Luke 12:14
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
And he said to him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
American King James Version (AKJV)
And he said to him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
American Standard Version (ASV)
But he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
Basic English Translation (BBE)
But he said, Man, who made me a judge or a maker of decisions for you?
Webster's Revision
And he said to him, Man, who made me a judge, or a divider over you?
World English Bible
But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?"
English Revised Version (ERV)
But he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
Clarke's Luke 12:14 Bible Commentary
A judge - Without some judgment given in the case, no division could be made; therefore Jesus added the word judge. Pearce. A minister of Christ ought not to concern himself with secular affairs, any farther than charity and the order of discipline require it. Our Lord could have decided this difference in a moment; but the example of a perfect disengagement from worldly things was more necessary for the ministers of his Church than that of a charity applying itself to temporal concerns. He who preaches salvation to all should never make himself a party man; otherwise he loses the confidence, and consequently the opportunity of doing good to the party against whom he decides. Better to leave all these things to the civil magistrate, unless where a lawsuit may be prevented, and the matter decided to the satisfaction or acquiescence of both parties.
Barnes's Luke 12:14 Bible Commentary
Who made me a judge? - It is not my business to settle controversies of this kind. They are to be settled by the magistrate. Jesus came for another purpose - to preach the gospel, and so to bring people to "a willingness to do" right. Civil affairs are to be left to the magistrate. There is no doubt that Jesus "could" have told him what was right in this case, but then it would have been interfering with the proper office of the magistrates; it might have led him into controversy with the Jews; and it was, besides, evidently apart from the proper business of his life. We may remark, also, that the appropriate business of ministers of the gospel is to attend to spiritual concerns. They should have little to do with the temporal matters of the people. If they can "persuade men" who are at variance to be reconciled, it is right; but they have no power to take the place of a magistrate, and to settle contentions in a legal way.
Wesley's Luke 12:14 Bible Commentary
12:14 Who made me a judge? - In worldly things. His kingdom is not of this world.