1ThenG1161 he saidG2036 toG4314 the disciplesG3101, It isG2076 impossibleG418 butG3361 that offencesG4625 will comeG2064: butG1161 woeG3759 to him, byG1223 whomG3739 they comeG2064! 2It were betterG3081 for himG846 thatG1487 a millstoneG3458 G3684 were hungG4029 aboutG4012 hisG846 neckG5137, andG2532 he castG4496 intoG1519 the seaG2281, thanG2228 thatG2443 he should offendG4624 oneG1520 of theseG5130 little onesG3398. 3Take heedG4337 to yourselvesG1438: IfG1161 G1437 thyG4675 brotherG80 shall trespassG264 againstG1519 theeG4571, rebukeG2008 himG846; andG2532 ifG1437 he shall repentG3340, forgiveG863 himG846. 4AndG2532 ifG1437 he tresspassesG264 againstG1519 theeG4571 seven timesG2034 in a dayG2250, andG2532 seven timesG2034 in a dayG2250 turns againG1994 toG1909 theeG4571, sayingG3004, I repentG3340; thou shalt forgiveG863 himG846. 5AndG2532 the apostlesG652 saidG2036 to the LordG2962, IncreaseG4369 ourG2254 faithG4102. 6AndG1161 the LordG2962 saidG2036, IfG1487 ye hadG2192 faithG4102 asG5613 a grainG2848 of mustard seedG4615, ye mightG302 sayG3004 to thisG5026 mulberryG4807 tree, Be thou plucked up by the rootG1610, andG2532 be thou plantedG5452 inG1722 the seaG2281; andG2532 it shouldG302 obeyG5219 youG5213. 7ButG1161 whichG5101 ofG1537 youG5216, havingG2192 a servantG1401 plowingG722 orG2228 feeding cattleG4165, will sayG2046 to himG3739 immediatelyG2112, when he is comeG1525 fromG1537 the fieldG68, GoG3928 and sit down to eatG377? 8AndG235 will notG3780 rather sayG2046 to himG846, Make readyG2090 something thatG5101 I may supG1172, andG2532 gird thyselfG4024, and serveG1247 meG3427, tillG2193 I have eatenG5315 andG2532 drunkG4095; andG2532 afterwardG3326 G5023 thouG4771 shalt eatG5315 andG2532 drinkG4095? 9 Doth heG2192 thankG5485 thatG1565 servantG1401 becauseG3754 he didG4160 the things that were commandedG1299 himG846? I thinkG1380 notG3756. 10SoG3779 likewiseG2532 yeG5210, whenG3752 ye shall have doneG4160 allG3956 those things which are commandedG1299 to youG5213, sayG3004 G3754, We areG2070 unprofitableG888 servantsG3754 G1401: we have doneG4160 that whichG3739 was our dutyG3784 to doG4160. 11AndG2532 it came to passG1096, asG1722 heG846 wentG4198 toG1519 JerusalemG2419, thatG2532 heG846 passedG1330 throughG1223 the midstG3319 of SamariaG4540 andG2532 GalileeG1056. 12AndG2532 as heG846 enteredG1525 intoG1519 a certainG5100 villageG2968, there metG528 himG846 tenG1176 menG435 that were lepersG3015, whoG3739 stoodG2476 afar offG4207: 13AndG2532 theyG846 lifted upG142 their voicesG5456, and saidG3004, JesusG2424, MasterG1988, have mercyG1653 on usG2248. 14AndG2532 when he sawG1492 them, he saidG2036 to themG846, GoG4198 showG1925 yourselvesG1438 to the priestsG2409. AndG2532 it came to passG1096, that, as theyG846 were goingG5217 G1722, they were cleansedG2511. 15AndG1161 oneG1520 ofG1537 themG846, when he sawG1492 thatG3754 he was healedG2390, turned backG5290, and withG3326 a loudG3173 voiceG5456 glorifiedG1392 GodG2316, 16AndG2532 fell downG4098 onG1909 his faceG4383 atG3844 hisG846 feetG4228, givingG2168 himG846 thanksG2168: andG2532 heG846 wasG2258 a SamaritanG4541. 17AndG1161 JesusG2424 answeringG611 saidG2036, Were thereG2511 notG3780 tenG1176 cleansedG2511? butG1161 whereG4226 are the nineG1767? 18There areG2147 notG3756 foundG2147 returningG5290 to giveG1325 gloryG1391 to GodG2316, exceptG1508 thisG3778 strangerG241. 19AndG2532 he saidG2036 to himG846, AriseG450, go thy wayG4198: thyG4675 faithG4102 hath madeG4982 theeG4571 wellG4982. 20AndG1161 when he was askedG1905 byG5259 the PhariseesG5330, whenG4219 the kingdomG932 of GodG2316 should comeG2064, he answeredG611 themG846 andG2532 saidG2036, The kingdomG932 of GodG2316 comethG2064 notG3756 withG3326 observationG3907: 21NeitherG3761 shall they sayG2046, LoG2400 hereG5602! orG2228, loG2400 thereG1563! forG1063, beholdG2400, the kingdomG932 of GodG2316 isG2076 withinG1787 youG5216. 22AndG1161 he saidG2036 toG4314 his disciplesG3101, The daysG2250 will comeG2064, whenG3753 ye shall desireG1937 to seeG1492 oneG3391 of the daysG2250 of the SonG5207 of manG444, andG2532 ye shallG3700 notG3756 seeG3700 it. 23AndG2532 they shall sayG2046 to youG5213, SeeG2400 hereG5602; orG2228, seeG2400 thereG1563: goG565 notG3361 afterG565 them, norG3366 followG1377 them. 24ForG1063 asG5618 the lightningG796, that lightenethG797 fromG1537 the one part underG5259 heavenG3772, shinethG2989 toG1519 the other part underG5259 heavenG3772; soG3779 shall alsoG2532 the SonG5207 of manG444 beG2071 inG1722 hisG846 dayG2250. 25ButG1161 firstG4412 heG846 mustG1163 sufferG3958 many thingsG4183, andG2532 be rejectedG593 byG575 thisG5026 generationG1074. 26AndG2532 asG2531 it wasG1096 inG1722 the daysG2250 of NoahG3575, soG3779 shall it beG2071 alsoG2532 inG1722 the daysG2250 of the SonG5207 of manG444. 27They ateG2068, they drankG4095, they married wivesG1060, they were given in marriageG1547, untilG891 the dayG2250 thatG3739 NoahG3575 enteredG1525 intoG1519 the arkG2787, andG2532 the floodG2627 cameG2064, andG2532 destroyedG622 them allG537. 28LikewiseG3668 alsoG2532 asG5613 it wasG1096 inG1722 the daysG2250 of LotG3091; they ateG2068, they drankG4095, they boughtG59, they soldG4453, they plantedG5452, they builtG3618; 29ButG3739 G1161 the same dayG2250 that LotG3091 wentG1831 out ofG575 SodomG4670 it rainedG1026 fireG4442 andG2532 brimstoneG2303 fromG575 heavenG3772, andG2532 destroyedG622 them allG537. 30EvenG2596 thusG5024 shall it beG2071 in the dayG3739 G2250 when the SonG5207 of manG444 is revealedG601. 31InG1722 thatG1565 dayG2250, he whoG3739 shall beG2071 uponG1909 the housetopG1430, andG2532 hisG846 furnitureG4632 inG1722 the houseG3614, letG2597 him notG3361 come downG2597 to takeG142 itG846 awayG142: andG2532 he that is inG1722 the fieldG68, let himG1994 likewiseG3668 notG3361 returnG1994 backG1519 G3694. 32RememberG3421 Lot’sG3091 wifeG1135. 33WhoeverG3739 G1437 shall seekG2212 to saveG4982 hisG846 lifeG5590 shall loseG622 itG846; andG2532 whoeverG3739 G1437 shall loseG622 hisG846 life shall preserveG2225 itG846. 34I tellG3004 youG5213, in thatG5026 nightG3571 there shall beG2071 twoG1417 men inG1909 oneG3391 bedG2825; the oneG1520 shall be takenG3880, andG2532 the otherG2087 shall be leftG863. 35TwoG1417 women shall beG2071 grindingG229 togetherG846 G1909; the oneG3391 shall be takenG3880, andG2532 the otherG2087 leftG863. 36TwoG1417 men shall beG2071 inG1722 the fieldG68; the oneG1520 shall be takenG3880, andG2532 the otherG2087 leftG863. 37AndG2532 they answeredG611 and saidG3004 to himG846, WhereG4226, LordG2962? AndG1161 he saidG2036 to themG846, WhereverG3699 the bodyG4983 is, thereG1563 willG4863 the eaglesG105 be gathered togetherG4863.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 OFFENSES--FAITH--HUMILITY. (
Luke 17:1-
Luke 17:10)
(See
Matt 18:6-
Matt 18:7).
3 (See on
Matt 18:15-
Matt 18:17;
Matt 18:21-
Matt 18:22).
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
Luke 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
Mark 9:24.)
6 sycamine--mulberry. (See on
Mark 11:22-
Mark 11:24.)
7 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-
Job 22:3;
Rom 11:35.)
11 TEN LEPERS CLEANSED. (
Luke 17:11-
Luke 17:19)
through the midst of Samaria and Galilee--probably on the confines of both.
12 stood afar off--(Compare
Lev 13:45-
Lev 13:46).
13 they lifted up--their common misery drawing these poor outcasts together (
2Kgs 7:3), nay, making them forget the fierce national antipathy of Jew and Samaritan [TRENCH].
Jesus, &c.--(Compare
Matt 20:30-
Matt 20:33). 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
Matt 8:4.) Thus too would the Samaritan be taught that "salvation is of the Jews" (
John 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 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 (
Matt 8:10).
19 Arise--for he had "fallen down on his face at His feet" (
Luke 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.
20 COMING OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND OF THE SON OF MAN. (Luke 17:20-37)
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
Luke 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
Luke 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 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 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
Luke 9:23-
Luke 9:27).
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 (
Luke 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.