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John Wesley, Notes On the New Testament (1755):
How much more food and raiment? And since ye
have such an inheritance, regard not your earthly possessions.
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The Fourfold Gospel:
The original for the words "little flock" is
a double diminutive, indicating at once the extreme smallness of the
band of disciples, and also the tenderness of the Master for them. They
are exhorted to remember that they are the heirs of the heavenly
kingdom, and that their treasures are there.
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:
* little. Song 1:7,8; Isa 40:11; 41:14*marg:| Isa 53:6; Mt 7:15;
18:12-14; 20:16; Joh 10:26-30
* it is. Lu 10:21; Mt 11:25-27; Eph 1:5-9; Php 2:13; 2Th 1:11
* the kingdom. Jer 3:19; Mt 25:34; Joh 18:36; Ro 6:23; 8:28-32; 2Th 1:5;
Heb 12:28 Jas 2:5; 1Pe 1:3-5; 2Pe 1:11; Re 1:6; 22:5
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Robertson's Word Pictures:
Little flock (to mikron
poimnion). Vocative with the article as used in Hebrew and often in the
Koiné and so in the N.T. See both pater and ho patêr in the vocative in
Lu 10:21. See Robertson, Grammar, pp. 465f. Poimnion (flock) is a
contraction from poimenion from poimên (shepherd) instead of the usual
poimnê (flock). So it is not a diminutive and mikron is not superfluous,
though it is pathetic. For it is your Father's good pleasure (hoti
eudokêsen ho patêr humôn). First aorist active indicative of eudokeô.
Timeless aorist as in Lu 3:22. This verse has no parallel in Matthew.
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William Burkitt's Notes:
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.
Learn,
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.
Learn,
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.
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.
4. That God the Father has a kingdom in store for his little flock, his
church and children.
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.
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Family Bible Notes:
The kingdom; of heavenly glory. Mt 3:2.
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1599 Geneva Bible Notes:
It is a foolish thing not to look for small
things at the hands of him who freely gives us the greatest things.
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People's New Testament Commentary:
The flock is safe only because of the
Shepherd's care. The Lord is the Shepherd, and it is his pleasure to
give not only food and raiment, but the kingdom to his children.
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Albert Barnes' Commentary:
Little flock. 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 Mt
6:19-21.
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Jamieson-Faussett Brown:
How sublime and touching a contrast between
this tender and pitying appellation, "Little flock" (in the original a
double diminutive, which in German can be expressed, but not in
English)--and the "good pleasure" of the Father to give them the
Kingdom; the one recalling the insignificance and helplessness of that
then literal handful of disciples, the other holding up to their view
the eternal love that encircled them, the everlasting arms that were
underneath them, and the high inheritance awaiting them!--"the kingdom";
grand word; then why not "bread" (Lu 12:31 [BENGEL]). Well might He say,
"Fear not!"
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Spurgeon Devotional
Commentary:
No comment on this verse.
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Adam Clarke's Commentary:
Fear not, little flock] Or, very
little flock, 
. This is what some term
a double diminutive, and, literally translated, is, little little flock.
Though this refers solely to the apostles and first believers, of whom
it was literally true, yet we may say that the number of genuine
believers has been, and is still, small, in comparison of heathens and
false Christians.
It is your Father's good pleasure] 
,
It hath pleased, &c., though this tense joined with an infinitive has
often the force of the present. Our Lord intimated, God has already
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 of your number cannot hurt
you, for omnipotence itself has undertaken your cause.
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Matthew Henry Concise Commentary:
No comment on this verse
