 3

day by day = according to (Greek. kata. App-104 .)the day.

daily. Greek. epiousias. See note on Matthew 6:11 .

bread . Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), App-6 , for food in general.

Verse 4

forgive. See note on Luke 3:3 .James 5:15 .

sins. Trespasses comes from Tyndale's Version.

lead = bring.

not. Greek. me. App-105 . Not the same word as in verses: Luke 11:7 , Luke 11:8 , Luke 11:38 , Luke 11:40 , Luke 11:44 , Luke 11:46 , Luke 11:52 .

into . Greek. eis . App-104 .

temptation = trial or testing. from = away

from . Greek. apo. App-104 . Not the same word as in verses: Luke 11:16 , Luke 11:31 .

evil = the evil, or the evil one, denoting active harmfulness.

Verse 5

And He said , &c. Verses 5-10 are peculiar to Luke.

of = among. Greek. ek. App-104 .

lend. Greek. chrao. Occurs only here.

Verse 6

For = Since.

in = off. Greek. ek. App-104 .

to . Greek. pros. App-104 . Not the same word as in Luke 11:37 .

nothing to = not (Greek. ou. App-105 ) what I may.

Verse 7

now = already. The door would on no account be opened to a stranger at night.

children. Greek. paidion. App-108 .

with. Greek. meta. App-104 . Not the same word as in verses: Luke 11:20 , Luke 11:37 . A whole family will sleep in one room, in the garments worn by day, in one large bed.

in. Greek. eis. App-104 .

cannot = am not (Greek. ou. App-105 ) able to.

Verse 8

not . Greek. ou. App-105 .

because = on account of. Greek. dia. App-104 .Luke 11:2 .

importunity = shamelessness, impudence. Greek. anaideia. Occurs only here in N.T.

Verse 9

Ask. seek. knock . Note the Figure of speech Anabasis ( App-6 ). Ask. Greek. aiteo. Always used of an inferior to a superior. Never used of the Lord to the Father.

Verse 11

If , &c. = Shall a son ask, &c.

any = which.

if, &c. App-118 .

a fish = a fish also

for = instead. Greek. anti. App-104 .

Verse 12

if . Greek. ean, App-118 . b.

offer = give to.

Verse 13

know . Greek. oida. App-132 .

children. App-108 .

heavenly = out of (Greek. ek. App-104 .) heaven.

the Holy Spirit = spiritual gifts. No articles. Greek. pneuma hagion. See App-101 . Note the five contrasts. A loaf, a stone; a fish, a serpent; an egg, a scorpion; temporal gifts, spiritual gifts; earthly fathers, the heavenly Father.

Verse 14

devil = demon.

the dumb spake = the dumb [man] spake.

Verse 15

through = by. Greek en. App-104 .

Beelzebub . Aramaean. See on Matthew 10:25 . App-94 .

Verse 16

others . Greek. Plural of heteros. App-124 .

of = from. Greek. para. App-104 .

from = out of. Greek. ek. App-104 .

heaven . Singular, as in Luke 11:2 .

Verse 17

thoughts = intents, purposes, or machinations. Greek. dianoema. Occurs only here in N.T.

against. Greek. epi. App-104 .

brought to desolation. Greek. eremoo. Occurs only here, Matthew 12:25 ; and Revelation 17:16 ; Revelation 18:17 , Revelation 18:19 .

Verse 18

Beelzebub. Aramaean, as in Luke 11:15 . See note on Matthew 10:25 . This is the "unpardonable sin". See Mark 8:28-30 .

Verse 19

by. Greek en. App-104 .

therefore = on this account. Greek. dia. App-104 .Luke 11:2 .

Verse 20

with = by. Greek. en, as in Luke 11:19 . Compare Matthew 3:11 .

the finger of God . Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 See Exodus 8:19 . Finger, here, put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6 , for the Holy Spirit Himself.

the kingdom of God . See App-114 .

come upon you . With suddenness and surprise Greek. phthano. Occurances elsewhere: Matthew 12:28 . Rom 9:31 , 2 Corinthians 10:14 .Philippians 1:3 , Php 1:16 . 1 Thessalonians 2:16 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:15 .

Verse 21

a = the.

armed = fully armed: from head to foot. Compare Matthew 12:28 . Greek. kathoplizomai. Occurs only here in N.T.

keepeth = guardeth.

his palace = his own court. Greek. aule. Matthew 26:3 , Matthew 26:58 , Matthew 26:69

goods = possessions.

Verse 22

when = as soon as.

taketh = taketh away. Same word as in Luke 8:12 .

all his armour = his panoply. Occurs only here, any Ephesians 6:11 , Ephesians 6:13 .

wherein = on (Greek. epi. App-104 .) which.

trusted = had trusted.

spoils. Compare Mark 5:5 . Occurs only here.

Verse 24

unclean . See Luke 4:33 .

spirit : i.e. demon. See App-101 .

of = away from. Greek. apo. App-104 .

man. Greek. anthropos. App-123 . Not the same word as in verses: Luke 11:31 , Luke 11:32 .

through . Greek. dia. App-104 .

dry = waterless. Compare Isaiah 13:21 , Isaiah 13:22 ; Isaiah 34:14 , &c.

none = not (Greek. me. App-105 ) [any].

unto . Greek. eis. App-104 .

Verse 25

garnished = adorned.

Verse 26

taketh = taketh to. Compare Matthew 7:21 .

other = different. Greek. heteros. App-124 .

wicked. App-128 .

dwell = settle down.

is = becomes.

Verse 27

as He spake = in (Greek. en. App-104 .) His speaking.

company = crowd.

Blessed = Happy.

hast sucked = didst suck.

Verse 29

And when , &c. Luke 11:29-36 peculiar to Luke.

were gathered = were gathering. Occurs only here.

This , &c. See note on Matthew 11:18 .

evil. Greek. poneros. App-128 . Compare Matthew 12:34 .

sign . Greek. semeion. App-176 .

Jonas = Jonah. See notes on p. 1247.

Verse 30

as = even as.

was = became.

the Ninevites . They must therefore have known of the miracle connected with him.

also the Son of man = the Son of man also.

the Son of man. See App-98 .

this generation. See note on Luke 11:29 .

Verse 31

The queen of the south. See 1 Kings 10:1-13 . 2 Chronicles 9:1-12 .

rise up . From the dead.

men . Greek. Plural of aner. App-128 .

condemn . Greek katakrino. App-122 .

utmost parts = the ends.

behold . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

a greater = something more. Compare Matthew 12:6 .

Verse 32

rise up = stand up as witnesses. Not the same word as "rise up "in Luke 11:31 . App-178 .

repented . See App-111 .

at . Greek. eis. App-104 .

preaching = proclamation. See App-121 .

Verse 33

No man , &c. Repeated here from Matthew 5:15 .

Greek. oudeis = no one, compound of ou . App-105 .

candle = lamp. See App-130 .

secret place = cellar, or vault. All the texts read krupte (crypt).

under . Greek. hupo. App-104 .

a bushel = the corn measure. Compare Matthew 5:15 . on. Greek. epi. App-104 .

a candlestick = the lampstand. App-180 .

see. App-133 .

light . App-130 .

Verse 34

light = lamp. Same word as "candle "in Luke 11:33 . See App-130 .

eye. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6 , for the eyesight.

single = sound: referring to the eyesight as "good", Occ:. only here and Matthew 6:22 .

full of light = illuminated.

evil. Greek. poneros. See App-128 .

full of darkness = dark.

Verse 35

Take heed = Seq. Greek. skopeo. Occurs only here Romans 16:17 . 2 Corinthians 4:18 . Galatians 1:6 , Galatians 1:1 .Philippians 1:2 , Philippians 1:4 ; Philippians 3:17 ,

light . Greek phos. See App-130 .

Verse 36

no . Greek. me. App-105 .

the bright shining of a candle = the lamp with its brilliance.

doth give thee light = may light thee. Greek. photizo. Compare App-130 .

Verse 37

as He spake = literal in (Greek. en. App-104 .) His speaking.

besought = asked. App-134 .

to dine = that he would dine,

dine = take breakfast. Greek. aristao, not deipneo. The morning meal after returning from the synagogue. Occurs (with the noun) only here; Luke 14:12 .Matthew 22:4 .John 21:12 , John 21:15 .

with = beside. Greek para. App-104 .

sat down to meat = reclined Himself.

Verse 38

washed = performed His ablutions. App-115 and App-136 .

before. Greek. pro. App-104 .

dinner. Greek. ariston. See note on "dine", Luke 11:37 .

Verse 39

clean: i. a. ceremonially clean.

platter = dish. See note on Matthew 14:8 .

ravening and wickedness = wicked greed. Figure of speech Hendiadys. App-6 .

wickedness . App-128 .

Verse 40

Ye fools. Fools = senseless ones. Greek. aphron. The first of eleven occurances.

Verse 41

But rather , &c. = Nevertheless [ye say] "give alms", &c. This was the great meritorious work. supposed to cleanse or make amends for everything.

such things as ye have = the things that are within. Greek. ta enonta. Occurs only here in N.T.

Verse 42

ye tithe = ye tithe, or pay or take tithes. Greek. epode katoo. Occurs only here; Luke 18:12 .Matthew 23:23 ; and Hebrews 7:5 .

all manner of herbs = every herb. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Genus), App-6 , for all tithable herbs.

pass over = pass by, as in Mark 6:48 .

judgment. A Hebraism = justice. App-177 .

the love of God . Genitive of relation ( App-17 .), meaning the love required by God, as admitted by the lawyer (Luke 10:27 ).

ought ye to have done = it behoved you to do.

leave . . . undone = leave aside. But most of the texts read "pass by", as in the preceding clause.

Verse 43

love. App-135 .

uppermost. Same as "chief" in Matthew 23:6 .

Verse 44

hypocrites . Theodotion's rendering of Job 34:30 , and Job 36:13 , and Aquila and Theod. in Job 15:34 , and by Aquila, Syria., and Theod. in Proverbs 11:9 , Isaiah 33:14 , and Septuagint in Isaiah 32:6 , show that the word had come to mean not merely "false pretence", but positive impiety or wickedness.

appear not = are unseen.

that walk over them = who walk about above them.

aware = know. Greek. oida. App-132 .

Verse 45

lawyers = teachers of the law. Greek. nomikos. Not the same as in Luke 5:17 .

Master = Teacher. App-98 .

thus = these things.

reproachest = insultest.

Verse 46

lade . Compare "heavy laden", Matthew 11:28 .

grievous. This refers to the innumerable precepts of the Oral Law, now embodied in the Talmud. Greek. dusbastaktos. Occurs only here and Matthew 23:4 in N.T.

touch . Greek. prospsauo = to touch gently. A medical word, used of feeling the pulse or a sore place on the body. Occurs only here.

Verse 47

ye build = ye are building.

sepulchres = tombs. See Matthew 23:29 .

Verse 48

Truly = So then.

that ye allow = and give your full approval to.

Verse 49

the Wisdom of God. This is Christ Himself; for in Matthew 23:34 this is exactly what He did say. It is not a quotation from the O.T., or any apocryphal book. I will send, &c. This He did, in and during the dispensation of the Acts. Compare Matthew 22:1-7 .

them = unto (Greek. eis. App-104 .) them.

prophets and apostles. See note on Ephesians 2:20 .

Verse 50

all the prophets. Compare Luke 6:23 .

shed = poured out. Same word as in Luke 22:20 .

foundation , &c. See note on Proverbs 8:22 .Matthew 13:35 .

world . Greek kosmos. See App-129 .

required. Greek ekzeteo. Occurs also Acts 15:17 . Romans 3:11 .Hebrews 11:6 ; Heb 12:17 . 1 Peter 1:10 .

of . Greek. apo. App-104 ,

this generation. See note on Matthew 11:16 .

Verse 51

Abel . Genesis 4:8 . App-117 .

Zacharias . See note on Matthew 23:35 .

the altar. Of burnt offering,

the temple . Greek. the house: i.e. the naos, or Sanctuary. See note on Matthew 23:16 ,

verily . See note on Matthew 5:18 .

Verse 52

key. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for entrance to and acquirement of knowledge. Compare Malachi 2:8 .

hindered = forbade, as in Luke 9:49 .

Verse 53

said = was saying.

to urge Him vehemently = to urgently press upon Him.

provoke Him to speak . Greek apostomatizo. Occurs only here. The Papyri show that from its original meaning (to dictate what was to be written) it had come to mean "to examine by questioning a pupil as to what he had been taught". Here, therefore, they were not questioning for information, but for grounds of accusation.

of = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 .

many = very many.

Verse 54

Laying wait for = watching. Only here and Acts 23:21 .

catch . Both are hunting expressions.

out of . Greek ek. App-104 . Not the same word as in Luke 11:24 .

that , &c. T [Tr. ] WH R omit.