Luke 17
CHAPTER 17
Luke 17:1-10 . OFFENSES--FAITH--HUMILITY.
1, 2. (See Matthew 18:6 Matthew 18:7 ).
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."
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.
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 Job 22:3 , Romans 11:35 .)
Luke 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 Leviticus 13:45 Leviticus 13:46 ).
13. they lifted up--their common misery drawing these poor outcasts together ( 2 Kings 7:3 ), nay, making them forget the fierce national antipathy of Jew and Samaritan [TRENCH].
Jesus, &c.--(Compare Matthew 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. 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, 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 ( Matthew 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.
Luke 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.