1 Then G1161 said he G2036 unto G4314 the disciples, G3101 It is G2076 impossible G418 but G3361 that offences G4625 will come: G2064 but G1161 woe G3759 unto him, through G1223 whom G3739 they come! G2064
2 It were better G3081 for him G846 that G1487 a millstone G3458 G3684 were hanged G4029 about G4012 his G846 neck, G5137 and G2532 he cast G4496 into G1519 the sea, G2281 than G2228 that G2443 he should offend G4624 one G1520 of these G5130 little ones. G3398
3 Take heed G4337 to yourselves: G1438 If G1161 G1437 thy G4675 brother G80 trespass G264 against G1519 thee, G4571 rebuke G2008 him; G846 and G2532 if G1437 he repent, G3340 forgive G863 him. G846
4 And G2532 if G1437 he trespass G264 against G1519 thee G4571 seven times G2034 in a day, G2250 and G2532 seven times G2034 in a day G2250 turn again G1994 to G1909 thee, G4571 saying, G3004 I repent; G3340 thou shalt forgive G863 him. G846
5 And G2532 the apostles G652 said G2036 unto the Lord, G2962 Increase G4369 our G2254 faith. G4102
6 And G1161 the Lord G2962 said, G2036 If G1487 ye had G2192 faith G4102 as G5613 a grain G2848 of mustard seed, G4615 ye might G302 say G3004 unto this G5026 sycamine G4807 tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, G1610 and G2532 be thou planted G5452 in G1722 the sea; G2281 and G2532 it should G302 obey G5219 you. G5213
7 But G1161 which G5101 of G1537 you, G5216 having G2192 a servant G1401 plowing G722 or G2228 feeding cattle, G4165 will say G2046 unto him G3739 by and by, G2112 when he is come G1525 from G1537 the field, G68 Go G3928 and sit down to meat? G377
8 And G235 will not G3780 rather say G2046 unto him, G846 Make ready G2090 wherewith G5101 I may sup, G1172 and G2532 gird thyself, G4024 and serve G1247 me, G3427 till G2193 I have eaten G5315 and G2532 drunken; G4095 and G2532 afterward G3326 G5023 thou G4771 shalt eat G5315 and G2532 drink? G4095
9 G3361 Doth he G2192 thank G5485 that G1565 servant G1401 because G3754 he did G4160 the things that were commanded G1299 him? G846 I trow G1380 not. G3756
10 So G3779 likewise G2532 ye, G5210 when G3752 ye shall have done G4160 all G3956 those things which are commanded G1299 you, G5213 say, G3004 G3754 We are G2070 unprofitable G888 servants: G1401 G3754 we have done G4160 that which G3739 was our duty G3784 to do. G4160
11 And G2532 it came to pass, G1096 as G1722 he G846 went G4198 to G1519 Jerusalem, G2419 that G2532 he G846 passed G1330 through G1223 the midst G3319 of Samaria G4540 and G2532 Galilee. G1056
12 And G2532 as he G846 entered G1525 into G1519 a certain G5100 village, G2968 there met G528 him G846 ten G1176 men G435 that were lepers, G3015 which G3739 stood G2476 afar off: G4207
13 And G2532 they G846 lifted up G142 their voices, G5456 and said, G3004 Jesus, G2424 Master, G1988 have mercy G1653 on us. G2248
14 And G2532 when he saw G1492 them, he said G2036 unto them, G846 Go G4198 shew G1925 yourselves G1438 unto the priests. G2409 And G2532 it came to pass, G1096 that, as they G846 went, G5217 G1722 they were cleansed. G2511
15 And G1161 one G1520 of G1537 them, G846 when he saw G1492 that G3754 he was healed, G2390 turned back, G5290 and with G3326 a loud G3173 voice G5456 glorified G1392 God, G2316
16 And G2532 fell down G4098 on G1909 his face G4383 at G3844 his G846 feet, G4228 giving G2168 him G846 thanks: G2168 and G2532 he G846 was G2258 a Samaritan. G4541
17 And G1161 Jesus G2424 answering G611 said, G2036 Were there G2511 not G3780 ten G1176 cleansed? G2511 but G1161 where G4226 are the nine? G1767
18 There are G2147 not G3756 found G2147 that returned G5290 to give G1325 glory G1391 to God, G2316 save G1508 this G3778 stranger. G241
19 And G2532 he said G2036 unto him, G846 Arise, G450 go thy way: G4198 thy G4675 faith G4102 hath made G4982 thee G4571 whole. G4982
20 And G1161 when he was demanded G1905 of G5259 the Pharisees, G5330 when G4219 the kingdom G932 of God G2316 should come, G2064 he answered G611 them G846 and G2532 said, G2036 The kingdom G932 of God G2316 cometh G2064 not G3756 with G3326 observation: G3907
21 Neither G3761 shall they say, G2046 Lo G2400 here! G5602 or, G2228 lo G2400 there! G1563 for, G1063 behold, G2400 the kingdom G932 of God G2316 is G2076 within G1787 you. G5216
22 And G1161 he said G2036 unto G4314 the disciples, G3101 The days G2250 will come, G2064 when G3753 ye shall desire G1937 to see G1492 one G3391 of the days G2250 of the Son G5207 of man, G444 and G2532 ye shall G3700 not G3756 see G3700 it.
23 And G2532 they shall say G2046 to you, G5213 See G2400 here; G5602 or, G2228 see G2400 there: G1563 go G565 not G3361 after G565 them, nor G3366 follow G1377 them.
24 For G1063 as G5618 the lightning, G796 that lighteneth G797 out of G1537 the one part under G5259 heaven, G3772 shineth G2989 unto G1519 the other part under G5259 heaven; G3772 so G3779 shall also G2532 the Son G5207 of man G444 be G2071 in G1722 his G846 day. G2250
25 But G1161 first G4412 must G1163 he G846 suffer G3958 many things, G4183 and G2532 be rejected G593 of G575 this G5026 generation. G1074
26 And G2532 as G2531 it was G1096 in G1722 the days G2250 of Noe, G3575 so G3779 shall it be G2071 also G2532 in G1722 the days G2250 of the Son G5207 of man. G444
27 They did eat, G2068 they drank, G4095 they married wives, G1060 they were given in marriage, G1547 until G891 the day G2250 that G3739 Noe G3575 entered G1525 into G1519 the ark, G2787 and G2532 the flood G2627 came, G2064 and G2532 destroyed G622 them all. G537
28 Likewise G3668 also G2532 as G5613 it was G1096 in G1722 the days G2250 of Lot; G3091 they did eat, G2068 they drank, G4095 they bought, G59 they sold, G4453 they planted, G5452 they builded; G3618
29 But G3739 G1161 the same day G2250 that Lot G3091 went G1831 out of G575 Sodom G4670 it rained G1026 fire G4442 and G2532 brimstone G2303 from G575 heaven, G3772 and G2532 destroyed G622 them all. G537
30 Even G2596 thus G5024 shall it be G2071 in the day G3739 G2250 when the Son G5207 of man G444 is revealed. G601
31 In G1722 that G1565 day, G2250 he which G3739 shall be G2071 upon G1909 the housetop, G1430 and G2532 his G846 stuff G4632 in G1722 the house, G3614 let G2597 him not G3361 come down G2597 to take G142 it G846 away: G142 and G2532 he that is in G1722 the field, G68 let him G1994 likewise G3668 not G3361 return G1994 back. G1519 G3694
32 Remember G3421 Lot's G3091 wife. G1135
33 Whosoever G3739 G1437 shall seek G2212 to save G4982 his G846 life G5590 shall lose G622 it; G846 and G2532 whosoever G3739 G1437 shall lose G622 his G846 life shall preserve G2225 it. G846
34 I tell G3004 you, G5213 in that G5026 night G3571 there shall be G2071 two G1417 men in G1909 one G3391 bed; G2825 the one G1520 shall be taken, G3880 and G2532 the other G2087 shall be left. G863
35 Two G1417 women shall be G2071 grinding G229 together; G846 G1909 the one G3391 shall be taken, G3880 and G2532 the other G2087 left. G863
36 Two G1417 men shall be G2071 in G1722 the field; G68 the one G1520 shall be taken, G3880 and G2532 the other G2087 left. G863
37 And G2532 they answered G611 and said G3004 unto him, G846 Where, G4226 Lord? G2962 And G1161 he said G2036 unto them, G846 Wheresoever G3699 the body G4983 is, thither G1563 will G4863 the eagles G105 be gathered together. G4863
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Luke 17
Commentary on Luke 17 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 17
Lu 17:1-10. Offenses—Faith—Humility.
1, 2. (See Mt 18:6, 7).
3, 4. (See on Mt 18:15-17; Mt 18:21, 22).
4. seven times—not a lower measure of the forgiving spirit than the "seventy times seven" enjoined on Peter, which was occasioned by his asking if he was to stop at seven times. "No," is the virtual answer, "though it come to seventy times that number, if only he ask forgiveness in sincerity."
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.)
6. sycamine—mulberry. (See on Mr 11:22-24.)
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."
9. I trow not—or, as we say, when much more is meant, "I should think not."
10. unprofitable—a word which, though usually denoting the opposite of profit, is here used simply in its negative sense. "We have not, as his servants, profited or benefited God at all." (Compare Job 22:2, 3; Ro 11:35.)
Lu 17:11-19. Ten Lepers Cleansed.
11-13. through the midst of Samaria and Galilee—probably on the confines of both.
12. stood afar off—(Compare Le 13:45, 46).
13. they lifted up—their common misery drawing these poor outcasts together (2Ki 7:3), nay, making them forget the fierce national antipathy of Jew and Samaritan [Trench].
Jesus, &c.—(Compare Mt 20:30-33). How quick a teacher is felt misery, even though as here the teaching may be soon forgotten!
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.
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].
18. this stranger—"this alien" (literally, "of another race"). The language is that of wonder and admiration, as is expressly said of another exhibition of Gentile faith (Mt 8:10).
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.
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.
21. Lo here! … lo there!—shut up within this or that sharply defined and visible geographical or ecclesiastical limit.
within you—is of an internal and spiritual character (as contrasted with their outside views of it). But it has its external side too.
22. The days—rather "Days."
will come—as in Lu 19:43, when, amidst calamities, &c., you will anxiously look for a deliverer, and deceivers will put themselves forward in this character.
one of the days of the Son of man—Himself again among them but for one day; as we say when all seems to be going wrong and the one person who could keep them right is removed [Neander in Stier, &c.]. "This is said to guard against the mistake of supposing that His visible presence would accompany the manifestation and establishment of His kingdom" [Webster and Wilkinson].
23. they shall say, See here … go not, &c.—a warning to all so-called expositors of prophecy and their followers, who cry, Lo there and see here, every time that war breaks out or revolutions occur.
24. as lightning … so … the Son of man—that is it will be as manifest. The Lord speaks here of His coming and manifestation in a prophetically indefinite manner, and in these preparatory words blends into one the distinctive epochs [Stier]. When the whole polity of the Jews, civil and ecclesiastical alike, was broken up at once, and its continuance rendered impossible by the destruction of Jerusalem, it became as manifest to all as the lightning of heaven that the kingdom of God had ceased to exist in its old, and had entered on a new and perfectly different form. So it may be again, ere its final and greatest change at the personal coming of Christ, and of which the words in their highest sense are alone true.
25. But first … suffer, &c.—This shows that the more immediate reference of Lu 17:23 is to an event soon to follow the death of Christ. It was designed to withdraw the attention of "His disciples" from the glare in which His foregoing words had invested the approaching establishment of His kingdom.
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.
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.
32. Lot's wife—her "look back," for that is all that is said of her, and her recorded doom. Her heart was in Sodom still, and the "look" just said, "And must I bid it adieu?"
33. Whosoever, &c.—(See on Lu 9:23-27).
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.
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.