*: Matthew 16:5 Mark 8:14
1: The faithful teachers of God's word, which are appointed by him for his people, must both take good heed of them, which corrupt the purity of doctrine with goodly glosses, and also take pains through the help of God to set forth sincere doctrine, openly and without fear.
a: Word for word, ten thousand of people, a certain number for an uncertain.
*: Matthew 10:26 Mark 4:22
*: Matthew 10:28
2: Although hypocrites have prices to execute their cruelty, yet there is no cause why we should be afraid of them, the least jot that may be, seeing they can do nothing, but what pleaseth God, and God will not anything that may be against the salvation of his elect.
b: He warneth them of dangers that presently hang over their heads, for those that come upon the sudden, do make the greater wound.
*: 1 Samuel 14:45 Acts 27:35
*: Chapter 9:26 Matthew 10:32 Mark 8:38 2 Timothy 1:12
3: Great is the reward of a constant confession: and horrible is the punishment of the denying of Christ, yea impossible to be called back again shall the punishment be, if upon set purpose, both with mouth and heart we blaspheme a known truth.
*: Matthew 12:31 Mark 3:28 1 John 5:15
*: Matthew 10:19 Mark 13:11
4: It is a great and hard conflict to confess the truth, yet he that can do all things, and is almighty, will not be wanting to the weakest which strive and contend in his appointed time.
5: Christ wound not be a judge to divide an inheritance. First, for that he would not foster up and cherish the fleshly opinion that the Jews had of Messiah: Secondly, for that he would distinguish the civil governance, from the ecclesiastical: Thirdly to teach us to beware of them which abuse the show of the gospel, and also the name of ministers, to their own private commodities.
c: By covetousness is meant, that greedy desire to get, commonly with other mens hurt.
d: God is the author of preserver of man's life, goods are not.
6: There are none more mad, then rich men, which hang upon their riches.
e: Or rather country, for here is set forth a man that possessed not a piece of ground only, but an whole country, as they do, which join house to house, and field to field, Isaiah 5:8
f: Made his reckoning with himself, which is the property of courteous churls which spend their life in those trifles.
g: Be merry and make good cheer.
h: Caring for no man but for himself, and minding to trust in himself.
7: An earnest thinking upon the providence of God, is a present remedy against most fooling , and pining carefulness of men, for this life.
*: Matthew 6:25 1 Peter 5:7 Psalms 55:22
i: A metaphor taken of things that hang in the air, for they that are careful for this worldly life, and hang upon the arm of man, have always wavering and doubtful minds, swaying sometimes this way, and sometimes that way.
8: They shall lack nothing, which are careful for the kingdom of heaven.
9: It is a foolish thing, not to look for small things, at his hands, which giveth us freely the greatest things.
*: Matthew 6:20
10: A godly bountifulness is a ready way to get true riches.
j: This is the figure Metonymy, for by this word alms, is meant that compassion, and friendliness of an heart, that tendereth the misery and poor estate of a man, and showed forth itself by some gift, and hath the name given it in the Greek tongue, of mercy and compassion: and therefore he is said to give alms, who parteth with something to another, and giveth to the poor, showing thereby that he pitieth their poor estate.
*: 1 Peter 1:13
11: The life of the faithful servants of God, in this world is a certain watchful peregrination, having the light of the word going before it.
*: Matthew 24:43 Revelation 16:15 and 3:3
12: None have more need to watch, then they that have some degree of honour in the household of God.
k: That is, every month such measure of corn as was appointed them.
l: More then of him, to whom so much was not given.
13: The gospel is the only cause of peace betwixt the godly, and so is it the occasion of great trouble among the wicked.
*: Matthew 10:34
*: Matthew 16:2
14: Men which are very quick of sight in earthly things, are blind in those things, which pertain to the heavenly life, and that through their own malice.
m: Which appeareth, and gathereth itself together in that part of the air.
15: Men that are blinded with the love of themselves, and therefore are detestable and stubborn, shall bear the reward of their folly.
*: Matthew 5:25
n: To him that had to demand and gather and amerciaments, which they were condemned unto, that had wrongfully troubled men: moreover, the magistrate's officers make them which are condemned, pay that, that they owe, yea and oftentimes if they be obstinate, they do not only take the costs and charges of them, but also imprison them.

Chapter 12

1. The leaven of the pharisees. 5. Who is to be feared. 8. To confess Christ. 17. The parable of the rich man whose land was very fertile. 22. Not to care for earthly things, 31. but to seek the kingdom of God. 39. The thief in the night. 51. Debate for the gospel's sake.

In *1 the meantime, there gathered together a an innumerable multitude of people, so that they trod one another: and he began to say unto his disciples first, Take heed to yourselves of the leaven of the pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2 * For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed: neither hid, that shall not be known.
3 Wherefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness, it shall be heard in the light: and that which ye have spoken in the ear, in secret places, shall be preached on the houses.
4 *2 And I say unto you, my friends, be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that are not able to do any more.
5 But I will b forewarn you, whom ye shall fear: fear him which after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell: yea, I say unto you, him fear.
6 Are not five sparrows bought for two farthings, and yet not one of them is forgotten before God?
7 * Yea, and all the hairs of your head are numbered: fear not therefore: ye are more of value then many sparrows.
8 *3 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the son of man confess also before the angels of God,
9 But he that shall deny me before men, shall be denied before the angel of God.
10 * And whosoever shall speak a word against the son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him, that shall blaspheme the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven.
11 *4 And when they shall bring you unto the synagogues, and unto the rulers and princes, take no thought how, or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall speak.
12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
13 5 And one of the company said unto him, Master, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me.
14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge, or a divider over you.
15 Wherefore he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of c covetousness: for though a man have abundance, yet his life d standeth not in his riches.
16 6 And he put forth a parable unto them, saying, The e ground of a certain rich man brought forth fruits plenteously.
17 Therefore he f thought with himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room, where I may lay up my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do, I will pull down my barns, and build greater, and therein will I gather all my fruits, and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years: live at ease, eat, drink, and g take thy pastime.
20 But God said unto him, O fool, this night will they fetch away thy soul from thee: then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that gathereth riches h to himself, and is not rich in God.
22 7 And he spake unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, * Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat: neither for your body, what ye shall put on.
23 The life is more then meat: and the body more then raiment.
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap: which neither have storehouse nor barn, and yet God feedeth them: how much more are ye better then fouls?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If ye then be not able to do the least thing, why take ye thought for the remnant?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they labour not, neither spin they: yet I say unto you, that Solomon himself in all his royalty was not clothed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass which is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 Therefore ask not what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither i hang you in suspense.
30 For all such things the people of the world seek for: and your father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 8 But rather seek ye after the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be cast upon you.
32 9 Fear not, little flock: for it is your father's pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33 ¶*10 Sell that ye have, and give j alms: make you bags, which wax not old, a treasure that can never fail in heaven, where no thief commeth, neither moth corrupteth.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your hearts be also.
35 ¶*11 Let your loins be girt about, and your lights burning,
36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he commeth and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
37 Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he commeth shall find waking: verily I say unto you, he will gird himself about, and make them to sit at table, and will come forth and serve them.
38 And if he come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and shall find them so, blessed are those servants.
39 * Now understand this, that if the goodman of the house had known at what hour the thief would have come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be digged through.
40 12 Be ye also prepared therefore: for the son of man will come at an hour when ye think not.
41 Then Peter said unto him, Master, tellest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
42 And the Lord said, Who is a faithful steward and wise, whom the master shall make ruler over his household, to give them their k portion of meat in season?
43 Blessed is that servant, whom his master when he cometh, shall find so doing.
44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
45 But if that servant say in his heart, My master doeth defer his coming, and shall begin to smite the servants, and maidens, and to eat, and drink, and to be drunken,
46 The master of that servant will come in a day when he thinketh not, and at an hour when he is not aware of, and will cut him off, and give him his portion with the unbelievers.
47And that servant that knew his master's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48 But he that knew it not, and yet did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes: for unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required, and to whom men much commit, l the more of him will they ask.
4913 I am come to put fire on the earth, and what is my desire, if it be already kindled?
50 Notwithstanding I must be baptised with a baptism, and how am I grieved, till it be ended?
51 * Think ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, nay, but rather debate.
52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father: the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother: the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
54 ¶*14 Then said he to the people, When ye see a cloud m rise out of the west, straightway ye say, a shower commeth: and so it is.
55 And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, that it will be hot: and it commeth to pass.
56 Hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the earth, and of the sky: but why discern ye not this time?
57 15 Yea, and why judge ye not of yourselves what is right?
58 ¶* While thou goest with thine adversary to the ruler, as thou art in the way, give diligence in the way, that thou mayest be delivered from him, lest he draw thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee of the n jailer, and the jailer cast thee into prison.
59 I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast payed the utmost mite.

David Buckingham