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.
Then G3767 said G2036 Jesus G2424 unto them, G846 Yet G2089 a little G3398 while G5550 am I G1510 with G3326 you, G5216 and G2532 then I go G5217 unto G4314 him that sent G3992 me. G3165 Ye shall seek G2212 me, G3165 and G2532 shall G2147 not G3756 find G2147 me: and G2532 where G3699 I G1473 am, G1510 thither ye G5210 cannot G3756 G1410 come. G2064 Then G3767 said G2036 the Jews G2453 among G4314 themselves, G1438 Whither G4226 will G3195 he G3778 go, G4198 that G3754 we G2249 shall G2147 not G3756 find G2147 him? G846 will G3361 G3195 he go G4198 unto G1519 the dispersed G1290 among the Gentiles, G1672 and G2532 teach G1321 the Gentiles? G1672 What G5101 manner of saying G3056 is G2076 this G3778 that G3739 he said, G2036 Ye shall seek G2212 me, G3165 and G2532 shall G2147 not G3756 find G2147 me: and G2532 where G3699 I G1473 am, G1510 thither ye G5210 cannot G3756 G1410 come? G2064
Then G3767 said G2036 Jesus G2424 again G3825 unto them, G846 I G1473 go my way, G5217 and G2532 ye shall seek G2212 me, G3165 and G2532 shall die G599 in G1722 your G5216 sins: G266 whither G3699 I G1473 go, G5217 ye G5210 cannot G3756 G1410 come. G2064 Then G3767 said G3004 the Jews, G2453 Will he kill G3385 G615 himself? G1438 because G3754 he saith, G3004 Whither G3699 I G1473 go, G5217 ye G5210 cannot G3756 G1410 come. G2064 And G2532 he said G2036 unto them, G846 Ye G5210 are G2075 from G1537 beneath; G2736 I G1473 am G1510 from G1537 above: G507 ye G5210 are G2075 of G1537 this G5127 world; G2889 I G1473 am G1510 not G3756 of G1537 this G5127 world. G2889 I said G2036 therefore G3767 unto you, G5213 that G3754 ye shall die G599 in G1722 your G5216 sins: G266 for G1063 if G3362 ye believe G4100 not G3362 that G3754 I G1473 am G1510 he, ye shall die G599 in G1722 your G5216 sins. G266
But G1161 now G3568 I go my way G5217 to G4314 him that sent G3992 me; G3165 and G2532 none G3762 of G1537 you G5216 asketh G2065 me, G3165 Whither G4226 goest thou? G5217 But G235 because G3754 I have said G2980 these things G5023 unto you, G5213 sorrow G3077 hath filled G4137 your G5216 heart. G2588 Nevertheless G235 I G1473 tell G3004 you G5213 the truth; G225 It is expedient G4851 for you G5213 that G2443 I G1473 go away: G565 for G1063 if G3362 I go G565 not G3362 away, G565 the Comforter G3875 will G2064 not G3756 come G2064 unto G4314 you; G5209 but G1161 if G1437 I depart, G4198 I will send G3992 him G846 unto G4314 you. G5209
A little while, G3397 and G2532 ye shall G2334 not G3756 see G2334 me: G3165 and G2532 again, G3825 a little while, G3397 and G2532 ye shall see G3700 me, G3165 because G3754 I G1473 go G5217 to G4314 the Father. G3962 Then G3767 said G2036 some of G1537 his G846 disciples G3101 among G4314 themselves, G240 What G5101 is G2076 this G5124 that G3739 he saith G3004 unto us, G2254 A little while, G3397 and G2532 ye shall G2334 not G3756 see G2334 me: G3165 and G2532 again, G3825 a little while, G3397 and G2532 ye shall see G3700 me: G3165 and, G2532 Because G3754 I G1473 go G5217 to G4314 the Father? G3962 They said G3004 therefore, G3767 What G5101 is G2076 this G5124 that G3739 he saith, G3004 A little while? G3397 we cannot G3756 G1492 tell G1492 what G5101 he saith. G2980 Now G3767 Jesus G2424 knew G1097 that G3754 they were desirous G2309 to ask G2065 him, G846 and G2532 said G2036 unto them, G846 Do ye enquire G2212 among G3326 yourselves G240 of G4012 that G5127 G3754 I said, G2036 A little while, G3397 and G2532 ye shall G2334 not G3756 see G2334 me: G3165 and G2532 again, G3825 a little while, G3397 and G2532 ye shall see G3700 me? G3165 Verily, G281 verily, G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 That G3754 ye G5210 shall weep G2799 and G2532 lament, G2354 but G1161 the world G2889 shall rejoice: G5463 and G1161 ye G5210 shall be sorrowful, G3076 but G235 your G5216 sorrow G3077 shall be turned G1096 into G1519 joy. G5479 A woman G1135 when G3752 she is in travail G5088 hath G2192 sorrow, G3077 because G3754 her G846 hour G5610 is come: G2064 but G1161 as soon as G3752 she is delivered G1080 of the child, G3813 she remembereth G3421 no more G3765 the anguish, G2347 for G1223 joy G5479 that G3754 a man G444 is born G1080 into G1519 the world. G2889 And G2532 ye G5210 G3303 now G3568 therefore G3767 have G2192 sorrow: G3077 but G1161 I will see G3700 you G5209 again, G3825 and G2532 your G5216 heart G2588 shall rejoice, G5463 and G2532 your G5216 joy G5479 no man G3762 taketh G142 from G575 you. G5216
And G2532 now G3765 I am G1510 no more G3765 in G1722 the world, G2889 but G2532 these G3778 are G1526 in G1722 the world, G2889 and G2532 I G1473 come G2064 to G4314 thee. G4571 Holy G40 Father, G3962 keep G5083 through G1722 thine own G4675 name G3686 those G846 whom G3739 thou hast given G1325 me, G3427 that G2443 they may be G5600 one, G1520 as G2531 we G2249 are. While G3753 I was G2252 with G3326 them G846 in G1722 the world, G2889 I G1473 kept G5083 them G846 in G1722 thy G4675 name: G3686 those that G3739 thou gavest G1325 me G3427 I have kept, G5442 and G2532 none G3762 of G1537 them G846 is lost, G622 but G1508 the son G5207 of perdition; G684 that G2443 the scripture G1124 might be fulfilled. G4137 And G1161 now G3568 come I G2064 to G4314 thee; G4571 and G2532 these things G5023 I speak G2980 in G1722 the world, G2889 that G2443 they might have G2192 my G1699 joy G5479 fulfilled G4137 in G1722 themselves. G846
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.