{"id":25473,"date":"2022-09-24T11:07:25","date_gmt":"2022-09-24T16:07:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/exegetical-and-hermeneutical-commentary-of-luke-1232\/"},"modified":"2022-09-24T11:07:25","modified_gmt":"2022-09-24T16:07:25","slug":"exegetical-and-hermeneutical-commentary-of-luke-1232","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/exegetical-and-hermeneutical-commentary-of-luke-1232\/","title":{"rendered":"Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 12:32"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. <\/i><\/b><\/h3>\n

32<\/strong>. little flock<\/em> ] The address was primarily to disciples, Luk 12:1<\/span>. For the metaphor, see Psa 23:1<\/span>; Isa 40:11<\/span>; Mat 26:31<\/span>; Joh 10:12-16<\/span>.<\/p>\n

the kingdom<\/em> ] How much more shall He give you bread.<\/p>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

Little flock – <\/B>Our Saviour often represents himself as a shepherd, and his followers as a flock or as sheep. The figure was beautiful. In Judea it was a common employment to attend flocks. The shepherd was with them, defended them, provided for them, led them to green pastures and beside still waters. In all these things Jesus was and is eminently the Good Shepherd. His flock was small. Few really followed him, compared with the multitude who professed to love him. But, though small in number, they were not to fear. God was their Friend. He would provide for them. It was his purpose to give them the kingdom, and they had nothing to fear. See Mat 6:19-21<\/span>.<\/P> <\/p>\n

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

Luk 12:32<\/span><\/p>\n

Fear not, little flock.<\/em><\/p>\n

—<\/em><\/p>\n

Christians forbidden to fear<\/strong><\/p>\n


I. <\/strong>AN AGREEABLE RESEMBLANCE. A flock (Psa 79:13<\/span>; Joh 10:27<\/span>). The flock of Christ is–<\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> A purchased flock (1Co 6:20<\/span>; 2Pe 2:1<\/span>; Act 20:28<\/span>). <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> A flock washed in the blood of Jesus (1Jn 1:7<\/span>; Rev 1:5<\/span>). <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> A chosen flock (Mat 20:16<\/span>; Mar 13:20<\/span>). <\/p>\n

4.<\/strong> A marked flock (2Ti 2:19<\/span>; Joh 13:35<\/span>). <\/p>\n

5.<\/strong> A patient flock–under provocations, and amidst sufferings and delays Job 1:22<\/span>; Rom 12:12<\/span>; Luk 21:19<\/span>; Heb 10:36; Heb 12:1-2; <\/span>Heb 6:12<\/span>; Rom 2:7<\/span>). Christ an example (1Pe 2:21-25<\/span>). <\/p>\n

6.<\/strong> A harmless flock (Mat 10:16<\/span>; Phm 1:2<\/span>; Phm 1:15<\/span>). <\/p>\n

7.<\/strong> A flock exposed to troubles and enemies (Eph 6:11-13<\/span>). <\/p>\n

8.<\/strong> A useful flock. <\/p>\n


II. <\/strong>A DISTRESSING TRUTH. A little flock. <\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> Small at its commencement. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> Small at the present day, when compared with the great bulk of mankind. <\/p>\n


III. <\/strong>A BENIGNANT ENGAGEMENT. It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom. <\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> The kingdom of His power (Psa 105:12-13<\/span>; Dan 4:3<\/span>). <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> The kingdom of His grace (2Co 3:18<\/span>). <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> The kingdom of glory (1Co 6:9<\/span>). This is heaven, and in this view of it conveys–<\/p>\n

(1)<\/strong> The idea of power. A kingdom implies a sceptre, authority, and dominion. <\/p>\n

(2)<\/strong> The idea of glory. It is the abode of glorified spirits. It is the abode of the celestial hierarchy. It is the abode of Jesus. It is the abode of God the Father. <\/p>\n

(3)<\/strong> The idea of felicity (Rev 7:9-17<\/span>). It is our Fathers good pleasure (Isa 63:16<\/span>). <\/p>\n

He is our Father–<\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> By right of creation (Mal 2:10<\/span>). <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> By right of preservation. <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> By right of redemption (Gal 3:13<\/span>; Job 19:25<\/span>). <\/p>\n

4.<\/strong> By right of adoption (Rom 8:15-16<\/span>). It is His good pleasure to give us the kingdom. It is not a debt but a gift–a free gift. <\/p>\n


IV. <\/strong>A PROHIBITION. Fear not. What is it that true believers are not to fear? <\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> They are not to fear God with a slavish fear (Rom 8:15<\/span>; 1Jn 4:18<\/span>). A filial fear they must have (Psa 89:7<\/span>; Psa 34:9<\/span>). <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> They are not to fear man (Isa 57:11<\/span>; Mat 10:28<\/span>). <\/p>\n

(1)<\/strong> The wrath of man (Psa 124:1-3<\/span>; Psa 82:29). <\/p>\n

(2)<\/strong> The power of man (Heb 13:6<\/span>; Isa 36:22<\/span>). <\/p>\n

(3)<\/strong> The policy of man (Job 5:12-13<\/span>; 1Co 1:25<\/span>). <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> They are not to fear the instruments of human cruelty (Isa 54:17<\/span>). <\/p>\n

4.<\/strong> They are not to fear suffering under affliction (Joh 14:33; Job 5:19-22; 2Co 4:17<\/span>; Rom 8:10<\/span>). <\/p>\n

5.<\/strong> They are not to fear Satan (Rom 6:20<\/span>). <\/p>\n

6.<\/strong> They are not to fear death (Rom 8:38-39<\/span>; 2Co 5:5<\/span>). <\/p>\n

7.<\/strong> They are not to fear hell (Joh 3:18; <\/span>Joh 5:36<\/span>; Isa 54:9<\/span>).The reason why they ought not to fear–<\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> It dishonours God. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> It slanders His power (1Ch 16:24<\/span>). <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> It slanders His faithfulness (2Ti 2:13<\/span>; 1Th 5:24<\/span>).<\/p>\n

4.<\/strong> It slanders His wisdom (1Ti 1:17<\/span>). <\/p>\n

5.<\/strong> It slanders His care (1Pe 5:7<\/span>; Mat 7:11<\/span>; Isa 27:3<\/span>).<\/p>\n

6.<\/strong> It slanders their calling–they are called to be saints (Isa 51:2<\/span>). <\/p>\n

7.<\/strong> It slanders their cause, viz., religion, the cause of God Deu 23:22<\/span>).<\/p>\n

8.<\/strong> It is hurtful to them–it distracts their minds (Luk 8:22-25<\/span>). <\/p>\n

9.<\/strong> It produces hypocrisy and dissimulation (Isa 57:11<\/span>; Gen 20:2-11<\/span>; Gen 26:19<\/span>). <\/p>\n

10.<\/strong> It enfeebles the soul (Isa 7:2<\/span>). <\/p>\n

11.<\/strong> It strengthens the enemy (Jdg 3:2<\/span>). <\/p>\n

12.<\/strong> It discourages the saint (Deu 20:8<\/span>). <\/p>\n

APPLICATION. <\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> Are you comprised in this little flock? <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> Go on with undaunted courage, knowing that God will help you, and afterwards give you the kingdom. (J. Blackmore<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Fear not, little flock<\/strong><\/p>\n


I. <\/strong>THE PERSONS ADDRESSED. Little flock. <\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> Separated by eternal election. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> Bought by particular redemption. <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> Effectually called. <\/p>\n

The word flock denotes–<\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> Their patience. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> Meekness. <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> Humility. <\/p>\n

4.<\/strong> Harmlessness. <\/p>\n

5.<\/strong> Comparatively few in number. <\/p>\n

6.<\/strong> And little in the estimation of the world. <\/p>\n


II. <\/strong>THE EXHORTATION. Fear not. <\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> Fear not the body of sin. Thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged (Isa 6:7<\/span>). <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> The oppositions of Satan. Through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil (Heb 2:14<\/span>). <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> The besetments of the world. We are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world (1Co 11:32<\/span>). <\/p>\n

Fear not, for–<\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> Temporal mercies. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> The efficacy of grace. <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> The faithfulness of God. <\/p>\n

4.<\/strong> For Christ is all love. <\/p>\n

5.<\/strong> The Spirit constant. <\/p>\n

6.<\/strong> And heaven sure. <\/p>\n


III. <\/strong>THE REASON ASSIGNED. It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you–<\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> The kingdom of grace here. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> The kingdom of glory hereafter. <\/p>\n

It implies that it is–<\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> Their Fathers gift. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> By His sovereign pleasure. <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> Delighting in them. <\/p>\n

4.<\/strong> Rejoicing over them. <\/p>\n

5.<\/strong> And supplying all things to them. (T. B. Baker.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The privileges of Christs flock<\/strong><\/p>\n


I. <\/strong>WHY THE LORDS PEOPLE ARE CALLED A LITTLE FLOCK. <\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> They are called a flock, principally from the peculiar regard shown them by the Lord. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> They are called a little flock, because they are but few in number. <\/p>\n


II. <\/strong>WHAT THEY HAVE TO FEAR. They are not exempt from the common calamities of life. In some respects they are more exposed to them than other people. They have reason therefore to fear–<\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> Wants. Though man may provide for to-morrow, he cannot secure what he has provided. Hence all are so desirous of placing themselves as far as possible out of the reach of any disastrous contingencies. In making such provision the true Christian labours under many disadvantages. He cannot use those means of acquiring wealth which the generality of the world employ without any scruple. He cannot devote all his time and all his attention to secular engagements. On these accounts he may at times be tempted to indulge excessive care, and to harbour tears of want and embarrassment. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> Sufferings. The flock of Christ are not only subject to the trials incident to our present state, but are liable to many sufferings peculiar to themselves. They are as sheep in the midst of wolves. <\/p>\n


III. <\/strong>WhY, NOTWITHSTANDING THEIR DANGERS, THEY SHOULD NOT FEAR. God has provided for them a kingdom. God condescends call to Himself their Father. And deals with them as His children. He has prepared for them a kingdom that is infinitely superior to all the kingdoms of this world. The glory of it cannot be expressed or conceived; nor will the duration of it ever end (Heb 12:28<\/span>). This He has given to them for their inheritance. It is His determination to invest them with it, and His delight to preserve them for it. His almighty power is ever exercised for this purpose (1Pe 1:4-5<\/span>). Yea, His whole heart and soul are engaged in accomplishing His gracious intentions (Jer 32:41<\/span>). This is a very sufficient antidote to all their fears. (Theological Sketchbook.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The antidote of fear<\/strong><\/p>\n

Each word of the text is full of encouragement and strength for weak and timid hearts. <\/p>\n


I. <\/strong>THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, BE ITS MEMBERS MANY OR FEW, IS VERY DEAR TO HIM. <\/p>\n


II. <\/strong>THE FUTURE OF THE CHURCH IS NOT TO BE JUDGED BY ITS PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES AND SURROUNDINGS: THE POSITION IS THAT OF AN HEIR IN EXPECTATION OF HIS INHERITANCE. <\/p>\n


III. <\/strong>THE NECESSITY OF BANISHING FEAR FROM A HEART THAT HAS SUCH KINGLY PROSPECTS. (J. Kay.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Encouragement to Christs flock<\/strong><\/p>\n


I. <\/strong>INQUIRE INTO THE REASONS WHY THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST ARE CALLED A FLOCK, AND WHY A LITTLE FLOCK. They are called a flock to show the peculiar regard which the Saviour has to them. They are a little flock, as compared with the multitude of the ungodly. Three reasons why it remains little. <\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> Because the method of admission into this flock is contrary to the enmity of the human heart. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> The laws of this flock are too holy and self-denying for the generality of mankind. This therefore tends to keep it small. <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> Another reason why the flock of Christ is small, is the opposition and persecution it meets with from a sinful world. <\/p>\n


II. <\/strong>POINT OUT THE VARIOUS SOURCES OF FEAR TO THIS, AT PRESENT, LITTLE FLOCK. They are not exempt from the common calamities of life; yea, in many respects, and for wise reasons, they are more exposed to them than other people: Many are the afflictions of the righteous. <\/p>\n


III. <\/strong>ENDEAVOUR, UNDER THE INFLUENCES OF THE SPIRIT, TO REMOVE ALL NEEDLESS FEARS FROM THE FLOCK OF CHRIST, BY REMINDING THEM OF THE PROPERTIES OF THAT KINGDOM WHICH CHRIST HAS PROMISED. <\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> A peaceful kingdom. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> A holy kingdom. <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> An eternal kingdom. (Essex Remembrancer.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The little flock comforted by their Shepherd<\/strong><\/p>\n


I. <\/strong>WE REMARK THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST ARE COMPARED TO A FLOCK OF SHEEP. The property of the ancients consisted for the most part in the number of their cattle, especially in their flocks of sheep. And the Lords portion is His people; Jacob is the lot of His inheritance. His people are the purchase of a Saviours blood, and the called of His grace. He is the great Shepherd, who gave His life for the sheep. Like sheep, moreover, they are meek, and inoffensive, and harmless; they imbibe the Spirit of the Shepherd, which is a Spirit of peace and love; imitative of Him, who when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, threatened not, but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. In their collective capacity, as a flock, they do not bite and devour one another, like wolves among sheep; but feed and lie down together in green pastures, as the property of the same master, the partakers of the same privileges, and the expectants of the same immortal happiness. <\/p>\n


II. <\/strong>THIS FLOCK OF CHRIST IS FOR THE PRESENT COMPARATIVELY SMALL. <\/p>\n


III. <\/strong>THE FLOCK OF CHRIST ARE AT TIMES THE SUBJECTS OF DISTRESSING ANXIETIES. They sometimes fear lest their temporal wants should not be supplied. At other times they fear they should not hold out to the end, but make shipwreck of faith and of a good conscience; and that having begun in the spirit they should end in the flesh. They are at times anxious lest they should bring a reproach upon their profession, and cause the good ways of the Lord to be evil spoken of. And never do their fears rise higher than when they witness some professors, who seemed to be pillars, depart from Zions ways, and either embrace pernicious errors, or fall into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. <\/p>\n


IV. <\/strong>A GLORIOUS KINGDOM AWAITS THE FLOCK OF THE REDEEMER AFTER DEATH. <\/p>\n


V. <\/strong>THEIR HEAVENLY FATHER GREATLY DELIGHTS IN HIS FLOCK, AND WILL TAKE A HOLY SATISFACTION IN PUTTING THEM INTO POSSESSION OF HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM AND GLORY. <\/p>\n


VI. <\/strong>IT HIGHLY BECOMES THE FLOCK OF CHRIST TO DISMISS THEIR FEARS, AND TO BELIEVE THAT GOD WILL NOT PERMIT THEM TO WANT ANY GOOD THING IN THEIR WAY TO THE KINGDOM. (Essex Remembrancer<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The little flock<\/strong><\/p>\n


I. <\/strong>AN ENDEARING APPELLATION. <\/p>\n


II.<\/strong> A SALUTARY CAUTION. <\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> Fear not suffering. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> Fear not affliction. <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> Fear not the temptations of Satan. <\/p>\n

4.<\/strong> Fear not death. <\/p>\n


III. <\/strong>A CHEERING ASSURANCE. (W. J. Brock, B. A.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Fear not, little flock<\/strong><\/p>\n


I. <\/strong>Consider HOW CHRISTS PEOPLE CAME TO BE HIS FLOCK. <\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> By the express commandment of God. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> By the purchase of His atoning death. <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> By actually bringing His people into His fold. <\/p>\n


II. <\/strong>Consider THE DESIGNATION HERE GIVEN OF CHRISTS PEOPLE. Little flock. Let it be considered, not as a point of dry arithmetic, or of dogmatical and uncharitable condemnation of others, but as a melancholy fact, that should awaken yourselves. Is it so that Christs flock is a little flock? then the way of the multitude of mankind is not the way for you to follow if you would be saved, but you must follow the way of the peculiar people. <\/p>\n


III. <\/strong>THE ENCOURAGING EXHORTATION here addressed by Christ to His little flock. Fear not. <\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> Believers have no reason to fear want. It is one of the offices of the Good Shepherd to feed His flock. They shall, in general, have whatever degree of worldly prosperity may be conducive to Gods glory and their own good. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> But want is not the only thing which they may be ready to fear: they may fear the various other afflictions and calamities of life; and yet they have no reason to fear them. He will keep them from all troubles that would be injurious to them, and He will assist them, and bear them safe through those through which He has determined that they shall pass. <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> Nor need Christs people fear that they shall be overcome by their spiritual enemies, or be left to fall finally from grace. They are, indeed, beset with many spiritual dangers, but they have <\/em>a mighty and faithful helper. <\/p>\n

4.<\/strong> Nor need they fear death. <\/p>\n

5.<\/strong> Nor need they fear coming short of heaven. (James Foote, M. A.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The little flock encouraged<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you were asked, my dear children, what commandment in the Bible comes the most often, do you think you should know? Shall I tell you which commandment God gives most frequently? Fear not. He says this more than eighty times–I believe eighty-four times; this is much oftener than any other commandment. Fear not. You know if we are afraid, it looks as if we did not trust God. If anybody is afraid in the dark, if anybody is afraid of thunder, if anybody is afraid of going to bed alone, if anybody is afraid of robbers, if anybody is afraid of wild beasts, if anybody is afraid that God will not forgive him (when he asks Him), if anybody is afraid that God will not guide him all along till he gets to heaven–then he does not trust God. Now we must look to see to whom it is that God says, Fear not. It is called, what? Little flock. Now, why is it called little? <\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> Perhaps it is because there are so few in it, there are very few. A young man told me the other day that he was seven years at Eton, and he did not believe all the time that there was one real Christian there. Now, he could not tell. Very often religious boys are to be found where you do not think they are, and he might have made a great mistake. Very often <\/em>Gods people are hidden people. We cannot tell; but I am sure there are very few,–and I never knew a school yet, where there were a great many. There are but few, and so it is a little flock. If you turn to Jeremiah, you will see how God makes a little flock,–you will not wonder it is little when you read that. I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion (Jer 3:14<\/span>). So you see there are only to <\/em>be two or three. Nobody naturally tries to love God; and if nobody seeks to love God, or to care about his soul, he must not wonder at the flock being so little. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> Do you not think the reason is, not only because so few love God, but because there are so many little lambs in it? there are so many children in Isa 40:11<\/span>). Do you not think they are called a little flockbecause everybody in that flock thinks so little of himself? Everybody who is a Christian thinks little of himself, or ought to do so. If anybody thinks much of himself he is by no means a Christian. It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom. What a good God must that great God be in heaven, who made the sky and stars, and who sits upon that beautiful throne in glory, and gives to such poor creatures as we are the kingdom! There was once a great Roman emperor going through Rome in grand triumph, surrounded by all his attendants,–his courtiers and his soldiers; he himself was riding in a chariot, accompanied by sound of trumpets,–oh! so grand! The emperor was in the midst of that great procession, when a little child came out of the crowd, ran up to this great man, and of course he was put back,–they cried out, Go back, little child–go back–go back! He is your emperor! And the little child said, Yes, he is your emperor, but he is my father. Oh! how beautiful it is to say of the Lord, He is my Father! Your Father! How did He become your Father? (See Jer 3:19<\/span>.) God has one child; that is, Jesus. Nobody can be Gods child who is not joined to Jesus–a member of Jesus–united to Jesus. Then you become indeed Gods child. When we are joined to Jesus, then He is our Father in a sweeter sense. So that if you wish to be able to say, Our Father, which art in heaven, you must love Jesus, follow Jesus, be like Jesus, and be united to Jesus. And oh! what a pleasant thing to have Gods eye upon you. Now we must look at the last thing. What is He going to give us? Do you know? He will give us the kingdom. Then I suppose He gives us everything–the greater and the less. In Rom 14:17<\/span>, it is said, For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Thus we have the kingdom of heaven in our hearts when we have righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. If we have that, then we have good hope, and when we die we shall go to heaven. And, my dear children, do you know you are all trained to be kings? I wonder how the Prince of Wales is trained. I should think he must be always thinking, Oh, I am going to be a king. And that is what you ought to be thinking. You should say, I am going to be a king. Yes, every child, who is a Christian, is going to be a king. Fear not, little flock, it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom. You have heard of Charlemagne,–he ordered that when he died, there should be a chapel built just like the chapel of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem; and that he should not be buried like other men, but like a king, and so he said, Do not lay my body down, but set me upon a throne, and bury me like a king. He was to have a room set apart for him at the side of the chapel, and there was to be a Bible opened and laid by his side when he was dead, and the sword of Charlemagne was to be laid on the other side–and upon his head a crown of gold, and a robe over his shoulders. So he was buried. Years afterwards, the Emperor Otho went to see how Charlemagne looked; the chapel was opened, and he went in to see him,–and what did he see? He was crumbled up into dust. There was the cowl; the crown was not destroyed, but was saved. There was Charlemagne, one of the greatest kings that ever lived–there he was, all dust. Now I will tell you of another man. There was a poor miserable-looking old man, who lived in an almshouse–I will not say where–and the poor old creature had the palsy, and if you bad seen him you would have heard his shoes knocking together with the palsy; and he was sitting in his chair when a gentleman went to see him, and said, Well, my friend, how do you do? Oh! I am waiting-waiting. Are you waiting for me? No, I am waiting for my Master; for Him to bring me my crown. Bring you your crown? Yes, I am going to be a king. How do you know that? Because Christ has said it–Fear not, little flock; for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (J. Vaughan, M. A.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The people of Christ exhorted to lay aside their fears<\/strong><\/p>\n


I. <\/strong>THE EXHORTATION: Fear not, little flock. If it had not been expressly said by St. Luke, that Jesus spake these words to His disciples, we should have had no doubt to whom they were addressed, from the title which He gives them, little flock. Let us then represent to ourselves a little flock of sheep travelling through a wide and barren wilderness; and let us suppose that, thus circumstanced, they could be sensible of their situation, and of the wants and perils to which they were exposed. Would they not have many causes of alarm? Would there not be many things which would excite their fears? <\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> In the first place, they would be terrified at the thought of the cruel and ravenous enemies with which they were surrounded. Every moment they might be surprised by the roaring lion, or the prowling fox, or the hidden serpent, without any means on their part of escape or defence. Beset by such adversaries, they might reasonably fear that every day would be their last. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> Again, ignorant of the road by which they must travel through this wilderness, and arrive at those rich and fertile pastures, after which they were seeking, they could not but fear being entangled and lost by the way. Here would be a continual source of anxiety and apprehension. <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> Once more, the apprehension of want and famine would be another fruitful source of uneasiness. Such we may reasonably conclude would be the fears and anxieties of the little flock, in the circumstances supposed: and now let us apply these things to the spiritual flock, to the people of Christ, the sheep of His pasture, and the lambs of His fold. And let us see whether they have not like grounds and causes for fear. The world is to them a wilderness; a wilderness through which they are travelling towards a better country, that is, a heavenly; a land of heat and drought, beset with dangers, and filled with their enemies. Another ground of fear to the people of Christ is their ignorance and unaquaintedness with the way in which they should go; their readiness to be discouraged at the difficulties in their road; and their propensity to turn aside, and to wander into other paths. How often do they find themselves in such situations, that they can scarcely discern the path of duty, and see the course which they ought to follow I The failure of provision by the way, of those means and accommodations which are necessary for the support and comfort of the present life, is still another fruitful cause of anxiety and alarm. <\/p>\n


II. <\/strong>THE ARGUMENT BY WHICH IT IS ENFORCED: For it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Surely there is enough in this passage to allay the fears and to comfort the hearts of the most timorous and desponding. <\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> In the first place, let the people of Christ call to mind, that God is their Father, Our Lord, speaking to them in the text, says, your Father. Being members of Christ, they are children of God. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> In the second place, let them recollect that this their Heavenly Father has prepared an inheritance for them; and what kind of an inheritance is it? Such an inheritance as the children of such a Father might well expect to receive; a royal inheritance; a crown, a kingdom. Suffice it in one word to say, that the inheritance is such as their Heavenly Father, the God of all power and love, has prepared for His dearly-purchased and His dearly beloved children. <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> In the third place, let them reflect, that with respect to this kingdom, great and glorious as it is, beyond all our thoughts and conceptions, yet it is their Fathers good pleasure to give it them. He has prepared and provided it for them. He has promised it to them: and it will be His delight and His joy to put them into possession of it. It is His good pleasure that they should have it; and that, not because they have deserved it, not because they have done anything to purchase it, or can ever do anything to make Him an adequate return for it–no; but because He delighteth in mercy, and hath pleasure in the felicity of His chosen. It is His good pleasure to give them the kingdom. It is a royal gift. Now, then, my brethren, let us see how the argument, thus opened, applies to the case before us, and enforces the exhortation in the text. Fear not, little flock; fear not that you shall be left to wander in the wilderness without protection, guidance, and provision by the way. Have you not in heaven a Father–an Almighty Father, who loves you with the tenderest love; watches over you with the most anxious care; and desires your happiness with even more than a Fathers heart? And will He ever leave you or forsake you? Besides, hath He not provided an inheritance for you? Hath He not designed, hath He not promised, to make you inconceivably blessed with Himself for ever; and is it possible that He will not bring you safely into the possession of this inheritance? Oh! be ashamed of your unbelief. Be ashamed of your fears. (E. Cooper.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Gods flock<\/strong><\/p>\n

The true followers of Jesus Christ have always been a little flock, compared with the rest of mankind. <\/p>\n


I. <\/strong>Then the majority may be on the wrong side. <\/p>\n


II. <\/strong>Then weakness does not of necessity involve danger or defeat. <\/p>\n


III. <\/strong>Then heaven is Gods gift, and not the reward of works. <\/p>\n


IV. <\/strong>Then God does not judge by appearances. <\/p>\n


V. <\/strong>Then God, who promises the kingdom, will surely keep His word. <\/p>\n


VI. <\/strong>Then the Christian should be hopeful and happy. In lifes fiercest tribulations, we should never forget that Gods promises are worthy of our strongest confidence, and our constant trust. (T. Kelly.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The Christians sense of security<\/strong><\/p>\n

A sense of security seems indispensable to happiness. A habit of foreboding, of thinking something evil is ever about to happen cannot but seriously mar our comfort and satisfaction. This constant dread of impending ill is by no means an uncommon, but a very common thing. We cannot well avoid a natural looking ahead for danger when travelling, but perhaps the less we have of that the more perfect our enjoyment. To be in the presence of one who is continually imagining something ill is near, is very trying to our own peace of mind. For a mind once habituated to foreboding becomes very fertile in its imaginings and will create a great danger from some very trifling occurrence. For such a mind there would seem to be no rest night or day. Constant anxiety is eating up its vitality, which soon becomes exhausted, involving, too, the body in its terrible progress towards dissolution and death. A cure for this harassing temper of mind is the cultivation of a sense of security by a constant looking unto God for guidance and strength. A reliance on Him and a willing obedience to Natures laws will do far more for our happiness than ought beside. Even the dearest friends will fail us at times, yea often, and the truest source of joy must be ourselves purified and lifted by a constant looking unto our Heavenly Father. (Christian Age.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Going to the kingdom<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mrs. G was one day visiting an aged man, a friend of her father, and one who was associated with him in early life. Though differing widely in sentiment, the two old men still felt a deep interest in each other. Mr. S–had been one of those who ran after the world to overtake it. All that it can give, he had obtained. Now he inquired after the state of his friend, whom he knew to be in circumstances of far less external comfort than himself. As he listened to the story of his patience and suffering, and of his cheerfulness with which he could look forward, either to a longer pilgrimage in this world, or to the hour of death, his conscience applied the unexpressed reproach, and he exclaimed, Yes, yes, you wonder I cannot be as quiet and happy too: but think of the difference; he is going to his treasure, and I–I must leave mine! <\/p>\n

Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

Verse 32. Fear not, little flock<\/B><\/I>] Or, very little flock<\/I>, . This is what some term a double diminutive, and, literally translated, is, little little flock<\/I>. Though this refers solely to the apostles and first believers, of whom it was literally<\/I> true, yet we may say that the number of genuine believers has<\/I> been, and is<\/I> still, small, in comparison of heathens<\/I> and false Christians<\/I>.<\/P>

<\/P>

It is your Father’s good pleasure<\/B><\/I>] , It hath pleased<\/I>, c., though this tense joined with an infinitive<\/I> has often the force of the present. Our Lord intimated, God has already<\/I> given you that kingdom which consists in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, and has undertaken to protect and save you to the uttermost therefore, fear not; the smallness<\/I> of your number cannot hurt you, for omnipotence itself has undertaken your cause.<\/P><\/p>\n

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

Our Saviour had mentioned a kingdom, Luk 12:31<\/span>. How much too big a thought was this for fishermen, and others of his poor hearers, to entertain! He therefore here assures them of the thing, that they should have a kingdom, and showeth them that their title to it was his and their Fathers will; though they were a little flock, and so not likely to conquer a kingdom upon earth for themselves, yet they should have a kingdom from the free donation of him, who had kingdoms to give, and would give it to them, because he was their Father. By this kingdom can be understood nothing else but that state of honour, glory, and dignity which believers shall have in the world that is to come; which they shall have not from merit, but gift; not from the first good motions and inclinations of their own will, but from the free motions of the Divine will; and therefore they had no reason to fear that God would not provide food convenient for them. He that had provided a kingdom for them, which he would one day give unto them, would certainly provide bread for them, and give it to them. <\/P> <\/p>\n

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

32. little flock,<\/B> c.Howsublime and touching a contrast between this tender and pityingappellation, “Little flock” (in the original a doublediminutive, which in German can be expressed, but not in English)andthe “good pleasure” of the Father to give them the Kingdomthe one recalling the insignificance and helplessness of that thenliteral handful of disciples, the other holding up to their view theeternal love that encircled them, the everlasting arms that wereunderneath them, and the high inheritance awaiting them!”thekingdom”; grand word; then why not “bread” (Lu12:31<\/span> [BENGEL]). Wellmight He say, “Fear not!”<\/P><\/p>\n

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible <\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

Fear not little flock<\/strong>,…. these words are particularly directed to the immediate apostles and disciples of Christ; but are true of all the saints in all ages of time, who are compared to a “flock of sheep”, being separated from the rest of the world in election, redemption, and the effectual calling, and being folded together in a Gospel church state; and also for their patience, meekness, humility, and harmlessness: these are a “little” flock; few in number, when compared with the wicked of the world; and mean and despicable in the account of men; and little in their own eyes: these are subject to many “fears”; some relate to their outward state, and condition, as that they shall want food and raiment, and not have the necessaries of life; which seems to be in the first place here intended, as appears from the context: and some regard their spiritual and eternal estate, as lest they should have no interest in the love of God, and in the covenant, in the blessings and promises of his grace; lest they should not belong to Christ; or the good work of grace should not be begun in them; or that they should not persevere to the end, and should at last miscarry of eternal life and happiness: and these fears arise from a body of sin, from the temptations of Satan, the hidings of God’s face, and the prevalence of unbelief; for they have no true reason for them: God is on their side, and will not leave, nor forsake them, nor shall they want any good thing Christ is their shepherd, and he has bought them, with his own blood, and will lose none of them; and therefore they need not fear being taken care of both in soul and body, for time and eternity: and especially when what follows is considered,<\/p>\n

for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom<\/strong>; not only the Gospel, and the knowledge of the mysteries of it; nor the Gospel church state, and a right to all its ordinances; nor only the kingdom of grace, which cannot be moved; but the kingdom of glory: and which is a gift unto them, not obtained by any deserts or works of theirs; nor is their right unto, and enjoyment of it depending upon any such thing: and it their Father’s gift, who is so by adopting grace, and through Christ Jesus their Lord; and which he gives according to his sovereign will and pleasure, and with a good will, delighting in them, and rejoicing over them to do them good, both here and hereafter: so that they may depend upon every good thing needful for them both in this world, and in the world to come; nor should they indulge anxious cares, or slavish fears.<\/p>\n

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

Little flock <\/B> ( <\/SPAN><\/span>). Vocative with the article as used in Hebrew and often in the Koine<\/I> and so in the N.T. See both <\/SPAN><\/span> and <\/SPAN><\/span> in the vocative in Lu 10:21<\/span>. See Robertson, Grammar<\/I>, pp. 465f. <\/SPAN><\/span> (flock) is a contraction from <\/SPAN><\/span> from <\/SPAN><\/span> (shepherd) instead of the usual <\/SPAN><\/span> (flock). So it is not a diminutive and <\/SPAN><\/span> is not superfluous, though it is pathetic.<\/P>

For it is your Father’s good pleasure <\/B> ( <\/SPAN><\/span>). First aorist active indicative of <\/SPAN><\/span>. Timeless aorist as in Lu 3:22<\/span>. This verse has no parallel in Matthew. <\/P> <\/p>\n

Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

1) “Fear not little flock,” <\/strong>(me phobou to mikron poimnion) “Do not be fearful little flock,” little assembly, little new covenant people, fellowship of mine, a diminutive, very small band or company, in comparison with world governments, Mat 26:30-32<\/span>; Zec 13:9<\/span>.<\/p>\n

2) “For It Is your Father’s good pleasure,” <\/strong>(hoti eudokesen ho pater humon) “Because your Father was and is pleased,” and He is my Father, permitting me to be the good shepherd to you all, my church-flock, Joh 10:1<\/span>; Mat 26:30-32<\/span>; Zec 13:7<\/span>; even as He was pleased with the baptism of His Son, who soon thereafter began calling and choosing His little flock, His church, Mat 3:17<\/span>; Mat 4:18-22<\/span>.<\/p>\n

3) “To give you the kingdom.” <\/strong>(dounai humin ten basileian) “To give, dole out, commit, or entrust to you all the kingdom,” of His worship and service. The term “of God,” Luk 12:31<\/span>, is omitted in the better manuscripts, which infers that Luke often used the phrase “kingdom of God,” in the broad sense, to refer to the church. It is restrictedly called “The kingdom of heaven,” by Matthew, more than thirty times, used to mean the church only, in each instance; It never means all the saved!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

Luk 12:32<\/span><\/p>\n

. Fear not, little flock By this declaration our Lord strengthens the confidence to which he had exhorted his people: for how would God refuse worthless and perishing food to those whom he has adopted as heirs of his kingdom? And he expressly calls his own people a little flock, to hinder them from thinking that they are of less value in the sight of God, because, on account of their small numbers, they are held in little estimation before the world. The verb εὐδοκεῖν conveys the idea, that eternal life flows to us from the fountain of undeserved mercy. For the same purpose the word give is added. When Christ plainly declares, that God hath given us the kingdom, and for no other reason, but because it so pleased him, it is perfectly manifest, that it is not obtained by any merits of works. At whatever time the Lord raises our minds to the expectation of eternal life, let us remember, that we have no cause for fear as to daily food. <\/p>\n

Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

(32) Fear not, little flock.<\/strong>The words continue to be spoken to the inner circle of the disciples. They are the<\/em> little flock (the Greek has the article) to whom the Father was pleased to give the kingdom which is righteousness and peace and joy. There is an implied recognition of the fact, that the flock had passed beyond the stage of seeking for the kingdom. In its essence it was theirs already.<\/p>\n

It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom.<\/strong>Literally, Your Father was well-pleased to give.<\/em> As resting upon an object, the Greek verb appears in Luk. 3:22<\/span>; Mat. 3:17<\/span>; Mat. 12:18<\/span>; Mat. 17:5<\/span>; Mar. 1:11<\/span>. As followed by a verb of action, it is used, in the New Testament, only by St. Luke and St. Paul, and so forms another link in the chain of coincidences connecting them. (Comp. Rom. 15:26<\/span>; Gal. 1:15<\/span>; Col. 1:19<\/span>, and elsewhere.)<\/p>\n

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

32<\/strong>. <\/strong> Little flock<\/em> Addressed primarily to the twelve. <\/p>\n

Father’s good pleasure<\/em> The words good pleasure <\/em> no doubt express a supreme and sovereign purpose; but God’s purposes are never matters of mere blank power; but are founded in infinite benevolence and wisdom. God is omnipotent love and infinite reason; and his sovereignty is the enthronement of true divine excellence and perfect goodness over the universe. <\/p>\n

The kingdom<\/em> The kingdom <\/em> of heaven, mentioned as the object of those who seek <\/em> in the last verse.<\/p>\n

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

As They Seek The Kingly Rule of God And Its Establishment Among Men They Must Recognise That It is Not All Just A Matter Of Numbers.<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Fear not, little flock; for your Father was pleased to give you the Kingly Rule.”<\/p>\n

Jesus saw their thoughts and realised that they were puzzled about how the Kingly Rule of God could come about when they were so few. They had followed Him for some time and numbers had grown promisingly, and then they seemed to have fallen. Now they seemed again but few. And yet, they must have thought, surely if we are to bring in the Kingly Rule of God over men it will take a great army. But where were was this army? (John the Baptiser had probably been thinking the same thing – Luk 7:20<\/span>). Why had Jesus allowed them to dwindle to so few? They still had completely wrong ideas about everything.<\/p>\n

So lest they be afraid that somehow they would miss out on the Kingly Rule of God because of their small numbers, He assures them that it will not be so. They should recognise that the fact that they are here with Him is the guarantee of it. The Kingly Rule of God is in fact here in Him. And thus the Kingly Rule of God has already been given to them. They may see themselves as only comparatively few in number, ‘a little flock’, and may be asking themselves how the Kingly Rule of God can possibly come about with so few, but they will find that it will be so, for it is the Father’s good pleasure to give to THEM the Kingly Rule of God. They must rest within God’s own will and purposes.<\/p>\n

Rather than waiting for large numbers to enrol, they will shortly discover that, few in number though they may be, God will begin to introduce His Kingly Rule through them. It is His gift to  them<\/em>, few though they are, because they are His sheep and His flock, and it will not fail because they are few in numbers. They need not think that because they are few they cannot belong to a King, or bring in His Kingly Rule, because kings usually have large flocks. A large flock is not required in this case, for He is more concerned about the quality. So let them seek to enter fully under His Kingly Rule now, ready for what is to come, and not worry about their numbers.<\/p>\n

We can compare for the idea of the flock, Luk 15:4-6<\/span>; Mat 10:16<\/span>; Joh 10:1-16<\/span>; Joh 10:27-28<\/span>; Act 20:28-29<\/span>; 1Pe 5:2<\/span>, also Isa 40:11<\/span>, and recognise that only God could have determined to bring in His Kingly Rule through a small bunch of sheep.<\/p>\n

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

The little flock:<\/p>\n

v. 32<\/strong>. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.<\/strong><\/p>\n

v. 33<\/strong>. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.<\/strong><\/p>\n

v. 34<\/strong>. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.<\/p>\n

<\/strong> Only a little flock is that of the disciples in the midst of the great mass of the nations of the world; only a few, a mere handful, that are earnestly and anxiously seeking the Kingdom. But these shall not fear, for the Kingdom shall be theirs according to the good pleasure of the Father, because it pleases Him, in His great mercy, to give it to them, as a free gift. “As though He would say: You have not earned it; yea, you have earned hell; but what happens to you, that is nothing but grace, promised to you out of the good pleasure of the Father; therefore only believe, and you shall surely have it. It is a great thing that we are children of God and brethren of Christ, that we have power over, and are lords of, death, sin, devil, and hell; but such power not all men have, but only such as believe. For he that believes that God is our Father and we are His children, he need not fear any one; for God is his Protector, in whose power all things are, and all men’s hearts in His hand. ” Rather than that the believers should set their hearts and minds upon the things of this world and be filled with care for the body, they should, according to the advice of the Lord, sell their goods and give the proceeds to charity. Then their hearts will be torn loose from all earthy considerations and will be fixed all the more easily and firmly on eternal riches. The possessions of the disciples will then be contained in a purse which will never grow old, for they are the riches of God’s grace in Christ Jesus; no thief is able to come near and abstract that inexhaustible, precious treasure, and no moth can destroy the white garment of the righteousness of Jesus which has been given to us by faith. How necessary to become ever surer of the heavenly calling in Jesus the Lord by a constant consideration of passages like the present!<\/p>\n

Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

Luk 12:32-34<\/span><\/em><\/strong>. <\/strong>Fear not, little flock, <\/em><\/strong>&c.<\/strong> “Since the will of God is your everlasting happiness, he will surely bestow on you the necessaries of the present life.” This part of the charge may be considered as parallel to the directions given to the twelve, Mat 10:9<\/span>. Provide neither gold, <\/em>&c. That is, “make no provision for your journey, but rely wholly on the providence of God.” Only our Lord added a precept peculiarly calculated for those times, in which the profession of the gospel exposed men to the loss of all their goods; Luk 12:33-34<\/span>. Sell that ye have, <\/em>&c. “By bestowing that wealth in charities, send it before you into heaven, where it shall be secured from all accidents, and be a source of eternal joy to you; and if your treasure be thus laid up in heaven, your heart will be there; consequently, your dispositions, actions, and hopes will all be heavenly.” This counsel was designed principally for the apostles, who, being chosen from among all the disciples to go out into the world, and convert mankind, could have no fixed possessions, consistently with the duties of their function; neither had they any occasion for them, being the peculiar charge of Providence. Besides, that the first preachers of the gospel should be poor, was altogether necessary, because, if it had been otherwise, the world might have suspected that the tie which united them in the great undertaking of converting the world, was of a secular and selfish nature. See on Mat 19:21<\/span>. And indeed, in all ages of the Christian church, the most useful ministers of the gospel have been poor in respect to this world. However, though this direction was given to the apostles in particular the disciples in general seem to have followed it after the day of Pentecost, when they sold their possessions, and put the price of them into a common stock, wherewith they supported their brethren; for it can hardly be doubted, that their behaviour in this matter proceeded from the regard which they paid to the present admonitionofourLord,joinedwiththeircharitabledispositions,andtheirexpectation of better possessions in the Messiah’s kingdom of glory. Nevertheless, from what St. Peter said to Ananias, Act 5:4<\/span> we learn, that this precept did not absolutely oblige them, being in the literal sense calculated, as we have already observed, for the apostles. Dr. Doddridge upon the word , Luk 12:32<\/span> remarks, that it generally signifies a pleasurable acquiescence. <\/em>And, agreeably to this, it is pleasing to observe how God is represented in scripture, as enjoying his own presence <\/em>as it were with a peculiar relish, in the view of those glories which he has prepared for his faithful saints. <\/p>\n

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

Luk 12:32<\/span> . Peculiar to Luke. An encouragement to fearlessness in the endeavour after the Messiah’s kingdom, by means of the promise of the divinely-assured final result.<\/p>\n

] in consideration of their external powerlessness and weakness ( . ). But Christians generally<\/em> , as such, are not the little<\/em> [157] flock (which is not to be changed into a poor<\/em> oppressed band, as de Wette, following Grotius, does), but the little community of the disciples<\/em> (Luk 12:22<\/span> ), as whose head He was their shepherd<\/em> (comp. Joh 10:12<\/span> ; Mat 26:31<\/span> ).<\/p>\n

] it has pleased<\/em> your Father. See on Rom 15:26<\/span> ; Col 1:19<\/span> .<\/p>\n

. .] see Luk 20:29<\/span> f.<\/p>\n

[157] But is not a diminutive, as Bengel supposed, but is a contraction for .<\/p>\n

Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

DISCOURSE: 1528
THE PRIVILEGES OF CHRISTS FLOCK<\/strong><\/p>\n

Luk 12:32<\/span>. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom<\/em>.<\/p>\n

AMONG the many faculties which exalt man above the brute creation, that of being able to look into futurity is by no means the least: but while this in many instances elevates him with hope, in many other instances it depresses him with fear. Hence he is often filled with anxiety to secure the good he hopes for, and to avert the evil which he dreads. To discountenance this solicitude, and to teach men to live dependent upon God, is the scope of our Lords discourse before us. And, in the text, he fortifies his own peculiar people against fear and anxiety, by reminding them of the distinguishing favour of God towards them, and the glorious provision he has made for them. To elucidate his words we shall shew,<\/p>\n

I.<\/p>\n

What the Lords people have to fear<\/p>\n

The Lords people are but a little flock
[They once went astray like sheep that are lost: but they have been brought home by Christ, the great and good shepherd, and have been united together by him in one fold. They are kept enclosed, as it were, and distinct from the world: they hear their shepherds voice and follow him: he leads them into pastures which he himself has provided for them: he administers to all their wants, strengthening the diseased, healing the sick, and binding up the broken [Note: Eze 34:16<\/span>.]. The lambs he carries in his bosom, and gently leads them that are with young [Note: Isa 40:11<\/span>.]; and, however they may feed in different pastures, he considers them all as under his peculiar care.<\/p>\n

But they are a little<\/em> flock. In every age and every place their numbers have been small: they are the few that find the narrow way. When indeed they shall be all assembled at the last day they will be more than the stars of heaven or the sands upon the sea-shore for multitude [Note: Rev 7:9<\/span>.]. But before that period they will receive an astonishing increase: the whole earth shall be overspread with them; and that<\/em> too in successive generations for a thousand years [Note: Rev 20:4<\/span>.]. Till that day of Gods power; they will be a little flock when compared with the herds of the ungodly. At present they are only like the gleanings of the olive-tree, two or three upon the topmost branch [Note: Isa 17:6<\/span>.].]<\/p>\n

Weak as they are, they have much to fear
[They are not exempt from the common calamities of life. In some respects they are more exposed to them than other people. They have reason to fear wants<\/em>. In making provision for themselves, they labour under many disadvantages: they cannot use those means of acquiring wealth which the generality of the world employ without any scruple: they cannot devote all<\/em> their time, and all<\/em> their attention to secular engagements: they dare not neglect their soul, even if they could gain the whole world by it. Moreover, they have many in the world who would be glad enough to ruin them; but few, very few, that will exert themselves much to help them forward. On these accounts they may at times be tempted to indulge excessive care, and to harbour fears of want and embarrassment. They have also to dread sufferings<\/em>. The flock of Christ are not only subject to the trials incident to our present state, but are liable to many sufferings peculiar to themselves: they are as sheep in the midst of wolves: often among themselves are found some that are wolves in sheeps clothing: above all, there is a roaring lion ever seeking to devour them. Now Christians are not only weak when opposed to Satan, but also when opposed to the world: they cannot contend with carnal weapons [Note: 2Co 10:4<\/span>.]: The servant of the Lord must not strive. The rebuke given to Peter when fighting for his Master, sufficiently ties their hands from standing in their own defence [Note: Mat 26:52<\/span>.]. Their only weapons are faith and patience: they are to conquer indeed, but it is by suffering even unto death [Note: Rev 12:11<\/span>.]. Well therefore may they entertain fears respecting these things: for if they be not well armed with the mind that was in Christ [Note: 1Pe 4:1<\/span>.], they will faint in the day of adversity.]<\/p>\n

But the exhortation in the text leads us to notice,<\/p>\n

II.<\/p>\n

The antidote provided for them<\/p>\n

God has provided for them a kingdom
[God condescends to call himself their Father, and deals with them as his children. He has prepared for them a kingdom that is infinitely superior to all the kingdoms of this world. The glory of it cannot be expressed or conceived; nor will the duration of it ever end [Note: Heb 12:28<\/span>.]. This he has given to them for their inheritance. It is his determination<\/em> to invest them with it, and his delight<\/em> to preserve them for it His almighty power is ever exercised for this purpose [Note: 1Pe 1:4-5<\/span><\/u>]; yea, his whole heart and soul are engaged in accomplishing his gracious intentions [Note: Jer 32:41<\/span>.].]<\/p>\n

This is a very sufficient antidote to all their fears
[Why should they be afraid of want<\/em> who have God for their Father, and a kingdom for their inheritance? Can it be supposed that he who provides for the evil and unthankful, and sustains the ravens that call upon him, will neglect his own children? Will he, who of his good pleasure<\/em> bestowed upon them all the glory of heaven, refuse them what is necessary for their present sustenance? Why too should they be afraid of sufferings<\/em>, since not a hair of their head can perish, nor can even a sparrow fall to the ground, without the permission of their Father? If he see fit to let loose the enemy for the trial of their faith, will he not support their courage, and make them more than conquerors? Besides, will not their light and momentary afflictions work out for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory? And will not a kingdom abundantly compensate all their trials? Surely then they should dispel all fears; and commit themselves into the hands of a faithful God [Note: 1Pe 4:19<\/span>.].]<\/p>\n

Address
1.<\/p>\n

The flock of Christ<\/p>\n

[God would have you without carefulness [Note: 1Co 7:32<\/span>.]. He bids you cast all your care on him who careth for you [Note: 1Pe 5:7<\/span>.]. And shall God be so concerned about relieving your fears, and you not be concerned to honour him? O chide your unbelieving thoughts, and say, Why art thou disquieted, O my soul? Jehovah is my shepherd, I shall not want; Jehovah is my Father, I will not fear [Note: Psa 23:1<\/span>; Psa 23:4<\/span>.]? Surely if you reflect on the promises he has made to you, it will be impossible for you ever to be cast down again. Ye, my flock, says he, the flock of my pasture, are men; but I am your God, saith the Lord God [Note: Eze 34:31<\/span>.]. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the fire, you shall not be burnt [Note: Isa 43:2<\/span>.]. Consider, If God be for you, who can be against you? O be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God; and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus [Note: Php 4:6-7<\/span>.].]<\/p>\n

2.<\/p>\n

The herds of this world<\/p>\n

[Shall we address you in the language of the text, Fear not? Alas! not only the Scriptures, but also your own consciences, would condemn us. You may possibly have no particular cause to dread either wants or sufferings in this world, (though you cannot tell what may befall you before you die,) but may you not have to dwell with everlasting burnings, and want even a drop of water to cool your tongue in that world to which you are hastening? Know assuredly, that your numbers will not screen you from the vengeance of an angry God. If you be not of those who have put themselves under the care of the good shepherd, you will be considered as goats, and be for ever separated from the flock of Christ [Note: Mat 25:32-33<\/span>.]. He will set the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on his left. You will then find to your cost, that not God, but Satan was your father; and that with Satan must be your portion [Note: Joh 8:42<\/span>; Joh 8:44<\/span>.]. It is not without much regret that God now<\/em> gives you up to that misery [Note: Hos 11:8<\/span>.]. But in the last day he will find as much satisfaction, and be as much glorified, in your destruction, as in the salvation of his elect. He now complains, Thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities: but then he will say, Ah! I will ease me of mine adversaries [Note: Isa 1:24<\/span>.]. Seek then to become the sheep of Christ. Beg him to bring you home to his fold, and to feed you in his pleasant pastures. Thus shall we all become one fold under one shepherd, and feed beside the living fountains of water to all eternity.]<\/p>\n<\/p>\n


<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

(32) Fear not little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (33) Sell that ye have, and give alms: provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. (34) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (35) Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; (36) And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. (37) Blessed are those servants whom the lord when he cometh, shall find watching: verily, I say unto you, That he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. (38) And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. (39) And this know, that if the good man of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. (40) Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. (41) Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? (42) And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? (43) Blessed is that servant whom his lord 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, and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the men servants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; (46) The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. (47) And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. (48) But he that knew not, and 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 have committed much, of him they will ask the more,<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

I shall have no occasion to offer much comment on this very blessed discourse of Jesus. His language is so plain as to need none. I shall only here and there call the Reader’s attention to some of the more striking expressions the Lord is pleased to use. There is somewhat very interesting in Jesus calling his Church a little flock. Little, in comparison of the world’s wide wilderness; but when all brought home by electing, redeeming, and effectual calling in grace, here in the present life, and to glory above, the Church is said to be a multitude which no man could number, Rev 7:9<\/span> . The Lord hath been pleased to dignify his Church with several very striking names; but all highly descriptive. A beautiful flock, Jer 13:20<\/span> . A flock of slaughter, Zec 11:4-7<\/span> . An holy flock, Eze 36:38<\/span> . And by his same servant, most blessedly doth he call it, My flock, Eze 34:17<\/span> . All Which prove the special and peculiar character of the Lord’s people, 1Pe 2:9<\/span> . And it is equally worthy the Reader’s attention what Jesus saith in relation to the kingdom. It is said to be given. Fear not, little flock, it is your heavenly Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. So that it is not man’s purchase by merit, but God’s gift by grace. And it is not only a gift, but a free gift, and wholly the result of God’s good pleasure, Isa 43:21<\/span> ; Mat 11:26<\/span> . Jesus’s direction to his disciples, to wean themselves from earth and earthly connections, is very striking. And the figure of a man with his loins girded, and his light burning, is a beautiful allusion to servants of the east; whose long vestures were always<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

tucked up, and fastened to their girdles, when in waiting, that they might be able to run with speed, when their master’s services required it. And this explains to us what the Prophet saith of the ministers of the Gospel, whose feet are uncovered when they run on the mountains, Isa 62:7<\/span> . But the most lovely of all the similitudes in this discourse of Jesus, is that in which he describes himself as girding himself, and coming forth to serve his faithful servants, whom he will make to sit down to meat. It is indeed impossible to form equal apprehensions of the grace and humility of the Lord Jesus. He who washed his disciples’ feet, when in the moment he knew himself to be Lord of all, and all things were given into his sovereign hand, who shall calculate the wonderful extent of such grace? But without straining the expressions to the utmost limits, in beholding Jesus serving them, whose very happiness must be made up of serving him, it may serve to shew, in some measure, the overflowing love of his heart, which is wholly theirs; and every act of it directed for their happiness here, and to all eternity, Son 2:14<\/span> .<\/p>\n

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ver. 32. Fear not, little flock<\/strong> ] Gr. little, little flock. There is in the original a double diminutive. If we divide the known parts of the world into three equal parts, the Christians’ part is but as five, the Mahometans’ as six, and the idolaters’ as nineteen. Among the best Churches, the most are the worst, as Phi 3:18<\/span> . Chrysostom could not find a hundred in Antioch that he could be well persuaded that they should be saved. <\/p>\n

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

32 34.<\/strong> ] Our Lord gives to his own disciples an assurance of the Father’s favour as a ground for removing all fear from them, and shews them the true riches, and how to seek them.<\/p>\n

Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

32. <\/strong> <\/strong> . <\/strong> <\/strong> .<\/strong> ] Thus He sets himself forth as their Shepherd (Joh 10:1<\/span> ff.), and them (as in Isa 41:10-14 ) as a weak and despised people.<\/p>\n

Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

Luk 12:32-34<\/span> . The little flock<\/em> , in Lk. only. (contracted from ), a flock (of sheep), a familiar designation of the body of believers in the apostolic age (Act 20:28<\/span> , 1Pe 5:3<\/span> ); adds pathos. That Jesus applied this name to His disciples is very credible, though it may be that in the sense of the source from which Lk. drew, the little flock is the Jewish-Christian Church of Palestine subject to persecution from their unbelieving countrymen (J. Weiss in Meyer). The counsel “fear not” is Mt.’s “ take no thought for to-morrow<\/em> ,” but the “to-morrow” refers not to temporal but to spiritual things; hence the declaration following. Paraphrased = Fear not future want of food and raiment, still less loss of the kingdom, the object of your desire. Your Father will certainly give it.<\/p>\n

Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

little flock. Compare Psa 23:1. Isa 40:11. Mat 26:31. Joh 10:12-16. <\/p>\n

it is your Father’s good pleasure = your Father took delight. The King was present: what could He not supply? <\/p>\n

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

32-34.] Our Lord gives to his own disciples an assurance of the Fathers favour as a ground for removing all fear from them, and shews them the true riches, and how to seek them.<\/p>\n

Fuente: The Greek Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

Luk 12:32. , fear not) This passage is full of benignity.-) That which is little might seem to have cause for fearing: but it is for that reason with so much the more benignity guarded in safety. Both the several little sheep individually are small (as a people is said to be feeble, which consists of the feeble, Pro 30:25-26, the ants and conies): and the whole flock is by no means numerous, if it be compared with the world at large, and is easily fed, even on this very account, because it is not numerous, and is [therefore also the more] precious. [Such persons as belong to this little flock, do not hunt after worldly splendour.-V. g.]-) A diminutive most sweet and full of love.-) It hath been the good pleasure of your Father Himself.- , the kingdom) A grand expression, implying much: see Luk 12:31 : why then should not bread be included in His promise? [Truly the son of a king has no reason to be anxious as to meat, drink, and clothing.-V. g.]<\/p>\n

Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

Chapter 80<\/p>\n

Your Fathers Good Pleasure<\/p>\n

What tremendous words of consolation, instruction, and hope we have before us in this passage. How well our Master knows our hearts! How quick he is to condescend to our low estate and meet our needs!<\/p>\n

A Soul-cheering Assurance<\/p>\n

The first thing I see in our text is a soul-cheering assurance. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom (Luk 12:32). Our Lord Jesus knew that these disciples were filled with many fears, and that we would often be tossed about with the same. They were few in number. Their adversaries were many and great. They had to face great difficulties. They were but weak, sinful men. They had a great work to do. And they knew themselves unworthy and altogether insufficient for the work. Being aware of all these fears that these disciples faced, all the fears that we must face, our ever gracious Redeemer speaks this word of grace: Fear not, little flock; for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom. In that one, golden sentence, he gives us great assurances to comfort our hearts and cheer our souls.<\/p>\n

Gods church in this world is a little flock. The word might be better translated very little flock. The fact is, Gods people in this world are now, always have been, and always shall be but a very little flock. There are multitudes who wear the name of Christ, multitudes who meet regularly in houses of worship, multitudes who have a profession of faith; but true believers are always but a very little flock in this world. We ought never to be surprised by this fact. It is vain to expect it to be otherwise, Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Mat 7:14).<\/p>\n

There shall always be a remnant according to the election of grace; but Gods elect shall always be but a remnant, until our Lord comes again. Yes, Gods people are but a very little flock; but we are his little flock! Christ is our Shepherd. He chose us to be his sheep. He bought us with his blood. He sought us out and found us. He is carrying us home. He will never let us go. We are constantly under his tender care.<\/p>\n

This passage also assures us that we have a great and gracious Father. You and I are tenderly loved by God the Father, who has made himself our Father. What a privilege! The God of Glory is our heavenly Father. He adopted us as his dear children. He rejoices over us as the objects of his love. He sees no spot in us. He delights in us as he delights in Christ. He receives us graciously. He is well-pleased with us in Christ, even as he is well-pleased with Christ.<\/p>\n

Even now, when the holy Lord God looks down upon us from heaven, with all our fears and infirmities, he sees us in Christ and smiles with approval, just as fully as he shall when he presents us before his glory and welcomes us into his kingdom (Jud 1:24-25). Because our heavenly Father is well-pleased with his chosen in Christ, as one with Christ, it is our Fathers good pleasure to give us his kingdom. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom.<\/p>\n

There is a glorious, eternal kingdom awaiting us, a kingdom of our Fathers pleasure which he delights to give us. Here we are troubled, tried, and tempted. We are mocked, ridiculed, and despised. We are counted the off-scouring of the earth. But that will not be the case for long (Rom 8:18; Col 3:4; Rev 19:1-9). It is our Fathers good pleasure to give us his kingdom, all of it; and that which God is pleased to do, God will do.<\/p>\n

Are you a part of Gods little flock? If we are a part of this flock, we have nothing to fear. Our God has given us exceeding great and precious promises (2Pe 1:4), and they are all yea and amen in Christ Jesus. God is ours. Christ is ours. Eternity is ours. All things are ours. The world, the flesh and the devil may oppose us; but God is for us. And, if God be for us, who can be against us?<\/p>\n

A Heart-searching Fact<\/p>\n

Next, in Luk 12:33-34 I see a heart searching fact. Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Our Saviours exhortations are plain and demanding, but plain and unmistakable. Sell that ye have. He says, Give alms. His requirement is, provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. Then, he adds this heart-searching fact: Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.<\/p>\n

We are to sell what we have. Without question this is a figurative thing, not to be taken literally. There is nothing in the New Testament that suggests that a person is to impoverish himself, or sell off his property to be a follower of Christ. On the contrary, we are required to faithfully and diligently provide for our families (1Ti 5:8).<\/p>\n

What, then, is the meaning of this exhortation? It is just this: We are to sell, or give up anything and everything that stands between us and Christ. This is an exhortation to self-denial. Faith in Christ involves the giving of our lives, of all that we are and have to the dominion and disposal of our Lord.<\/p>\n

Next, the Lord Jesus teaches us that we are to give. The giving of alms speaks of charity and kindness to those in need. We are to be more ready to use what God has trusted to our hands for the benefit of others, particularly for the benefit of his kingdom and the furtherance of the gospel, than to hoard it up for ourselves and to gratify our carnal lust for earthly things.<\/p>\n

The New Testament teaches nothing about tithing; but it teaches us much about giving. All of 1 Corinthians 9, 2 Corinthians 8, and 2 Corinthians 9 are taken up with this subject. But there are no commands to the people of God anywhere in the New Testament about how much we are to give, when we are to give, or where we are to give. Tithing and all systems like it are things altogether foreign to the New Testament. Like all other acts of worship, giving is an act of grace. It must be free and voluntary. Yet, there are some plain, simple guidelines laid down in the New Testament for us to follow.<\/p>\n

Christian giving must be motivated by love and gratitude for Christ (2Co 8:8-9). Love needs no law. It is a law unto itself. It is the most powerful and most generous of all motives.<\/p>\n

Our gifts must arise from willing hearts (2Co 8:12). If that which we give arises from a willing heart, if it is given freely and cheerfully, it is accepted of God. The Lord is not concerned with the amount of our gift, be it great or small. He looks to the motive behind it.<\/p>\n

We should give to the work of the gospel in proportion to our blessings from the Lord (1Co 16:2). We are expected to give generously in accordance with our own ability.<\/p>\n

All of Gods people should give; everyone (1Co 16:2); every man (2Co 9:7). Men and women, rich and poor, old and young, all who are saved by the grace of God are expected to give for the support of Gods church and kingdom.<\/p>\n

We should be both liberal and sacrificial in our giving (2Co 9:5-6). We have not really given anything until we have taken that which we need, want and have use for and given it to the Lord (Mar 12:41-44). Our gifts must be voluntary (2Co 9:7).<\/p>\n

We are to give as unto the Lord (Mat 6:1-5). We give, not to be seen of men, but for the honour of Christ, hoping for nothing in return. This kind of giving is well-pleasing to God (Php 4:18; Heb 13:16).<\/p>\n

Then our Lord here tells us to provide ourselves treasure in the heavens. That is to say, we are to make our calling and election sure, to lay hold of eternal life, to make certain that Christ is ours. This is true wisdom. This is true prudence. As J. C. Ryle put it <\/p>\n

The man who does well for himself is the man who gives up everything for Christs sake. He makes the best of bargains. He carries the cross for a few years in this world, and in the world to come has everlasting life. He obtains the best of possessions. He carries his riches with him beyond the grave. He is rich in grace here and rich in glory hereafter. And, best of all, what he obtains by faith in Christ he never loses. It is that good part which is never taken away.<\/p>\n

Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Where is your treasure? If we will be honest, that question will be easily answered. What do we love? What occupies our hearts and minds? Upon what is our affection set? It matters nothing what we say, what we profess to believe, how orthodox our creed is, or how highly respected we are by others. Where is our treasure? That is where our heart is. If our treasure is here, our hearts are here. If our treasure is in heaven, our hearts are in heaven.<\/p>\n

A Readiness For Christ<\/p>\n

Third, our Lord shows us what it is to be ready for his glorious second advent.<\/p>\n

Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not (Luk 12:35-40).<\/p>\n

We have here a picture of what we ought to be at all times. We ought to be a people watching for Christs return, always living upon the tiptoe of faith and expectation (Tit 2:11-14). If we would live in the relentless anticipation of Christs return, we must gird up our loins, ready always to do our Masters bidding. We must ever have our lights burning, watching for and welcoming our Lord.<\/p>\n

Luk 12:37 is one of the most remarkable passages to be found in all the volume of holy scripture. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. Christ is coming again. He is coming now (Rev 1:7). When he comes, he will gird himself, make us sit down at his table, and serve us! What can that mean?<\/p>\n

We have a hint of this in Luk 22:18. For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. There is reference to this back in Isa 25:6. And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. The meaning of this promise is indescribably beyond the scope of my comprehension; but of this I am sure: there is no degree of honour, glory, happiness, and bliss that the Lord Jesus Christ will withhold from those who love his appearing (Joh 14:1-3; Rev 1:7; 1Th 4:13-18; 2Ti 4:8). Fear not, little flock; for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom!<\/p>\n

Fear not, O little flock, the foe<\/p>\n

Who madly seeks your overthrow;<\/p>\n

Dread not his rage and power;<\/p>\n

What though your courage sometimes faints,<\/p>\n

His seeming triumph oer Gods saints<\/p>\n

Lasts but a little hour.<\/p>\n

Be of good cheer; your cause belongs<\/p>\n

To Him who can avenge your wrongs;<\/p>\n

Leave it to Him our Lord.<\/p>\n

Though hidden yet from all our eyes,<\/p>\n

He sees the Gideon who shall rise;<\/p>\n

To save us, and His word.<\/p>\n

As true as Gods own word is true,<\/p>\n

Not earth nor hell with all their crew<\/p>\n

Against us shall prevail.<\/p>\n

A jest and by-word are they grown;<\/p>\n

God is with us, we are His own,<\/p>\n

Our victory cannot fail.<\/p>\n

Amen, Lord Jesus, grant our prayer!<\/p>\n

Great Captain, now Thine arm make bare;<\/p>\n

Fight for us once again.<\/p>\n

So shall thy saints and martyrs raise<\/p>\n

A mighty chorus to Thy praise,<\/p>\n

World without end.<\/p>\n

Jacob Fabricius<\/p>\n

Fuente: Discovering Christ In Selected Books of the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

kingdom <\/p>\n

(See Scofield “Mat 3:2”). <\/p>\n

Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

little: Son 1:7, Son 1:8, Isa 40:11, Isa 41:14, *marg. Isa 53:6, Mat 7:15, Mat 18:12-14, Mat 20:16, Joh 10:26-30 <\/p>\n

it is: Luk 10:21, Mat 11:25-27, Eph 1:5-9, Phi 2:13, 2Th 1:11 <\/p>\n

the kingdom: Jer 3:19, Mat 25:34, Joh 18:36, Rom 6:23, Rom 8:28-32, 2Th 1:5, Heb 12:28, Jam 2:5, 1Pe 1:3-5, 2Pe 1:11, Rev 1:6, Rev 22:5 <\/p>\n

Reciprocal: Gen 15:1 – Fear Gen 26:24 – fear Deu 1:21 – fear not Deu 7:7 – ye were Deu 31:6 – fear not 1Sa 23:17 – thou shalt be 2Sa 7:21 – according 2Sa 13:4 – Why art Psa 51:18 – thy Psa 73:1 – God Psa 74:1 – the sheep Isa 44:2 – Fear Jer 31:10 – and keep Eze 34:31 – ye my Zec 8:15 – fear Zec 9:16 – shall save Zec 13:7 – I will turn Mat 6:26 – your Mat 7:14 – and few Mat 13:43 – in Mat 18:14 – it is Mat 26:29 – with Luk 1:30 – General Luk 6:20 – for Luk 12:30 – your Luk 18:30 – manifold more Luk 22:29 – General Joh 6:39 – this Act 20:28 – all Rom 8:17 – if children 1Co 12:18 – as it Phi 3:20 – our 1Th 3:11 – God 1Ti 4:8 – having 1Ti 6:6 – godliness 2Ti 4:18 – and will Heb 11:16 – for 1Pe 3:20 – wherein 1Pe 5:2 – the flock<\/p>\n

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

THE MINISTRY AND THE KINGDOM<\/p>\n

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom.<\/p>\n

Luk 12:32<\/p>\n

I ask you to dwell with me for a little while on some thoughts about the Christian ministry, its ennobling hopes, its inevitable perils. I have taken as a text our Lords own words to His disciples.<\/p>\n

I. Sureness of victory.The phrase rings out high encouragement and cheer. And the hearers needed such cheer. They were just then, it would seem, beginning to realise, however dimly, that their position was not going to be quite what they had been picturing to themselves a little while before. Yes, the triumphs they had looked for and talked about were going to be quite different from what they had first supposed. The work set them to do would not be in the least like what in the enthusiasm of the first days they had imagined, and so the Master is encouraging them. You are not going to have, He says, the applause of men; you are not going to have sympathy. Things will seem to be all going against you, but you are to conquer all the same. The Father loves His little flock, and bids them remember that they are part of His army, that army which is marching along with Him at its head. It would be disloyal to look upon it except as certain to triumph. The men who feel (and which of our clergy has not felt it hundreds of times, quite as often as our critics can?) the men who feel their own littleness in power, in experience, in moral courage, in stern resolve, sometimes even in earnestness of purpose, are allowed to remember with confidence that they in their office are but a little portion of that great thing, His Kingdom, which has advanced and is advancing to victory. If the man, weak as he is, be but faithful to what we rightly call his high calling, he will be carried along in the unresting, irresistible march of Christs army. He will co-operate in his Captains work and share in His triumph.<\/p>\n

II. The history of the Kingdom.Look back to what that living force of His has done in the world, not by the clergy, but by the Church, clergy and people both. Look forth upon what wants doing now. Look upward and onward to Him Who is at our head, and to the promise He has given. Then, indeed, thank God and take courage. What is it, one wonders, that makes good men so often seem to forget the history of the Kingdom of Christ, which makes them speak as though the Church were engaged simply in holding a beleaguered fortress, or were joining in what might be called a forlorn hope against a resistless foe, instead of expecting and proclaiming all along the line the victory of our Master. It has not been when the Church of Christ was meekly bowing its head to a coming storm that the Church has been most blest. It has been when, with head erect and with larger expectancy, men and women were going forth in quietness and confidence against cruelty and impurity and selfishness and greed, against dishonesty in word or act; inspired, glowing with a desire to let people know and understand the revelation of their Fathers love, and the story of Bethlehem and Nazareth and Calvary, the spoken word, miracle, and parable, the uplifted Cross and the opened tomb. We are proud of, and we are reliant upon, His promise to be with us all the days. But do we always remember that that promise is linked indissolubly to the command, Go forth, bear My message of pardoning love. Do your part. Then, because you are fulfilling My trust and My command, Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Well, we say all that, and then there arises unbidden in the minds of not a few of us, and I am sure it is rising now, the disquieting question, But is this advance so sure a thing after all? Is it so certain that the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus is making way amongst us? We hear such voices raised sometimes, we are reminded of what is called a flood of infidelity surging around us, or of active anti-Christian influence now at work in our midst from the University common room to the workshop, influencing our legislature, permeating the newspapers, and making its voice heard in our streets. Is this a time for us to be speaking in tones of assurance about the victorious progress of the Masters Kingdom in our midst? I firmly believe it is. So far as our own national Christianity is concerned, the thoughtful observer can surely find no reason for hesitation or doubt. We are bound as well as privileged to thank God and take courage. The walls of our old cathedrals and parish churches have looked down, some of them for hundreds and hundreds of years, upon a variety of scenes connected with our Churchs history. They have echoed as the centuries have passed to voices of very different men, face to face with needs constantly changing, constantly new as well as old. But never in the long and varied series of men and things have our altars and our pulpits been the centre of a greater earnestness, of more practical efforts and aims, more widespread care, a deeper personal devotion, above all, harder and more genuine work for Christ, than in the last twenty or twenty-five years of English history. Shortcomings and blunders have left their mark upon every page of our Churchs story, and very certainly they are leaving it not least upon the page only half-written now. We need penitence and humiliation, even shame, as we contrast what we might have been and ought to be with what we are. And so remembering, we bring the past with all its failures, and the present with all its weaknesses, all its cares and all its sin, unto Him that loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and made us a kingdom of priests unto God our Father. And we ask Him for faith to give substance to our hope, and make our prayers come true. We know only too well the mass of sin and wrong, and the dead weight of sheer indifference which lies across our path, but we should be false to Him Who has called us if we did not still, in face of our weaknesses and failures, note that on the whole the onward march of our Churchs life in these later days is steady and persistent.<\/p>\n

III. From generation to generation.We have all heard of the classic contest of the burning torch. The account of it takes many forms, but the most significant was this: A band of youths of one tribe contended against a band of youths of another tribe. The contestants of each tribe were stationed at intervals along the course, and a lighted torch was handed to the first runner of each tribe. He was to run at his topmost speed and hand it on to the youth stationed next to him, who was to run and hand it on to the next, and so on until the goal was reached. The tribe was winner whose last runner first reached the goal with the torch still burning. It is from such a picture that one gathers the true meaning of the word traditionhanding on. One generation of workers, one generation of hearers and worshippers, handing on the torch of inspiration and work to another. One generation shall praise Thy work unto another and declare Thy power. Thy power, that which helped ministers and people in the past, that self-same power will be given to you according to your need, given to you in answer to and in proportion to your daily prayers, given to you in the blessed Sacrament of the Lords love, given to you for crisis-times of joy and sorrow, and for the ordinary common, prosaic, humdrum days, given it will be, and when given it must be borne and handed on. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Fathers pleasure to give you the Kingdom.<\/p>\n

Archbishop Randall Davidson.<\/p>\n

Illustration<\/p>\n

Infidelity, we are told, is rife amongst us, and wickedness abounds on every hand. Yes, it is absolutely true, but when was it not true? Is it a peculiarity of our time? Take a century or two ago and compare, with as much care in regard to detail as you can bring to the work, its literature, its popular creed, its moral standard, with ours to-day. Do we always realise what the faith and morals of educated England were a century ago, in the days of the Prince Regent and his friends? Or to take a more favourable period, two hundred years agothe reign of Queen Annea time, that is, when the Church was supposed to be especially awake and powerful, when the characteristic torpor, the somnolence of the coming eighteenth century, had not yet begun. Turn to the sparkling pages of the journals and magazines, the Tatler and the Spectator of that day, and see how men like Steele and Addison, clear thinkers, draw a picture of moral turpitude and intellectual creedlessness blacker, surely, by far than anything we are familiar with to-day. Take Addisons scathing essay on the supposed visit of an Indian king to St. Pauls Cathedral, or Swifts satirical Argument against abolishing Christianity. It is necessary to understand this aright, to realise a prevalence of godlessness among educated people to which the twentieth century offers, I think, no parallel at all. Pass on half a century to 1751, and we find a most careful and most learned public man, Bishop Butler, opening his famous charge to the clergy of Durham with a complaint that the influence of religion is wearing out of the minds of men; and again, it is come, I know not how, to be taken for granted by many persons that Christianity is not so much an object for inquiry, but is now discovered to be fictitious, nothing remains but to set it up as a principal subject of mirth and ridicule. He proceeds to answer all that, but that was the thought about religion in mens minds at that time. It would be easy to multiply such statements from the pages of friends and foes. Archbishop Secker, in 1776, speaking of the country squires of his time, says: If they sometimes vouchsafed their attendance at Divine service in the country, they seldom or never would do so in town. Bishop Newton, a hundred and twenty years ago, quotes as a signal and unusual instance of attention to religious duty, that a particular man, whom he named, regularly attended the service of the Church every Sunday morning even when he held political office. Sunday, a great historian tells us, was in those days the usual day for Cabinet Councils. Montesquieu, writing a little earlier, in a tone of bitterest hostility to England, said he could not see evidence of any religion whatever in the country. The subject excited nothing but ridicule, so far as he could learn. Not more than four or five members of the House of Commons, he affirmed, were regular attenders at Church. No doubt he exaggerated, but he was a great writer and thinker, and he described what he believed to be true. Fifty years later another French writer said there was only just enough religion left in England to distinguish Tories, who had little, from Whigs, who had none. The whole literature of three generations tells the same tale. The picture is, no doubt, overdrawn, but it is important for us to remember when we hear constant talk of the evils in the world to-day and the impossibility of our standing up against them, that there have always been these evils, and that there is no use being faint-hearted. It is only by such comparisons as the foregoing that we are to recognise the Churchs onward march. It seems to us slow, but it is progress after all, and the sentence I have quoted would be ludicrously inappropriate as statements of existing facts to-day.<\/p>\n

Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

2<\/p>\n

Little is from MIKROS, which Thayer defines, “small, little,” and at our verse he explains it to mean, “of quantity, i. e., number or amount.” Jesus was speaking especially to his apostles who were only twelve in number, hence would constitute the little flock. The promise that the Father would give them the kingdom proves that it was not yet in their possession at that time, and hence was still in the future although near (“at hand”).<\/p>\n

Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

LET us mark what a gracious word of consolation this passage contains for all true believers. The Lord Jesus knew well the hearts of His disciples. He knew how ready they were to be filled with fears of every description,-fears because of the fewness of their number,-fears because of the multitude of their enemies,-fears because of the many difficulties in their way,-fears because of their sense of weakness and unworthiness. He answers these many fears with a single golden sentence,-“Fear not, little flock, it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”<\/p>\n

Believers are a “little flock.” They always have been, ever since the world began. Professing servants of God have sometimes been very many. Baptized people at the present day are a great company. But true Christians are very few. It is foolish to be surprised at this. It is vain to expect it will be otherwise until the Lord comes again. “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Mat 7:14.)<\/p>\n

Believers have a glorious “kingdom” awaiting them. Here upon earth they are often mocked and ridiculed, and persecuted, and, like their Master, despised and rejected of men. But “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed.” “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” (Rom 8:18. Col 3:4.)<\/p>\n

Believers are tenderly loved by God the Father. It is “the Father’s good pleasure” to give them a kingdom. He does not receive them grudgingly, unwillingly, and coldly. He rejoices over them as members of His beloved Son in whom He is well pleased. He regards them as His dear children in Christ. He sees no spot in them. Even now, when He looks down on them from heaven, in the midst of their infirmities, He is well pleased, and hereafter, when presented before His glory, He will welcome them with exceeding joy. (Jud 1:24.)<\/p>\n

Are we members of Christ’s little flock? Then surely we ought not to be afraid. There are given to us exceeding great and precious promises. (2Pe 1:4.) God is ours, and Christ is ours. Greater are those that are for us than all that are against us. The world, the flesh, and the devil, are mighty enemies. But with Christ on our side we have no cause to fear.<\/p>\n

Let us mark, secondly, what a striking exhortation these verses contain to seek treasure in heaven. “Sell that ye have,” said our Lord, “and give alms.” “Provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens which faileth not.” But this is not all. A mighty, heart-searching principle is laid down to enforce the exhortation. “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”<\/p>\n

The language of this charge is doubtless somewhat figurative. Yet the meaning of it is clear and unmistakable. We are to sell,-to give up anything, and deny ourselves anything which stands in the way of our soul’s salvation. We are to give,-to show charity and kindness to every one, and to be more ready to spend our money in relieving others, than to hoard it for our own selfish purposes. We are to provide ourselves treasures in heaven,-to make sure that our names are in the book of life,-to lay hold of eternal life,-to lay up for ourselves evidences which will bear the inspection of the day of judgment. <\/p>\n

This is true wisdom. This is real prudence. The man who does well for himself is the man who gives up everything for Christ’s sake. He makes the best of bargains. He carries the cross for a few years in this world, and in the world to come has everlasting life. He obtains the best of possessions. He carries his riches with him beyond the grave. He is rich in grace here, and he is rich in glory hereafter. And, best of all, what he obtains by faith in Christ he never loses. It is “that good part which is never taken away.”<\/p>\n

Would we know what we are ourselves? Let us see whether we have treasure in heaven, or whether all our good things are here upon earth.-Would we know what our treasure is? Let us ask ourselves what we love most. This is the true test of character. This is the pulse of our religion. It matters little what we say, or what we profess, or what preaching we admire, or what place of worship we attend. What do we love? On what are our affections set? This is the great question. “Where our treasure is there will our hearts be also.”<\/p>\n

Let us mark, lastly, what an instructive picture these verses contain of the frame of mind which the true Christian should endeavor to keep up. Our Lord tells us that we ought to be “like men that wait for their Lord.” We ought to live like servants who expect their Master’s return, fulfilling our duties in our several stations, and doing nothing which we would not like to be found doing when Christ comes again.<\/p>\n

The standard of life which our Lord has set up here is an exceedingly high one,-so high, indeed, that many Christians are apt to flinch from it, and feel cast down. And yet there is nothing here which ought to make a believer afraid. Readiness for the return of Christ to this world implies nothing which is impossible and unattainable. It requires no angelic perfection. It requires no man to forsake his family, and retire into solitude. It requires nothing more than the life of repentance, faith, and holiness. <\/p>\n

The man who is living the life of faith in the Son of God is the man whose “loins are girded,” and whose “light is burning.” Such a man may have the care of kingdoms on him, like Daniel,-or be a servant in a Nero’s household, like some in Paul’s time. All this matters nothing. If he lives looking unto Jesus, he is a servant who can “open to Him immediately.” Surely it is not too much to ask Christians to be men of this kind. Surely it was not for nothing that our Lord said, “The Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”<\/p>\n

Are we ourselves living as if we were ready for the second coming of Christ? Well would it be if this question were put to our consciences more frequently. It might keep us back from many a false step in our daily life. It might prevent many a backsliding. The true Christian should not only believe in Christ, and love Christ. He should also look and long for Christ’s appearing. If he cannot say from his heart, “Come, Lord Jesus,” there must be something wrong about his soul.<\/p>\n

==================<\/p>\n

Notes-<\/p>\n

v32.-[Little flock.] The Greek word which we render “flock,” is a diminutive, meaning literally “little flock.” The addition of the adjective which we translate “little,” increases the tenderness of the whole expression.<\/p>\n

[It is your Father’s good pleasure.] This would be rendered literally, “Your Father is well pleased.” It is the same expression which is used in the well known places, Mat 3:17; Mat 17:5. Mar 1:11. Luk 3:22. Let it be noted that our Lord lays special stress in this passage on the Fatherly relation of God to all believers, as an antidote to over-carefulness and anxiety.<\/p>\n

v33.-[Sell that ye have, &c.] This expression, if not confined to the Apostles, but applied generally to all believers, must evidently be interpreted with some scriptural limitation. There is nothing in the Acts or the Epistles, which shows that believers, in the primitive church, were expected to sell all their property, as soon as they were converted. On the contrary, Peter’s words to Ananias, seem to show that it was quite optional with converts to sell their property or keep it. (Act 5:4.) Paul goes even further, and says that “if a man provides not for his own, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (1Ti 5:8.)<\/p>\n

The whole verse is a strong figurative exhortation to self-denial, liberality, and careful prevision for the soul. An excessively literal interpretation lands us in insuperable difficulties. It will surely not be said that Christians ought literally to provide themselves “bags.” Once concede that a figure is used, and a figurative explanation of the whole verse must be reasonably conceded.<\/p>\n

The “thief” in the verse represents sudden and violent loss, the “moth” gradual and silent waste or exhaustion.<\/p>\n

v35.-[Loins be girded.] This is a figure drawn from the habits of dressing which prevailed in our Lord’s time, and which are general at the present day throughout the East. Long flowing garments were the ordinary attire that men wore. When any thing was to he done requiring bodily exertion, the first thing needful was to gird up the loins, or tie the garments tightly round the waist.<\/p>\n

[Your lights burning.] To see the full force of this expression, we should read the parable of the ten virgins. (Mat 25:1.) Marriages often took place in the evening. It was the duty of the servants to meet the wedding party with lighted torches. The verse before us is an exhortation to be in an attitude of constant preparation to meet the bridegroom Jesus Christ at His second advent.<\/p>\n

v37.-[He shall gird himself, &c.] This is perhaps one of the most wonderful promises which is made to believers anywhere in the New Testament. It must probably be interpreted figuratively. The meaning evidently is, that there is no degree of honour and glory which the Lord Jesus will not gladly bestow on those who are found ready to meet Him, in the day of His second advent. Some think that there will be, in some way, a literal fulfilment of this promise, and that our Lord refers to this, when he says at the last supper, “I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.” (Luk 22:18.) A reference to the same literal fulfilment is also supposed to exist in Isa 25:6.<\/p>\n

Pearce says, “We may gather from this verse that it was the custom in those days, as it was not long since among us, for the bridegroom at a wedding supper to wait upon the company as a servant.”<\/p>\n

v38.-[Second watch…third watch.] These expressions are figurative. The night was divided into four watches. The second watch was from nine to twelve, and the third from twelve to three. The uncertainty of the time of the Lord’s advent, and the duty of being always ready for it, are the lessons of the verse.<\/p>\n

v39.-[What hour the thief would come.] This is a parabolic sentence, intended to teach us that the “day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night;” (1Th 5:2,) and that there is no safety for Christians, excepting in constant readiness for it.<\/p>\n

v40.-[The Son of man cometh.] Let it be noted that the coming here spoken of, is the second personal advent of our Lord Jesus Christ, at the end of this dispensation. To apply the expression, as some do, to death, is an entire perversion of Scripture. The coming of the Lord is one thing, and death is another.<\/p>\n

Fuente: Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

Luk 12:32. Fear not. Peculiar to Luke. The fear forbidden, is that which interferes with proper seeking of the kingdom of God (Luk 12:31), including fear about losing earthly things and fear about not obtaining the heavenly riches. Such encouragement was needed by the disciples, who were outwardly weak: little flock, little in contrast with the myriads of people (Luk 12:1); but the flock of the Good Shepherd (Joh 10:11; Mat 26:31). Comp. Isa 11:10-14, which justifies a wider application to all real Christians.<\/p>\n

For it is your Fathers good pleasure, etc. Because of the good pleasure, they would obtain the heavenly riches; fear about spiritual things being thus removed, there ought to be none about temporal things.<\/p>\n

Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

That is, fear not the want of any of these comforts, and be not over solictous for them; for your Father, which has provided a kingdom for you hereafter, will not suffer you to want such things as are needful for you here. <\/p>\n

Learn,<\/p>\n

1. That the disciples of Christ are very subject to disquieting and perplexing fears, but must by no means cherish, but oppose them: a fear of present wants, a fear of future sufferings, a fear of death approaching, a fear that they shall not find acceptance with God, a fear lest they should fall fully or finally from God; the fear of all these evils does often times disturb them and discompose them.<\/p>\n

Learn,<\/p>\n

2. That Jesus Christ is the great Shepherd of his church: the love and care the compassion and tenderness, the prudence and providence, the guidance and vigilance of a good shepherd are found within him.<\/p>\n

3. As Christ is the church’s Shepherd, so the church is Christ’s flock, though a little flock, in opposition to the huge herds and droves of the men of the world.<\/p>\n

4. That God the Father has a kingdom in store for his little flock, his church and children.<\/p>\n

5. That the good will and gracious pleasure of God is the original spring and fontal cause, from whence all divine favors do proceed and flow: It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.<\/p>\n

Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

Luk 12:32-34. Fear not, little flock You, my dear property and charge, however feeble you may seem; fear not, I say, that you shall be left destitute of those common blessings of providence, for it is your Fathers good pleasure, &c. , he takes delight, or joyfully acquiesces, in giving you the kingdom, even the kingdom of eternal glory; and can you possibly imagine, that while he intends to bestow that upon you, and even takes pleasure in the thought of making you so rich, great, and happy there, he will refuse you those earthly supplies, such as food and raiment, which he liberally imparts even to strangers and enemies? And since ye have such an inheritance, regard not your earthly possessions. Sell that ye have and give alms That is, be ready, when God calls you, and the exigencies of Christs members require it, so to do; and be so far from the sordidness of the rich man, who would not give of his superfluities to the needy, as in these cases to relieve them out of the principal, or main stock; as knowing this heavenly kingdom is to be obtained, not by hoarding up treasures here on earth, but in consequence of an interest in Christ, and union with him through faith, by distributing them to his poor and destitute members. This was a precept peculiarly calculated for those times, in which the profession of the gospel exposed men to the loss of all their goods. And it is probable it was as a fruitful seed in the minds of some who heard it; and the liberal sale of estates, a few months after, by which so many poor Christians were supported, might be, in a great measure, the harvest which sprang up from it, under the cultivation of the blessed Spirit. Nothing is more probable, than that some of the many myriads now attending our Lord, (Luk 12:1,) might be in the number of the thousands then converted. See on Act 2:41-47. Provide yourselves bags which wax not old Nor wear out: an allusion this to the danger of losing money through a hole, worn in an old purse. Such is frequently the gain of this world, and so are its treasures hoarded up, and put into a bag with holes, Hag 1:6. The rich men in Judea, so soon ravaged and destroyed by the Romans, particularly found it so. A treasure in the heavens That region of security and immortality; that fadeth not But remains for ever, and continually increases; where no thief approacheth To plunder the riches of its inhabitants; neither moth corrupteth Corrodes and spoils the robes of glory in which they appear. By bestowing your wealth in charity, you will send it before you into heaven, where it will lie secure from all accidents, and be a source of eternal joys to you. And where your treasure is, &c. If your treasure be thus laid up in heaven, your heart will be there also; your thoughts and affections will naturally ascend thither, and consequently your dispositions and actions, your desires and hopes, will be all heavenly.<\/p>\n

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

Verse 32 <\/p>\n

The kingdom; the peace and happiness of Christ’s spiritual kingdom.<\/p>\n

Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

12:32 {9} Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.<\/p>\n

(9) It is a foolish thing not to look for small things at the hands of him who freely gives us the greatest things.<\/p>\n

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

Jesus’ command to turn attention from the acquisition of material provisions to seeking kingdom concerns undoubtedly created some uneasiness in His disciples. Likewise the hostility of the Pharisees and other enemies doubtless disturbed them. Therefore Jesus, speaking as the Shepherd of the flock for which He would provide, urged them not to fear. They could release their hold on material things with the full assurance that the blessings of the kingdom and eventual reward would be theirs one day (cf. Dan 7:27). The description of God as their Father giving them something ties in with the earlier thought of receiving an inheritance (Luk 12:13). Faithful disciples will receive an inheritance eventually. [Note: For helpful studies of the New Testament teaching about believers’ inheritances, see Joseph C. Dillow, The Reign of the Servant Kings, pp. 61-110; and William E. Brown, "The New Testament Concept of the Believer’s Inheritance" (Th.D. dissertation, Dallas Theological Seminary, 1984).] <\/span><\/p>\n

Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 32. little flock ] The address was primarily to disciples, Luk 12:1. For the metaphor, see Psa 23:1; Isa 40:11; Mat 26:31; Joh 10:12-16. the kingdom ] How much more shall He give you bread. Fuente: The Cambridge Bible … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 12:32”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25473","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25473","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25473"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25473\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25473"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25473"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25473"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}