Luke 17
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1Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!
CHAPTER 17
Lu 17:1-10. Offenses--Faith--Humility.
1-2. (See Mt 18:6, 7).
2It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
CHAPTER 17
Lu 17:1-10. Offenses--Faith--Humility.
1-2. (See Mt 18:6, 7).
3Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
3-4. (See on Mt 18:15-17; Mt 18:21, 22).
4And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
3-4. (See on Mt 18:15-17; Mt 18:21, 22).
5And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
5. Lord--(See on Lu 10:1).
increase our faith--moved by the difficulty of avoiding and forgiving "offenses." This is the only instance in which a spiritual operation upon their souls was solicited of Christ by the Twelve; but a kindred and higher prayer had been offered before, by one with far fewer opportunities. (See on Mr 9:24.)
6And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
6. sycamine--mulberry. (See on Mr 11:22-24.)
7But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
7-10. say unto him by and by--The "by and by" (or rather "directly") should be joined not to the saying but the going: "Go directly." The connection here is: "But when your faith has been so increased as both to avoid and forgive offenses, and do things impossible to all but faith, be not puffed up as though you had laid the Lord under any obligations to you."
8And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
7-10. say unto him by and by--The "by and by" (or rather "directly") should be joined not to the saying but the going: "Go directly." The connection here is: "But when your faith has been so increased as both to avoid and forgive offenses, and do things impossible to all but faith, be not puffed up as though you had laid the Lord under any obligations to you."
9Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
7-10. say unto him by and by--The "by and by" (or rather "directly") should be joined not to the saying but the going: "Go directly." The connection here is: "But when your faith has been so increased as both to avoid and forgive offenses, and do things impossible to all but faith, be not puffed up as though you had laid the Lord under any obligations to you."
10So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
7-10. say unto him by and by--The "by and by" (or rather "directly") should be joined not to the saying but the going: "Go directly." The connection here is: "But when your faith has been so increased as both to avoid and forgive offenses, and do things impossible to all but faith, be not puffed up as though you had laid the Lord under any obligations to you."
11And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
Lu 17:11-19. Ten Lepers Cleansed.
11-13. through the midst of Samaria and Galilee--probably on the confines of both.
12And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
Lu 17:11-19. Ten Lepers Cleansed.
11-13. through the midst of Samaria and Galilee--probably on the confines of both.
13And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
Lu 17:11-19. Ten Lepers Cleansed.
11-13. through the midst of Samaria and Galilee--probably on the confines of both.
14And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
14. show yourselves--as cleansed persons. (See on Mt 8:4.) Thus too would the Samaritan be taught that "salvation is of the Jews" (Joh 4:22).
as they went, were cleansed--In how many different ways were our Lord's cures wrought, and this different from all the rest.
15And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
16And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
17And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
17-18. Were there not ten cleansed--rather, were not the ten cleansed? that is, the whole of them--an example (by the way) of Christ's omniscience [Bengel].
18There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
17-18. Were there not ten cleansed--rather, were not the ten cleansed? that is, the whole of them--an example (by the way) of Christ's omniscience [Bengel].
19And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
19. Arise--for he had "fallen down on his face at His feet" (Lu 17:16) and there lain prostrate.
faith made thee whole--not as the others, merely in body, but in that higher spiritual sense with which His constant language has so familiarized us.
20And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Lu 17:20-37. Coming of the Kingdom of God and of the Son of Man.
20-25. when, &c.--To meet the erroneous views not only of the Pharisees, but of the disciples themselves, our Lord addresses both, announcing the coming of the kingdom under different aspects.
It cometh not with observation--with watching or lying in wait, as for something outwardly imposing and at once revealing itself.
21Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Lu 17:20-37. Coming of the Kingdom of God and of the Son of Man.
20-25. when, &c.--To meet the erroneous views not only of the Pharisees, but of the disciples themselves, our Lord addresses both, announcing the coming of the kingdom under different aspects.
It cometh not with observation--with watching or lying in wait, as for something outwardly imposing and at once revealing itself.
22And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.
Lu 17:20-37. Coming of the Kingdom of God and of the Son of Man.
20-25. when, &c.--To meet the erroneous views not only of the Pharisees, but of the disciples themselves, our Lord addresses both, announcing the coming of the kingdom under different aspects.
It cometh not with observation--with watching or lying in wait, as for something outwardly imposing and at once revealing itself.
23And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.
Lu 17:20-37. Coming of the Kingdom of God and of the Son of Man.
20-25. when, &c.--To meet the erroneous views not only of the Pharisees, but of the disciples themselves, our Lord addresses both, announcing the coming of the kingdom under different aspects.
It cometh not with observation--with watching or lying in wait, as for something outwardly imposing and at once revealing itself.
24For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.
Lu 17:20-37. Coming of the Kingdom of God and of the Son of Man.
20-25. when, &c.--To meet the erroneous views not only of the Pharisees, but of the disciples themselves, our Lord addresses both, announcing the coming of the kingdom under different aspects.
It cometh not with observation--with watching or lying in wait, as for something outwardly imposing and at once revealing itself.
25But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.
Lu 17:20-37. Coming of the Kingdom of God and of the Son of Man.
20-25. when, &c.--To meet the erroneous views not only of the Pharisees, but of the disciples themselves, our Lord addresses both, announcing the coming of the kingdom under different aspects.
It cometh not with observation--with watching or lying in wait, as for something outwardly imposing and at once revealing itself.
26And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
26-30. eat ... married ... planted--all the ordinary occupations and enjoyments of life. Though the antediluvian world and the cities of the plain were awfully wicked, it is not their wickedness, but their worldliness, their unbelief and indifference to the future, their unpreparedness, that is here held up as a warning. Note.--These recorded events of Old Testament history--denied or explained away nowadays by not a few--are referred to here as facts.
27They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
26-30. eat ... married ... planted--all the ordinary occupations and enjoyments of life. Though the antediluvian world and the cities of the plain were awfully wicked, it is not their wickedness, but their worldliness, their unbelief and indifference to the future, their unpreparedness, that is here held up as a warning. Note.--These recorded events of Old Testament history--denied or explained away nowadays by not a few--are referred to here as facts.
28Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
26-30. eat ... married ... planted--all the ordinary occupations and enjoyments of life. Though the antediluvian world and the cities of the plain were awfully wicked, it is not their wickedness, but their worldliness, their unbelief and indifference to the future, their unpreparedness, that is here held up as a warning. Note.--These recorded events of Old Testament history--denied or explained away nowadays by not a few--are referred to here as facts.
29But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
26-30. eat ... married ... planted--all the ordinary occupations and enjoyments of life. Though the antediluvian world and the cities of the plain were awfully wicked, it is not their wickedness, but their worldliness, their unbelief and indifference to the future, their unpreparedness, that is here held up as a warning. Note.--These recorded events of Old Testament history--denied or explained away nowadays by not a few--are referred to here as facts.
30Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
26-30. eat ... married ... planted--all the ordinary occupations and enjoyments of life. Though the antediluvian world and the cities of the plain were awfully wicked, it is not their wickedness, but their worldliness, their unbelief and indifference to the future, their unpreparedness, that is here held up as a warning. Note.--These recorded events of Old Testament history--denied or explained away nowadays by not a few--are referred to here as facts.
31In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
31-33. to take it away ... Remember, &c.--a warning against that lingering reluctance to part with present treasures which induces some to remain in a burning house, in hopes of saving this and that precious article till consumed and buried in its ruins. The cases here supposed, though different, are similar.
31-33. to take it away ... Remember, &c.--a warning against that lingering reluctance to part with present treasures which induces some to remain in a burning house, in hopes of saving this and that precious article till consumed and buried in its ruins. The cases here supposed, though different, are similar.
33Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
31-33. to take it away ... Remember, &c.--a warning against that lingering reluctance to part with present treasures which induces some to remain in a burning house, in hopes of saving this and that precious article till consumed and buried in its ruins. The cases here supposed, though different, are similar.
34I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
34. two in one bed--the prepared and unprepared mingled in closest intercourse together in the ordinary walks and fellowships of life, when the moment of severance arrives. Awful truth! realized before the destruction of Jerusalem, when the Christians found themselves forced by their Lord's directions (Lu 21:21) at once and for ever away from their old associates; but most of all when the second coming of Christ shall burst upon a heedless world.
35Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
36Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
37And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.
37. Where--shall this occur?
Wheresoever, &c.--"As birds of prey scent out the carrion, so wherever is found a mass of incurable moral and spiritual corruption, there will be seen alighting the ministers of divine judgment," a proverbial saying terrifically verified at the destruction of Jerusalem, and many times since, though its most tremendous illustration will be at the world's final day.