Luke 17

Luke 17:5

INcrease,] a request good in it selfe, but which hath some leaven of pride in the Apostles thoughts: as if they had enough already, and that they wanted nothing but some addition of greater perfection. And the Lord sheweth them that they had searce as yet the first seeds of it.

Luke 17:7

Which of you,] by this similitude taken from bend-slaves, bound to do their masters all manner of service, without any right of interchangeable requitall from them, he doth reprove the Apostles secret presumption, who thought they had done so much for Christ, that they deserved great rewards suddenly. And Christ contrariwise teacheth them that they did nothing but what was their duties: and that they ought rather to think upon persevering in their labour to the end; remitting with all humility the reward to Gods good will, who gives it out of meere grace, and not as a thing due. Romans A. 4. 5.

Luke 17:9

Doth he thanke,] for to be any way bound unto him for it.

Luke 17:10

Vnprofiable,] a title of a servant which is remisse, and nothing worth. Matthew 25:30. Romans 3:12. Phile. 1. made use of in this place; to shew a totall incapacity in men to deserve at Gods hands. Seeing that in all their workes they give God nothing of their owne, but onely restore unto him that which is his. And besides that they have no equality or proportion with him to oblige him: nor with his everlasting goods to deserve them. Iob 22. 2. and 35. 6. Psal. 16. 2.

Luke 17:12

Which stood,] as uncleane persons according to the lavv, which ought to segregate themselves from the society of other men. Leviticus 13:45-46.

Luke 17:20

When the,] when that earthly and most happy kingdome should be established in the world, which they imagined should be under the Messias, With observation,]by apparant meanes and occurrencies; which may bee observed by sense and discourse, as the originall and beginning of your worldly Monarchies.

Luke 17:21

The kingdome,] that is to say, it is a spirituall kingdome founded in the hearts and in the conversion of souls; and therefore cannot be known but onely spiritually by those that have part therein. Others expound it is in the midst of you, namely, by my comming in the flesh, and by my preaching.

Luke 17:22

When ye,] by reason of the great afflictions which ye shall endure after my departure out of the world: you shall desire my bodily presence for your defence and comfort, which at this present you have, Matthew 9:15. Iohn 17. 12. ye let not this desire induce you to suffer your selves to be seduced, to receive some false Christ or Saviour, or to seeke for me in the world; for I will come no more upon earth, but at the last judgement, and that comming shall be so cleere, and so certaine, that there shall be no doubt made in it.

Luke 17:31

He which shall,] this discourse which i S. Matthew is especially referred to the calamities of Iudea; is here extended to the last comming of Christ; for the which he warneth those who are his to prepare themselves that they may then without any disturbance or displeasure for the destruction of the world, receive the Lord with comple〈…〉 joy.

Luke 17:35

Be grinding,] See upon Matthew 24:41.

Luke 17:37

Where Lord,] that is to say, where 〈◊〉 thou appeare at thy last comming? whereunto the Lord makes answer with a sentence taken out of Iob, expounded upon Matthew 24:48.