From: Over 50 Interpreters Explain the Gospel of
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By
Roland H. Worth, Jr. © 2015
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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Books utilized codes at end of chapter.
17:1 Translations
WEB: He said
to the disciples, "It is impossible that no occasions of stumbling should
come, but woe to him through whom they come!
Young’s: And he said unto the disciples, 'It is
impossible for the stumbling blocks not to come, but woe to him through whom
they come;
Conte (RC): And he said to his
disciples: "It is impossible for scandals not to occur. But woe to him
through whom they come!
17:1 Introductory note:
Relationship of 17:1-4 to the preceding chapter [52]. There is some doubt whether these verses are
a continuation of the preceding discourse, or a different report of what may
have been said on another occasion (Matthew 18:7, 6, 21f.). We may say, at least, that they seem to stand
in a natural and reasoned connection here also.
The murmuring (15:2) and the derisive comments (16:14) of the most
influential classes of the religious community on Christ’s acts and teachings,
were well suited to shake the faith and devotion to Him of His weaker
disciples; in other words, to cause them to stumble[--the subject of the
current section].
Or, at greater length [18]: The
thread of connection here is not very obvious, and many expositors are content
with regarding this seventeenth chapter as simply containing certain lesson of
teaching placed here by St. Luke without regard to anything which preceded or succeeded
them in the narrative, these expositors regarding the contents of this chapter
as well authenticated sayings of the Master, which were repeated to Luke or
Paul without any precise note of time or place, and which appeared to them too important
for them to omit in these memoirs of the Divine life. Notwithstanding this deliberate opinion,
endorsed by Godet and others, there does seem a clear
connection here with the narrative immediately preceding.
The Divine
Master, while mourning over the sorrowful certainty of offences being committed
in the present confused and disordered state of things, yet pronounces a bitter
woe on the soul of the man through whose agency the offences were wrought. The "little ones" whom these
offences would injure are clearly in this instance not children, although, of
course, the words would include the very young, for who Jesus ever showed the tenderest love; but the reference is clearly to disciples
whose faith was only as yet weak would be easily influenced either for good or
evil.
The offences, then,
especially and selfishness of professors of godliness. The
sight of these, professedly serving God and all the while serving mammon more
earnestly, would bring the very name of God's service into evil odour with some. The
selfish rich man of the great parable just spoken, professedly a religious man,
one who evidently prided himself on his descent from Abraham the friend of God,
and yet lived as a heartless, selfish sinner, who was eventually condemned for
inhumanity, was probably in the Lord's mind when he spoke thus. What fatal injury to the cause of true
religion would be caused by one such life as that! It were better for
him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea.
Then said He
unto the disciples. Jesus here ceases to speak to the
Pharisees, and begins a new series of sayings addressed to the disciples, which
sayings are, however, pertinent to the occasion, and not wholly disconnected
with what he has just been saying. [53]
It is impossible. In a world where Pharisees abound (1 Corinthians
It cannot but happen. Such is
the state of things that it will be.
[11]
but that offences
will come.
“Offences” here are what are commonly called “stumbling-blocks,”
occasions of stumbling, or actual fall in the course of discipleship to
Christ. The Greek word meant the trigger
of a trap, contact with which would cause the trap to spring; then, in the
Septuagint, the trap or snare; then anything, stone or what not (Hebrew mikshol) with which one comes in contact, so as to
stumble or be thrown down. Hence,
morally, whatever was adapted to shock the confidence of believers, and cause
wavering or apostasy in the life of faith.
It may arise among Christians themselves, or in the bearings of the
world upon them, and is named here, probably, with reference to the malicious
words and deeds of the Pharisees, as calculated to turn the disciples away from
Him. The impossibility of their not
coming lies in the moral antagonism of the world to Him and His cause. It would cease should the world become
thoroughly converted to His spirit. [52]
but woe unto him,
through whom they come! The
world will cause such dangers to occur because of its incompatibility with
faith in Jesus. How much worse
when they come due to the injustice, intemperance, or power seeking of those
who claim to be His followers! [rw]
No
moral necessity, no predestined certainty, removes the responsibility for
individual guilt. [56]
17:2 Translations
Weymouth: It would be
well for him if, with a millstone round his neck, he were lying at the bottom
of the sea, rather than that he should cause even one of these little ones to
fall.
WEB: It 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.
Young’s: it is more profitable to him if a weighty
millstone is put round about his neck, and he hath been cast into the sea, than
that he may cause one of these little ones to stumble.
Conte (RC): It would be better
for him if a millstone were placed around his neck and
he were thrown into the sea, than to lead astray one of these little ones.
17:2 it were better. Only here in New Testament. The verb means to pay what is due, and
is equivalent to our phrase, it pays.
[2]
for him that a millstone.
Compare Matt. xviii. 6. The correct reading here is λίθος μυλικός,
a millstone; not a great millstone as Matt. [2]
Drowning a person with a
stone tied about the neck was an ancient mode of punishment. [9]
were hanged about
his neck, and he cast. Hurled: with an underlying sense of violence, called
out by so great an outrage. [2]
into the sea. In plain prose, to have lost his natural life
is a lesser damage than to have committed such a sin. [52]
The
literal rendering of the verse is “It is for his advantage if a millstone is
hanging round his neck, and he has been flung
into the sea, rather than that, etc.” In
other words, the fate of a man who is lying drowned at the bottom of the sea is
better than if his continuance in life would have led to causing “one of these
little ones” to stumble. [56]
than that he should
offend [cause . . . to stumble,” NASB, NIV] one of these. Implying that little children were then
in their midst. [7]
little ones. Mark adds “that believe in me” (
Probably Jesus pointed
to some of the weak and unestablished followers who
accompanied Him and the twelve Apostles.
There are always many who are "babes in Christ." (1 Cor. iii. 1.) Those who are strong
in faith must be careful not to injure the weak in faith, even as the
elder children in a family must carefully avoid hurting the tender frames of
the younger children. [9]
17:3 Translations
WEB: Be
careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive
him.
Young’s: 'Take heed to yourselves, and, if thy
brother may sin in regard to thee, rebuke him, and if he may reform, forgive
him,
Conte (RC): Be attentive to
yourselves. If your brother has sinned against you, correct him. And if he has
repented, forgive him.
17:3 Take heed to yourselves. What if you are a victim of such
self-centeredness by fellow believers?
How are you to react to it? That
theme Jesus now moves to. [rw]
He did not
advise weakness or indifference to sin; He suggested that a brother who offends
may deserve and should receive a rebuke.
It is proper that he should be made to feel and to appreciate his fault. Nevertheless, he is to be treated with
kindness and if he sincerely repents, he is to be forgiven freely. Even if he repeats his sin with frequency, no
revenge is to be harbored against him. [28]
If. It does not imply that we must not
forgive unless he repent. [7] But
does it not leave the option fully in our own hands in such cases, to decide on
a case to case basis? It may be good
to forgive even then (for our own mental and emotional well-being if nothing
else), but it is only obligatory if the person repents. [rw]
Thy brother trespass against thee. Sin against
thee, or does anything that gives you an offence, or does you an injury. [11]
rebuke him.
Reprove. Go and tell him his
fault, and seek an explanation. Acquaint
him with what has been the effect of his conduct, and the state of your feelings,
that he may acknowledge his errors and repent.
[11]
and if he
repent. Sincerely recognize
and confess his fault. [52]
forgive him. Immediately, without insisting on any rigorous satisfaction. [9]
Forgiveness
is chiefly taken for abstaining from revenge; and so far we are to forgive our
enemies, even whilst they continue so, and though they do not repent. Besides, we are to pray for them, and to do
them all offices of common humanity and
charity. But sometimes forgiveness doth
signify a perfect reconciliation to those, that have offended us; and this is the meaning of that text, of rebuking our brother, if he trespass
against us; and, if he repent, to forgive him. Prov. xix. 11 ; Col. iii. 8-13.—Nelson. [36]
17:4 Translations
Weymouth: and if seven
times in a day he acts wrongly towards you, and seven times turns again to you
and says, 'I am sorry,' you must forgive him."
WEB: If he
sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, 'I
repent,' you shall forgive him."
Young’s: and if seven times in the day he may sin
against thee, and seven times in the day may turn back to thee, saying, I
reform; thou shalt forgive him.'
Conte (RC): And if he has sinned
against you seven times a day, and seven times a day has turned back to you,
saying, 'I am sorry,' then forgive him."
17:4 And if
he trespass against thee seven times in a day. Obviously a person who has pushed your patience and tolerance to the
breaking point. [rw]
seven times. This is a Hebrew idiom to express an
indefinite number--meaning frequently.
[8]
The sacred number,
expressive of numerous repetitions. [14]
A
purely general expression, which as little involves the quantitative limitation
of forgiveness upon repentance as the “seventy times seven” of Matthew
18:22. Some of the Rabbis had limited
the duty of forgiveness to a thrice-repeated offence. [56]
and seven times in a day, turn again to thee. He is going beyond merely vowing to himself
not to repeat his foolishness; he is willing to openly admit the mistreatment
to the victim in sorrow rather than bragging.
[rw]
saying. To say so openly is not only not disgraceful,
but even profitable; the spirits of the offender and the offended are admirably
healed. [24]
I repent. In
which, of course, he resigns all evil feelings and designs and desires mutual
peace. [14]
The
passage differs from that in Matthew in that the repentance of the sinner is
required as a condition precedent to forgiveness. [53]
thou shalt forgive him. This cannot mean that we are not to
forgive men unless they do repent.
At this rate there would be much bitterness constantly kept alive. But it does mean that when there is no
repentance or regret for an injury done, there can be no renewal of cordial
friendship, or complete reconciliation between man and man. [9]
17:5 Translations
Weymouth: And the Apostles said to the Lord, "Give us
faith."
WEB: The
apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."
Young’s: And the apostles said
to the Lord, 'Add to us faith;'
Conte (RC): And the Apostles
said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."
17:5 And the apostles said unto
the Lord.
The high title given, and the spontaneous
united request, shew how deeply they had felt the
previous lessons. [56]
increase our faith.
This duty of forgiving offences seemed so difficult to the disciples
that they felt the need strongly of an increase of faith; they felt that they
were prone themselves to harbor resentments and that it required an additional
increase of true religion to enable them to comply with the requirements of
Jesus. [11]
17:6 Translations
WEB: The 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.
Young’s: and the Lord said, 'If ye had faith as a
grain of mustard, ye would have said to this sycamine,
Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea, and it would
have obeyed you.
Conte (RC): But the Lord said:
"If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you may say to this
mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted, and be transplanted into
the sea.' And it would obey you.
17:6 And the Lord said, If ye
had faith. The Saviour
does not deny that they had any faith, but only gives them to feel how far they
are removed from faith in the highest ideal sense, which alone can make them
capable of fulfilling His own so strict requirement. [9]
as a grain of
mustard seed. “Which is the least of all seeds,” Matthew
ye might say unto
this sycamine tree. Or mulberry.
Luke distinguished between this and the fig-mulberry (ch. xix. 4). The
names were sometimes confused, but a physician would readily make the
distinction, as both were used medicinally.
[2]
This
was named as an apparently solid and immovable object then before their
eyes. The present indicative of the verb
following it assumes that they have such faith—“if ye have faith, and I
know ye have.” Thus the sentence
implies, by the very irregularity of its form, the surprise of our Lord that
they do not act out the faith which they [already] have. [52]
Be thou plucked
up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. He could
hardly have intended, literally, to promise the power of merely physical
prodigies, something which neither Christ nor His apostles ever wrought. [52]
In Matthew
17:7 Translations
Weymouth: But which of
you who has a servant ploughing, or tending sheep,
will say to him when he comes in from the farm, 'Come at once and take your
place at table,'
WEB: But 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,'
Young’s: 'But, who is he of you -- having a
servant ploughing or feeding -- who, to him having
come in out of the field, will say, Having come near,
recline at meat?
Conte (RC): But which of you,
having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, would say to him, as he was
returning from the field, 'Come in immediately; sit down to eat,'
17:7 Introductory note: Connection of verses 7-10 to preceding
sections [52]. The continuity of discourse which we have
been able to trace, with a degree of probability hitherto, through this
chapter, can hardly be carried further.
Meyer finds a like in the implied liability of the disciples to
arrogance, on account of the works of faith, of which they were capable. It seems more reasonable to suppose that Luke
found this piece of instruction well suited to close up the series of counsels
which the Lord had been addressing to them.
For this purpose what could be more fit than a lesson of humility?
This
lesson is delivered in a sort of hypothetical parable. Suppose a master should require his slave,
when returning from the day’s work out of doors, to prepare and serve for him
the supper, before taking his own meal.
The slave, in obeying, would have done no more than his recognized task,
and no one would think it worthy of special commendation or reward.
But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle. Whether or not any of the
apostles were farmers is very doubtful.
This does not necessarily imply it, as the words are simply addressed to
them as men generally. [14]
However:
The “which of you,” as addressed to the poor Apostles, may be
surprising; but the sons of Zebedee at least had once
had hired servants, Mark
will say unto him
by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? The
person is described as “having a servant” (singular) so whatever work there is
to do will, by default, become his responsibility. Hence, even though it would be nice if he
could “sit his feet up and have dinner” as soon as the day’s outside work was
done, whatever needed to be done inside fell on his list of automatic
chores as well. Hence fixing his
master’s meal would take priority over any personal interests or desires of his
own. [rw]
There
is none of the harshness which some have imagined. The master merely says, Get me my dinner, and
then take your own. [56]
17:8 Translations
Weymouth: and will not
rather say to him, 'Get my dinner ready, make yourself tidy, and wait upon me
till I have finished my dinner, and then you shall have yours'?
WEB: and will not
rather tell him, 'Prepare my supper, clothe yourself properly, and serve me,
while I eat and drink. Afterward you shall eat and drink'?
Young’s: but will not rather say to him, Prepare
what I may sup, and having girded thyself about, minister to me, till I eat and
drink, and after these things thou shalt eat and
drink?
Conte (RC): and would not say to
him: 'Prepare my dinner; gird yourself and minister to me, while I eat and
drink; and after these things, you shall eat and drink?'
17:8 And will not
rather say unto him, Make ready [Prepare something, NKJV] wherewith I may sup,
and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward
thou shalt eat and drink? It is
not a matter of harshness but of carrying out one’s duties. The master specifically rules out any effort
to keep the servant from eating, but simply reminds him to first take
care of his household duty. [rw]
17:9 Translations
WEB: Does he
thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded? I think not.
Young’s: Hath he favour to that servant because he did the things
directed? I think not.
Conte (RC): Would he be grateful
to that servant, for doing what he commanded him to do?
17:9 Doth he thank that servant because
he did the things that were commanded him? i.e., does he feel or express any special
gratitude to him? As a matter of
fact, men are not in the habit of acknowledging the daily services of their
dependents. Our Lord draws from this
common circumstance of life a rebuke of the spirit which would spin out to
eternity a selfish desire for personal rewards (Matthew
I trow [think,
NKJV] not. The words are probably genuine, though
omitted [in a number of manuscripts].
There is a touch of irony in them, and doubtless they express a passing
shade of disapproval at the thanklessness and discourtesy with which dependents
are too often treated. The other side of
the picture—God’s approval of our efforts—is given in
Weymouth: So you also,
when you have obeyed all the orders given you, must say, "'There is no merit in our service: what we have done is only
what we were in duty bound to do.'"
WEB: Even so
you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, 'We
are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.'"
Young’s: 'So also ye, when ye may have done all
the things directed you, say -- We are unprofitable servants, because that which
we owed to do -- we have done.'
Conte (RC): I think not. So too,
when you have done all these things that have been taught to you, you should
say: 'We are useless servants. We have done what we should have done.' "
say, We are unprofitable servants. Not useless, but having rendered no
service beyond what was due.
"The profit does not begin until the servant goes beyond his
obligation" (Meyer). "A servant
owes all things"
(Bengel). [2]
The
same word for unprofitable occurs in Matthew 25:30; Romans 3:12. This verse, like many others (Isaiah lxiv. 6; Romans
we have done that
which was our duty to do. In this passage, which is in the
nature of a parable, Jesus teaches that duty is coextensive with ability, and
explodes the doctrine that it is possible for a man to do "works of
supererogation". Since in God's
sight no man can even do his full duty (Psalms 143:2), it is impossible that he
can do MORE than his duty. We may be
rewarded for the discharge of our duty, but the reward is of grace and not of
merit. Compare Luke 12:3-48. The theme is no doubt suggested by Luke
17:6. When one's faith endows him with
great gifts he need not consider himself as an unusually profitable servant for
he can do no more than it is his duty to do.
Godet denies this
connection with Luke 17:6, contending that miracles are not among "the
things that are commanded", and for those who
could bestow it, a gift of healing was as much an obligation as a gift of alms
(Matthew 10:8; Acts 3:1-6). The
paragraph is a fitting close to a discourse so much of which relates to Pharisaism. [53]
Weymouth: As they pursued their journey to Jerusalem, He passed
through
WEB: It
happened as he was on his way to
Young’s: And it came to pass, in his going on to
Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee,
Conte (RC): And it happened
that, while he was traveling to
And it came to
pass, as He went to Jerusalem. Just a note of time and place inserted by
Luke to remind the reader that all these incidents took place, this important
teaching was spoken, during those last few months preceding the Crucifixion,
and generally in that long, slow progress from the north of Palestine. [18]
that He passed through the midst of
With more geographic detail: The most natural meaning of these words is
that our Lord, when rejected at the frontier village of En Gannim
(see on 9:52, 56), altered His route, and determined to pass towards Jerusalem
through Peraea.
In order to reach Peraea He would have to pass
down the Wady of Bethshean,--which
lies between the borders of
Weymouth: And as He entered a certain village, ten men met Him who
were lepers and stood at a distance.
WEB: As he
entered into a certain village, ten men who were lepers met him, who stood at a
distance.
Young’s: and he entering into a certain village,
there met him ten leprous men, who stood afar off,
Conte (RC): And as he was
entering a certain town, ten leprous men met him, and they stood at a distance.
ten men. So in 2 Kings 7:3 we find four lepers
together. [56]
that were lepers. As
they were excluded from other society, they associated among themselves. Bitterest prejudices were dropped and Jew and
Samaritan banded together in their common misery. [8]
which stood afar off. Cf.
Leviticus 13:45-46. [16]
Little
did they realize His superiority to those ceremonial scruples when good was to
be done to needy men.
Wetstein, on the passage, gives quotations
from the Rabbinic literature to show their aversion to
lepers. Two Rabbis disputing the
question maintained: one,
that it was not fit to come within a hundred cubits of a leper; the
other, within four cubits, when he stood between them and the wind. Another would not eat an egg if laid in a
courtyard where a leper was. One, when
he saw a leper, assailed him with stones, saying: “Off to thy own place, lest thou defile
others,” etc. [52]
Weymouth: In loud voices they cried out, "Jesus, Rabbi, take pity
on us."
WEB: They
lifted up their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"
Young’s: and they lifted up the voice, saying,
'Jesus, master, deal kindly with us;'
Conte (RC): And they lifted up
their voice, saying, "Jesus, Teacher, take pity on us."
lifted up their voices.
So as to be heard a long way. [52]
and said, Jesus,
Master, have mercy on us. In what manner, needed no
explanation. The plea was obviously
equivalent to “Heal us of our dreadful malady.”
[52]
WEB: When he
saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves
to the priests." It happened that as they went, they were cleansed.
Young’s: and having seen them, he said to them,
'Having gone on, shew yourselves to the priests;' and
it came to pass, in their going, they were cleansed,
Conte (RC): And when he saw
them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And it happened
that, as they were going, they were cleansed.
He said unto them. Without waiting for plea or
explanation, calling aloud [the following words]. [52]
How close was He to them? Apparently He called out this answer to them
while they were still at the required legal distance of 100 paces. [56]
go show
yourselves to the priests. At
Sadler remarks that, "Is it likely
that the Lord would formally recognize a religion of whose [adherents] He had
said, Ye worship ye know not what? The healing which the man experienced at the
hands of a Jew was better than ten thousand arguments to convince him that the
religion which Jesus observed was the true one." [30]
This command was according to the direction
[of Scripture]. (Lev.
xiii. 2, and cf.; xiv. 2, and cf.)
[9]
Was going to
And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
On their way.
As they went forward in [obedience to] Christ's command, they were
healed. They must already have had some
faith in the result. So the inquirer who
puts confidence in the divine directions, and believes the gospel call, and
goes blind and leprous as he is, finds healing as he goes. [8]
they went. Both Jews and Samaritan, towards
Since Jesus had not directly commanded appearance before
a Jewish priest, was the Samaritan
even seeking one? The healing
took place when they had shewn, by starting on their
way to fulfil the command of Jesus, that they had
faith. The Samaritan was on his way to
his own priests at Gerizim. [56]
WEB: One of
them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud
voice.
Young’s: and one of them having seen that he was
healed did turn back, with a loud voice glorifying God,
Conte (RC): And one of them, when
he saw that he was cleansed, returned, magnifying God with a loud voice.
Or: That he was going to
when he saw that he
was healed, turned back. They had not gone so far away that they did
not know Jesus was still where they had left Him. Such an experience might well suspend the
ceremonial duty, until they had discharged the moral duty of gratitude and
praise to the author of their cure. [52]
and with a loud
voice glorified God. Some see in this an implied contrast
to the harsh, husky voice of his leprous condition;
but this is unlikely. [56]
Weymouth: and he threw
himself at the feet of Jesus, thanking Him. He was a Samaritan.
WEB: He fell
on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan.
Young’s: and he fell upon his face at his feet,
giving thanks to him, and he was a Samaritan.
Conte (RC): And he fell face down before his feet, giving thanks. And this one
was a Samaritan.
and he was a
Samaritan. Apparently nine of these lepers were Jews,
and only one a Samaritan. This man would
not have been allowed to associate with Jews but for the miserable disease with
which he was afflicted, and which obliterated all distinction of race and
caste. [18]
A caution: It is not indeed [explicitly] said that all
the rest were Jews. What is certain is
that the one man who came back was not a Jew. [12]
WEB: Jesus
answered, "Weren't the ten cleansed? But where are the nine?
Young’s: And Jesus answering said, 'Were not the
ten cleansed, and the nine -- where?
Conte (RC): And in response, Jesus said: "Were not
ten made clean? And so where are the nine?
but where are the nine? There is something of surprise
and sadness in the question of Jesus as He saw this restored leper lying at his
feet: "Were not the ten cleansed? but where are the
nine?" It is always surprising to
find that ingratitude is so common among men.
Nine out of ten probably will forget every favor they may receive. It is rare that one realizes and acknowledges
his debt. [28]
Those who are
of the household of faith, are oftentimes more subject to ingratitude than strangers,
because they are less sensible of their own unworthiness. [27]
It has been suggested
that the priests, in their hostility to Jesus, hindered the return of the
nine. The one who was a Samaritan would
naturally pay little heed to a remonstrance from such a quarter. From the terms of the narrative it is,
however, more likely that the strange Samaritan, as soon as he felt he was
really cured, moved by intense, adoring gratitude, at once turned back to offer
his humble, heartfelt thanks to his Deliverer.
The others, now they had got what they so earnestly required, forgot to
be grateful, and hurried off to the priests to procure their certificate of
health. [18]
WEB: Were
there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this stranger?"
Young’s: There were not found who did turn back to
give glory to God, except this alien;'
Conte (RC): Was no one found who
would return and give glory to God, except this foreigner?"
Ingratitude
is one of the most universal and deeply seated of human vices, and our Lord was
perfectly familiar with it. But in this
instance He was moved by the depth of this thanklessness in so many recipients
of so blessed a favour. Hence his sorrowful
amazement. He felt as if all His
benefits “were falling into a deep silent grave.” [56]
save this stranger [foreigner, NKJV]. This foreign born, the alien. [14]
Weymouth: And He said to him, "Rise and go: your faith has cured
you."
WEB: Then he
said to him, "Get up, and go your way. Your faith has healed you."
Young’s: and he said to him, 'Having risen, be
going on, thy faith hath saved thee.'
Conte (RC): And he said to him:
"Rise up, go forth. For your faith has saved you."
And/or: He was now free to go forward in all his
duty: and he would, of course, go at
once to the priest, for the examination and certificate of healing that were necessary to restore him to
society, as well as to offer the gift commanded by Moses. [8]
Or: Thou hast shown thyself to thy great High
Priest; thou art made pure in body and pronounced pure in soul by Him, and thou
needest no other endorsement. [14]
thy faith hath
made thee whole. Literally, “save thee,” as in
WEB: Being
asked by the Pharisees when the
Young’s: And having been questioned by the
Pharisees, when the reign of God doth come, he answered them, and said, 'The
reign of God doth not come with observation;
Conte (RC): Then he was
questioned by the Pharisees: "When does the
of the Pharisees. The
appearance of the Pharisees again leads to the supposition of a distinct
occasion, whose date and locality are left undetermined. [52]
when the
They were looking for a
reign of the Messiah, under which all the glorious predictions of the prophets
would be literally fulfilled, with many circumstances added by their later
theology. They had their views as to
what the manner of the Messiah would be, and what events would precede and
attend His coming, but hardly assumed to fix a precise date for the event. [52]
He answered them and said, The
With observation (μετὰ παρατηρήσεως): Only here in New Testament. The progress of
the kingdom cannot be defined by visible marks like that of an earthly kingdom.
Its growth in the world is a process of pervasion, like the working of the
leaven through the lump. [2]
Weymouth: Nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' --for the
WEB: neither will they say, 'Look, here!' or, 'Look, there!' for
behold, the
Young’s: nor shall they say, Lo, here; or lo,
there; for lo, the reign of God is within you.'
Conte (RC): And so, they will
not say, 'Behold, it is here,' or 'Behold, it is there.' For behold, the
for, behold, the
Or: Is
not an external and political one, but is a power and
a realm within the soul. By using the
second person plural, Jesus did not mean to concede that that kingdom was now
actually within their hearts. He spoke
to them generally as men. Some render
the passage, "the
Arguing that “among you” does indeed fit the situation quite well: The spiritual truth expressed by such a
rendering [as “the
WEB: He 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.
Young’s: And he said unto his disciples, 'Days
will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and
ye shall not behold it;
Conte (RC): And he said to his
disciples: "The time will come when you will desire to see one day of the
Son of man, and you will not see it.
Or: A
comparison of this passage with the corresponding portions of Matthew 24, viz.,
verses 26, 28, 37-41, raises the question whether we have two reports of the
same discourse or whether our Lord so nearly repeated the same words at
different times. Now, it is pretty
obvious that our discourse has reference almost entirely to the final advent of
the Lord, at the end of the world; while Matthew’s embraces many features of
the coming at the destruction of Jerusalem and of the Jewish State. [52]
The days will come. Rather,
“days will come.” The Greek has no
article. The Saviour
would not indicate definite days, but more affectingly, days of a certain
quality, days of difficulty, hardship, distress, as
shown by what follows. [52]
when ye shall desire. You
who are now My professed followers; who now number
yourselves among My disciples. [11]
to see one of the days of the Son of man. As a reference to see days of happiness like when Jesus
had been on earth with them during His ministry: Compare Matthew
As a reference to
the desire to see times like they will be after Christ’s Second Coming: Their troubles and trials would be such, at
various times before His return, that they would long for the rest and
refreshment of even one of those days which He had taught them to anticipate,
in the glory and blessedness of the finished kingdom in heaven. The following context shows this to be the
meaning, rather than to make the sentence refer backward to the days they were then spending in
His earthly society. [52]
Such terrible days that you wish for a Messiah like
traditionally had been expected: Such shall be the calamities of those times;
so great shall be the afflictions and persecutions, that you will greatly
desire a deliverer--one who shall come to you in the character in which you
have expected the Messiah would come, and who should deliver you from the power
of your enemies. [Yet] ye shall not see
such a day of deliverance--such a Messiah as the nation has expected, and such
an interposition as you would desire. [11]
and ye shall not see it. They would still have to wait and toil and
suffer. [52]
Weymouth: And they will say to you, 'See there!' 'See here!' Do not
start off and go in pursuit.
WEB: They will
tell you, 'Look, here!' or 'Look, there!' Don't go away, nor follow after them,
Young’s: and they shall say to you, Lo, here; or
lo, there; ye may not go away, nor follow;
Conte (RC): And they will say to
you, 'Behold, he is here,' and 'Behold, he is there.' Do not choose to go out,
and do not follow them.
See here; or,
see there. The
Messiah is here if you just go to this place—or that place! The delay is over! [rw]
As reflecting a mind frame that would not die out until
the Jewish revolt of the 130s in
go not after them. Try not to find them. Do not waste your time seeking out what will
be a waste of your time even if you do find them. [rw]
nor follow them. Do not become their disciples or embrace their
teaching or that of their “disciples.” [rw]
In your forlornness you will be especially liable
to delusion; but no one shall know of My coming sooner
than you. [52]
Weymouth: For just as the lightning, when it flashes, shines from one
part of the horizon to the opposite part, so will the Son of Man be on His day.
WEB: for as
the lightning, when it flashes out of the one part under the sky, shines to the
other part under the sky; so will the Son of Man be in his day.
Young’s: for as the lightning that is lightening
out of the one part under heaven, to the other part under heaven doth shine, so
shall be also the Son of Man in his day;
Conte (RC): For just as
lightning flashes from under heaven and shines to whatever is under heaven, so
also will the Son of man be in his day.
The point of
comparison is the instantaneousness and universal visibility of the lightning
flash, throughout the whole circle of the horizon. [52]
so shall also
the Son of man be in his day. “The brightness of His coming” also will
shine equally, in the same moment, over the whole world, and prove, not only
that He has come, but that He is as near to one as to another. Without attempting at all to foretell the
date of the glorious appearing, our Lord mentions some things which must
precede it, the occurrence of which would mark the lapse of the intervening
time, and the prediction of which was well calculated to check elation on their
part, and to quicken them in diligence to “be found of Him in peace.” The first thing was the sad and shameful fate
soon to overtake their Master Himself. [52]
WEB: But
first, he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
Young’s: and first it behoveth
him to suffer many things, and to be rejected by this generation.
Conte (RC): But first he must
suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
and be rejected of this generation. The
bulk of the population would refuse to embrace His call. In large part this grew out of His failure to
be the kind of Messiah the masses assumed would come: The failure to unleash the sword,
set up (at least) a rejuvenated Jewish state by chasing out the Romans, and
ruling as earthly Monarch—to most that meant He couldn’t possibly be the
Messiah. They sincerely sought a
Messiah, just not this kind of Messiah, the only kind they were going to
receive. [rw]
To "this
generation" belongs not His second advent, but
His internal kingdom; His sufferings and His death. How absurd and contradictory to a whole mass
of texts, the idea that our Lord, or His disciples, taught that His second
coming was in their generation. [14]
WEB: As it
happened in the days of Noah, even so will it be also in the days of the Son of
Young’s: 'And, as it came to pass in the days of
Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man;
Conte (RC): And just as it
happened in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of man.
so shall it be
also in the days of the Son of man. The old
adage about history repeating itself is both tragic and all too true. In the days of Noah, the people had a message
that would have saved them from physical death; in the days of Jesus, a message
that would redeem from spiritual death. In
both cases they would go about their daily business as if they had nothing to
worry about—until it was far too late. [rw]
WEB: They ate,
they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah
entered into the ship, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
Young’s: they were eating, they were drinking,
they were marrying, they were given in marriage, till the day that Noah entered
into the ark, and the deluge came, and destroyed all;
Conte (RC): They were eating and
drinking; they were taking wives and being given in marriage, even until the day
that Noah entered the ark. And the flood came and destroyed them all.
17:27 They did eat,
they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that
Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and
destroyed them all. There is nothing infamous in the things
listed. They are carrying on the normal,
expected behaviors found in any functioning society. Will the conditions at the Second Coming be a
contrast with the days of Noah? Then
why is their fate given as a warning to us? Hence it seems far better to take
it as a reference to the reality that even in a severely sin sick society (such
as Noah’s) most of daily behavior will be the daily “ho hum” that involve the
necessities of surviving. No matter how
much depraved behavior is going on, you still have to “pay the daily
bills!” A famous British admiral a few
centuries back—well known for his pattern of ongoing adulteries—once reminded a
listener, “You can’t spend all your time in bed!” The rest of life has to go on. [rw]
destroyed them all. Killed everyone alive. There was no escape from the consequences for
their sin—nor will there be in the days of Jesus’ coming (verse 30). [rw]
WEB: Likewise,
even as it happened in the days of
Young’s: in like manner also, as it came to pass
in the days of Lot; they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying,
they were selling, they were planting, they were building;
Conte (RC): It shall be similar
to what happened in the days of Lot. They were eating and drinking; they were
buying and selling; they were planting and building.
they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted,
they builded.
They were busy in the affairs of this life as if nothing were about to happen. [11]
WEB: but in
the day that
Young’s: and on the day
Conte (RC): Then, on the day
that
Going “out of
it rained fire and brimstone. God destroyed, yet in overthrowing [
from heaven. By command of God; or from the sky. To the people of
and destroyed them all. As in the case of Noah’s flood, the emphasis
is again on how this judgment will be inescapable. The only response in their control was how to
prepare for it (verse 31). [rw].
WEB: It will
be the same way in the day that the Son of Man is revealed.
Young’s: 'According to these things it shall be,
in the day the Son of Man is revealed;
Conte (RC): According to these
things, so shall it be in the day when the Son of man will be revealed.
in the day when
the Son of man is revealed. "Is revealed,'' that is to say, he has
been present all along, through those long ages of waiting; only an
impenetrable veil has hid him from mortal eyes. In that day will the veil be lifted, "and
they shall look upon me whom they have pierced" (Zechariah
Weymouth: "On that
day, if a man is on the roof and his property indoors, let him not go down to
fetch it; and, in the same way, he who is in the field, let him not turn back.
WEB: In 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.
Young’s: in that day, he who shall be on the house
top, and his vessels in the house, let him not come down to take them away; and
he in the field, in like manner, let him not turn backward;
Conte (RC): In that hour,
whoever will be on the rooftop, with his goods in the house, let him not
descend to take them. And whoever will be in the field, similarly, let him not
turn back.
17:31 In that day, he
which shall be upon the housetop let him not come down to take it away. A graphic enforcement of the necessity of haste. Any one in the city, at the moment on the
flat roof of his house, whither they went for fresh air, or retirement and
meditation, must, as soon as he is informed of the impending danger, give all
heed to escape from the city. To save
property in the house below must not detain him. To descend, if that could be done without
detention, or to rescue dependent lives, is not in these terms forbidden; but
the losing of time to save goods. [52]
It is clear that in
these warnings, as in Matthew 24, our Lord has distinctly in view the
Destruction of Jerusalem, and the awful troubles and judgments which it
brought, as being the first fulfillment of the Prophecy of His Advent. [56]
and he that is in
the field, let him likewise not return back. To the city or town where he lives. Especially in this case, one would
only be “escaping with the clothes on his back.” But it is profoundly wiser to escape with
nothing, but alive, than to be carrying all you can and the delay
has cost you your life. [rw]
In depth: The
relationship of this verse to the appearance of the same language in Matthew 24
[52]. This verse appears, by a reference to the
corresponding passages of Matthew and Mark, to belong to a prophecy of the
destruction of
Or: However one handles the preceding verses as
to their intended time of fulfillment—Second Coming or the destruction of
WEB: Remember
Young’s: remember the wife of
Conte (RC): Remember
She looked back--she delayed--perhaps she desired
to take something with her; and God made her a monument of His displeasure. Jesus directed His disciples when they saw
the calamities coming upon the Jews to flee to the mountains (Matthew
24:16). He here charges them to be in
haste--not to look back--not to delay--but to escape quickly, and to remember
that by delaying, the wife of
She was disobedient to the Divine command,
and while she fled, had left her heart behind her. She must take a farewell look at her
treasures, and was changed into salt--a standing
The example of
Weymouth: Any man who
makes it his object to keep his own life safe, will
lose it; but whoever loses his life will preserve it.
WEB: Whoever
seeks to save his life loses it, but whoever loses his life preserves it.
Young’s: Whoever may seek to save his life, shall
lose it; and whoever may lose it, shall preserve it.
Conte (RC): Whoever has sought
to save his life, will lose it; and whoever has lost it, will bring it back to
life.
Interpreted as referring to both
and whosoever
shall lose his life shall preserve it. If faithful to Christ even physical death will not severe the spiritual
bond. [rw]
WEB: I tell
you, in that night there will be two people in one bed. The one will be taken,
and the other will be left.
Young’s: 'I say to you, In that night, there shall
be two men on one couch, the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left;
Conte (RC): I say to you, in that night, there will be two
in one bed. One will be taken up, and the other will be left behind.
Not
necessarily men; but human beings, e.g., man and wife. The numerals are of course masculine, because
the man might be either the one “taken” or the one “left.” [56]
One bed. In the East, single beds were used by the
upper class only. Hence He alludes to
the humblest members of society. [7]
the one shall be
taken, and the other shall be left. If
of the fall of
WEB: There
will be two grinding grain together. One will be taken, and the other will be
left."
Young’s: two women shall be grinding at the same
place together, the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left;
Conte (RC): Two will be at the
grindstone together. One will be taken up, and the other will be left behind.
Two will be in the field.
Women,
among their other drudgery, had each morning to grind the quantity of meal the
family uses during the day. This was
done with a hand-mill, at which the strength of two women was required. Thus is indicated the interest of women also
in the solemn lesson. [52]
the one shall be
taken, and the other left. Women,
no more than males, will all share the same fate. [rw]
WEB: (omitted)
Young’s: two men shall be in the field, the one
shall be taken, and the other left.'
Conte (RC): One will be taken
up, and the other will be left behind."
This
verse is of more than doubtful authenticity in this place, being omitted by
nearly all the important manuscripts. It
is probably interpolated from Matthew 24:40.
[56]
WEB: They,
answering, asked him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the
body is, there will the vultures also be gathered together."
Young’s: And
they answering say to him, 'Where, sir?' and he said to them, 'Where the body
is, there will the eagles be gathered together.'
Conte (RC): Responding, they
said to him, "Where, Lord?"
And he said to them, "Wherever the body will be, in that place
also, the eagles shall be gathered together."
Whersoever the body is.
Jesus gave a proverbial
answer, the meaning of which is that sin courts and draws to itself punishment
and destruction just as a carcass draws winged scavengers. Applying His words, we may say that as the
corruption of the antediluvians drew upon them, the devastation of the flood,
and as the crimes of the Sodomites called down upon them, the fires from
heaven, and as the unbelief of the Jews of Christ's day caused the destruction
of Jerusalem and the death of the nation, so the wickedness of the men of the
last times will result in the ending of the world. The word translated "eagles" is
generic, and included the vultures also (Pliny, Nat. Hist.
9:3). [53]
thither will the eagles be gathered together. As reference to vultures: The imagery is taken from Job 39:30,
"Where the slain are, there is she"; the bird intended being most
probably the great vulture, well known in
Or: Perhaps the more correct word would have been
“vultures;” but it matters little, as the vultures were eagle-like, and both
sorts familiar in Palestine, were carrion eaters. They represent the ministers of God’s justice
(compare Matthew
In depth: Ancient
literal and symbolic interpretations of “the eagles” and “the body”[36]. Much
diversity of interpretation attends the figurative meaning.
S. Gregory and S. Augustine understand by the body,
Heaven, and by eagles, the Saints of God. S. Jerome by body understands
Christ's sufferings; Origen sees in it the Church, and in the eagles
the consent of the doctors
and early fathers. Others apply
it to the Cross and to believers, and, more
particularly, to the Body of
the Lord, the food of our
souls in the Holy Eucharist. —J.
Ford.
A survey of other approaches [56]: Some
commentators both ancient and modern have interpreted “the body” to mean
Christ, and “the eagles” His gathering Saints.
Scriptural usage seems to make such an interpretation impossible,
especially as there is probably a direct allusion to Job 39:30, “Her young ones
also suck up blood: and where the
slain are, there is she.” See too
Habakkuk 1:8; Hosea 8:1; Revelation
Sometimes a reference is
supposed to the eagle-standards of
But the proverb has a
wider significance, and is illustrated by the rush of avenging forces whenever
the life of a nation has fallen into dissolution and decay. See the vision of the eagle in 2 Esdras
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