6
And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
Explanation of Luke 19
Ni 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.
Luke 23
1
The whole company of them rose up and brought him before Pilate.
2
They began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man perverting the nation, forbidding paying taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king."
3
Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" He answered him, "So you say."
4
Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, "I find no basis for a charge against this man."
5
But they insisted, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee even to this place."
6
But when Pilate heard Galilee mentioned, he asked if the man was a Galilean.
7
When he found out that he was in Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days.
8
Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad, for he had wanted to see him for a long time, because he had heard many things about him. He hoped to see some miracle done by him.
9
He questioned him with many words, but he gave no answers.
10
The chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him.
11
Herod with his soldiers humiliated him and mocked him. Dressing him in luxurious clothing, they sent him back to Pilate.
12
Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before that they were enemies with each other.
13
Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,
14
and said to them, "You brought this man to me as one that perverts the people, and see, I have examined him before you, and found no basis for a charge against this man concerning those things of which you accuse him.
15
Neither has Herod, for I sent you to him, and see, nothing worthy of death has been done by him.
16
I will therefore chastise him and release him."
17
Now he had to release one prisoner to them at the feast.
18
But they all cried out together, saying, "Away with this man! Release to us Barabbas!"--
19
one who was thrown into prison for a certain revolt in the city, and for murder.
20
Then Pilate spoke to them again, wanting to release Jesus,
21
but they shouted, saying, "Crucify! Crucify him!"
22
He said to them the third time, "Why? What evil has this man done? I have found no capital crime in him. I will therefore chastise him and release him."
23
But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. Their voices and the voices of the chief priests prevailed.
24
Pilate decreed that what they asked for should be done.
25
He released him who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus up to their will.
26
When they led him away, they grabbed one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it after Jesus.
27
A great multitude of the people followed him, including women who also mourned and lamented him.
28
But Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, don't weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
29
For behold, the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.'
30
Then they will begin to tell the mountains, 'Fall on us!' and tell the hills, 'Cover us.'
31
For if they do these things in the green tree, what will be done in the dry?"
32
There were also others, two criminals, led with him to be put to death.
33
When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.
34
Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots.
35
The people stood watching. The rulers with them also scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others. Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen one!"
36
The soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar,
37
and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"
38
An inscription was also written over him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS."
39
One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, "If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!"
40
But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Don't you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?
41
And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong."
42
He said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom."
43
Jesus said to him, "Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
44
It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.
45
The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.
46
Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" Having said this, he breathed his last.
47
When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous man."
48
All the multitudes that came together to see this, when they saw the things that were done, returned home beating their breasts.
49
All his acquaintances, and the women who followed with him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
50
Behold, a man named Joseph, who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man
51
(he had not consented to their counsel and deed), from Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was also waiting for the Kingdom of God:
52
this man went to Pilate, and asked for Jesus' body.
53
He took it down, and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that was cut in stone, where no one had ever been laid.
54
It was the day of the Preparation, and the Sabbath was drawing near.
55
The women, who had come with him out of Galilee, followed after, and saw the tomb, and how his body was laid.
56
They returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
