Luke 12:1 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

LUKE CHAPTER 12 Luke 12:1-12 Christ teacheth his disciples to avoid hypocrisy, and not to be fearful in publishing his doctrine. Luke 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. Luke 12:22-32 He exhorteth, not to be over anxious about the provisions of this life; but to seek the kingdom of God, Luke 12:33,34 to lay up treasure in heaven by giving alms, Luke 12:35-40 and to be always ready against our Lord's coming. Luke 12:41-48 By the parable of a good and a wicked steward he showeth the duty of his ministers in particular. Luke 12:49-53 He foretells the divisions on account of the gospel, Luke 12:54-56 reproveth the people for not discerning the times, Luke 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, Matthew 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.