Luke 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.