Explanation of Luke 19
By Rev. John Clowes M.A.
Verses 1-10. That the Gentiles, who are out of the Church, are accepted of the Lord, and have conjunction with Him in charity and the good of life.
Verses 3-4. Because, notwithstanding their deficiency in the knowledges of truth from the Word, they are desirous to know the truth, and by that desire are elevated into the truths and goods of the external Church.
Verses 5-6. And are thus acknowledged by the Lord, and declared to be the members of His Church and kingdom, which declaration they receive with joy.
Verse 7. Still it appears contrary to order, that the Divine Truth should be imparted to those who are in disorder of life.
Verses 8-9. Until it is seen, that the Gentiles, who are out of the Church, are principled in charity, and that by charity they are capable of being saved, and thus of being received within the Church.
Verse 10. Since the Lord operates charity, faith, freewill, repentance and regeneration with every one, inasmuch as He wills the salvation of all.
Verses 11-13. For the Lord is willing to communicate to all the knowledges of truth and good from the Word, with the faculty of perceiving them.
Verse 14. And this, notwithstanding the force of hereditary and actual evil on the part of man, which is opposed to the Divine Love and Wisdom.
Verse 15. Every one therefore, sooner or later, must give an account of his application of those knowledges.
Verses 16-21. On which occasion it becomes manifest, that some procure, to themselves much intelligence and wisdom, and others procure some, and others none.
Verses 20-27. And that they who procure none are deprived of the truths which they possessed in the memory only, and not in the life.
Verse 21. Since they think harshly of the Divine mercy, and accuse it of expecting more from man than he has the ability to perform.
Verses 22-23. Whereas this their idea of the Divine mercy ought to have led them to exert themselves the more in procuring charity and the good of life.
Verses 24-26. And inasmuch as they have not made the use of the knowledges which they possessed, therefore those knowledges are taken away from them, since it is an eternal law, that they who are in the good of charity shall sooner or later be enriched with truths, whereas they who are in falsities derived from evil in the other life are deprived of all truths.
Verse 27. At the same time they are deprived of all spiritual life.
Verses 28-30. That the Lord from His Divine love, and by His Divine truth, explores the principles of the natural man as to truth, requiring them to be separated from all that is evil and false, and to receive influx of life from Himself.
Verse 31. And if the persuasions of the natural man oppose, they are to be overcome by teaching the necessity of such an influx to restore order.
Verses 32-34. Which necessity is accordingly taught, and is acknowledged by the natural man.
Verses 35-36. So that truths in every complex are submitted to the Lord.
Verses 37-38. And all, who are principled in what is good and true, exalt the Divine Human principle of the Lord, and His Divine operation, as the source of every blessing.
Verses 39-40. Which doctrine is taught, not only in the spiritual and internal sense of the Word, but also in its natural and literal sense.
Verses 41-42. The rejection therefore of this doctrine by the Jewish nation excites the tenderness of the Lord's love, that, if possible, they might receive it, but reception is now become impossible.
Verses 43-44. Inasmuch as through rejection of the Lord at his advent, they were immersed in evils and falsities of every kind, so that the representatives of a Church no longer existed amongst them.
Verses 45-46. For they made gain of holy things, and thus defiled all worship by perversion of what is holy.
Verses 47-48. And when the Lord would have instructed them in the things concerning himself and his kingdom, they opposed all his love and wisdom, yet not without caution, since there were still some remains of the affection of truth in the lower principles.
Mark 12
1
He began to speak to them in parables. "A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a pit for the winepress, built a tower, rented it out to a farmer, and went into another country.
2
When it was time, he sent a servant to the farmer to get from the farmer his share of the fruit of the vineyard.
3
They took him, beat him, and sent him away empty.
4
Again, he sent another servant to them; and they threw stones at him, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated.
5
Again he sent another; and they killed him; and many others, beating some, and killing some.
6
Therefore still having one, his beloved son, he sent him last to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'
7
But those farmers said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.'
8
They took him, killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
9
What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers, and will give the vineyard to others.
10
Haven't you even read this Scripture: 'The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner.
11
This was from the Lord, it is marvelous in our eyes'?"
12
They tried to seize him, but they feared the multitude; for they perceived that he spoke the parable against them. They left him, and went away.
13
They sent some of the Pharisees and of the Herodians to him, that they might trap him with words.
14
When they had come, they asked him, "Teacher, we know that you are honest, and don't defer to anyone; for you aren't partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?
15
Shall we give, or shall we not give?" But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, "Why do you test me? Bring me a denarius, that I may see it."
16
They brought it. He said to them, "Whose is this image and inscription?" They said to him, "Caesar's."
17
Jesus answered them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." They marveled greatly at him.
18
There came to him Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection. They asked him, saying,
19
"Teacher, Moses wrote to us, 'If a man's brother dies, and leaves a wife behind him, and leaves no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up offspring for his brother.'
20
There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying left no offspring.
21
The second took her, and died, leaving no children behind him. The third likewise;
22
and the seven took her and left no children. Last of all the woman also died.
23
In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be of them? For the seven had her as a wife."
24
Jesus answered them, "Isn't this because you are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God?
25
For when they will rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
26
But about the dead, that they are raised; haven't you read in the book of Moses, about the Bush, how God spoke to him, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?
27
He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are therefore badly mistaken."
28
One of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together. Knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the greatest of all?"
29
Jesus answered, "The greatest is, 'Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one:
30
you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment.
31
The second is like this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."
32
The scribe said to him, "Truly, teacher, you have said well that he is one, and there is none other but he,
33
and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."
34
When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." No one dared ask him any question after that.
35
Jesus responded, as he taught in the temple, "How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?
36
For David himself said in the Holy Spirit, 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet."'
37
Therefore David himself calls him Lord, so how can he be his son?" The common people heard him gladly.
38
In his teaching he said to them, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and to get greetings in the marketplaces,
39
and the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts:
40
those who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."
41
Jesus sat down opposite the treasury, and saw how the multitude cast money into the treasury. Many who were rich cast in much.
42
A poor widow came, and she cast in two small brass coins, which equal a quadrans coin.
43
He called his disciples to himself, and said to them, "Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury,
44
for they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on."
