Luke 17WEB
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Luke17

World English Bible · Public Domain

1He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no occasions of stumbling should come, but woe to him through whom they come!

2It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.

3Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him.

4If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

5The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”

6The Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

7But who is there among you, having a servant plowing or keeping sheep, that will say when he comes in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down at the table’?

8Wouldn’t he rather tell him, ‘Prepare my supper, clothe yourself properly, and serve me while I eat and drink. Afterward you shall eat and drink’?

9Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded? I think not.

10Even so you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.’”

11As he was on his way to Jerusalem, he was passing along the borders of Samaria and Galilee.

12As he entered into a certain village, ten men who were lepers met him, who stood at a distance.

13They lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

14When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” As they went, they were cleansed.

15One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice.

16He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan.

17Jesus answered, “Weren’t the ten cleansed? But where are the nine?

18Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?”

19Then he said to him, “Get up, and go your way. Your faith has healed you.”

20Being asked by the Pharisees when God’s Kingdom would come, he answered them, “God’s Kingdom doesn’t come with observation;

21neither will they say, ‘Look, here!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ for behold, God’s Kingdom is within you.”

22He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.

23They will tell you, ‘Look, here!’ or ‘Look, there!’ Don’t go away or follow after them,

24for as the lightning, when it flashes out of one part under the sky, shines to another part under the sky, so will the Son of Man be in his day.

25But first, he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

26As it was in the days of Noah, even so it will also be in the days of the Son of Man.

27They ate, they drank, they married, and they were given in marriage until the day that Noah entered into the ship, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

28Likewise, even as it was in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;

29but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from the sky and destroyed them all.

30It will be the same way in the day that the Son of Man is revealed.

31In that day, he who will be on the housetop and his goods in the house, let him not go down to take them away. Let him who is in the field likewise not turn back.

32Remember Lot’s wife!

33Whoever seeks to save his life loses it, but whoever loses his life preserves it.

34I tell you, in that night there will be two people in one bed. One will be taken and the other will be left.

35There will be two grinding grain together. One will be taken and the other will be left.”

36

37They, answering, asked him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the body is, there the vultures will also be gathered together.”

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Luke 17.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: To avoid offences, To pray for increase of faith, Humility taught. (11–19). Ten lepers cleansed. (1–10). Christ's kingdom. (20–37).

vv1-10

It is no abatement of their guilt by whom an offence comes, nor will it lessen their punishment that offences will come. Faith in God's pardoning mercy, will enable us to get over the greatest difficulties in the way of forgiving our brethren. As with God nothing is impossible, so all things are possible to him that can believe. Our Lord showed his disciples their need of deep humility. The Lord has such a property in every creature, as no man can have in another; he cannot be in debt to them for their services, nor do they deserve any return from him.

vv11-19

A sense of our spiritual leprosy should make us very humble whenever we draw near to Christ. It is enough to refer ourselves to the compassions of Christ, for they fail not. We may look for God to meet us with mercy, when we are found in the way of obedience. Only one of those who were healed returned to give thanks. It becomes us, like him, to be very humble in thanksgivings, as well as in prayers. Christ noticed the one who thus distinguished himself, he was a Samaritan. The others only got the outward cure, he alone got the spiritual blessing.

vv20-37

The kingdom of God was among the Jews, or rather within some of them. It was a spiritual kingdom, set up in the heart by the power of Divine grace. Observe how it had been with sinners formerly, and in what state the judgments of God, which they had been warned of, found them. Here is shown what a dreadful surprise this destruction will be to the secure and sensual. Thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. When Christ came to destroy the Jewish nation by the Roman armies, that nation was found in such a state of false security as is here spoken of. In like manner, when Jesus Christ shall come to judge the world, sinners will be found altogether regardless; for in like manner the sinners of every age go on securely in their evil ways, and remember not their latter end. But wherever the wicked are, who are marked for eternal ruin, they shall be found by the judgments of God.

Cross References

Luke 17
v1Matthew 18:7thematic

Direct parallel teaching of Jesus regarding the certainty of offences and the woe due to them.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v3Matthew 18:21thematic

Direct parallel where Peter asks about forgiving a brother who sins up to seven times.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v5Mark 9:24thematic

Kindred prayer to Christ for spiritual help, where a father cries out, "help thou mine unbelief."

Supported by JFB

v10Job 22:2thematic

Confirms that man cannot benefit or be profitable to God, underscoring our unprofitable servant status.

Supported by John Calvin, JFB

v12Leviticus 13:45allusion

Old Testament law requiring lepers to cover their lip, cry unclean, and stand afar off.

Supported by JFB

v122 Kings 7:3thematic

Shows other outcasts with leprosy drawn together at the gate in their shared misery.

Supported by JFB

v26Matthew 24:37-39thematic

Parallel discourse on the unexpected judgment coming in the days of the Son of man, like Noah's.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v32Genesis 19:26allusion

The historical account of Lot's wife looking back and becoming a pillar of salt.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v37Matthew 24:28thematic

Parallel proverb of judgment where carcasses and eagles/vultures gather.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v10Romans 11:35thematic

Asks who has first given to God that it should be recompensed to him again.

Supported by John Calvin, JFB

v14Matthew 8:4thematic

Parallel command of Jesus instructing a cleansed leper to show himself to the priest.

Supported by JFB

v18Matthew 8:10thematic

Parallel of Christ marveling at a Gentile stranger's faith exceeding that of Israel.

Supported by JFB

v21Romans 14:17thematic

Confirms the kingdom of God is spiritual (within/among you), consisting of righteousness, peace, and joy.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v29Genesis 19:24allusion

The historical event of fire and brimstone raining down from heaven upon Sodom.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v33Luke 9:24thematic

Identical proverbial teaching on losing one's life to preserve it, and vice versa.

Supported by Matthew Henry