Luke 12:13–21

Verse 13. The inheritance. This man might think, that Jesus being the Messias, would act like a king and a judge. Witham.—Speak to my brother, and so forth See in this the spirit of this world, at the very time Jesus is teaching disinterestedness, and the contempt of riches, he is interrupted by a man, who begs him to interfere in a temporal concern: deaf to every thing else, this man can think of his temporal interest only. Calmet.—He begged half an inheritance on earth; the Lord offered him a whole one in heaven: he gave him more than he asked for. Saint Augustine

Verse 14. Judge, and so forth Our Saviour does not here mean to say that he or his Church had not authority to judge, as the Anabaptists foolishly pretend; for he was appointed by his Father, the King of kings, and the Lord and Judge of all. He only wished to keep himself as much detached as possible from worldly concerns: 1. Not to favour the opinion of the carnal Jews, who expected a powerful king for the Messias. 2. To shew that the ecclesiastical ministry was entirely distinct from political government, and that he and his ministers were sent not to take care of earthly kingdoms, but to seek after and prepare men for a heavenly inheritance. Saint Ambrose, Euthymius, Ven. Bede.

Verse 19. Much goods, and so forth It is evident how far this poor man was mistaken, when he called these things goods, which with more reason ought to be esteemed evils. The only things that can rightly be called goods, are humility, modesty, and its other attendants. The opposite to these ought to be esteemed evils; and riches we ought to consider as indifferent. Saint John Chrysostom