Luke 17
DOYLY— with observation.] With the pomp and splendour visible in earthly kingdoms. Dr. Whitby.
Luke 17:10
10.—say, We are unprofitable servants:] Whereas the performance of the greatest things which I your Master require, may seem to you a very eminent piece of service; know that in obeying all My precepts, you only do the offices of good and faithful servants, obeying the commands of your great Master, as ye ought to do, and so must look on the reward promised, as not of debt, but of grace. Dr. Whitby.
So far are we from being able to exceed what is required for our salvation, as is implied in the doctrine of works of supererogation maintained in the Romish Church, that the Gospel here assures us, after our utmost care and best endeavours, we shall still fall short of our whole duty, and our deficiencies must be supplied by the abundant merits of our blessed Redeemer. Bp. Tomline.
—unprofitable servants:] That is, creatures who can make no beneficial returns, no proper requisite to their Creator; who can neither will nor do any thing without the aids of Divine grace; who, instead of meriting a reward, or claiming it as a debt, cannot so much as claim impunity, or glory in God’s sight, but must be content to sue to Him in the humblest manner for reward, for grace, and even for impunity; referring all to God’s mercy and goodness, purchased by the sole merits of Christ Jesus. Dr. Waterland.
While we freely confess that our very best services are unprofitable with regard to God, we should study by all means to render them as profitable as we can to our neighbours and to ourselves. Thus we shall act the consistent, the pious, the charitable, the Christian part: thus we shall render to all their dues; humility to God the Father, gratitude and love to His eternal Son, our only Redeemer, and obedience to the dictates and suggestions of the Holy Spirit, our Sanctifier and Comforter. Dean Tucker.
If the utmost which any man can do is no more than what his duty obliges him to, the best have no merit to plead for themselves, much less to transfer to others; and the Romish doctrine of supererogation, which implies that one man can make up for the deficiencies of
another in virtue and religion, must fall to the ground. Bp. Mann.
Luke 17:11
11.—through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.] Through the confines of Samaria and Galilee. Christ was journeying from Galilee, and His way lay through Samaria. Dr. Whitby.
Luke 17:12
12.—lepers.] The dreadful disease of the leprosy, it is supposed, was at first peculiar to Egypt, but it afterwards spread to Syria. It is thought not so much to have been a common disease, as a Divine infliction for the punishment of some grievous sin in the leprosy person. For it is difficult to conceive how such a pestilent disease as not only infected men’s bodies, but also the very walls of their houses, (see Lev. xiv. 34,) and their garments, should merely proceed from natural causes. Lewis.
—which stood afar off:] These men, being by the laws respecting leprosy (see Lev. xiii. xiv.) separated from the society of any of their brethren, durst not approach our Saviour. Dean Stanhope.
Luke 17:14
14.—shew yourselves unto the priests.] As is directed at Lev. xiii. 2, &c.; xiv. 2, &c.
Luke 17:16
16.—fell down—at his feet.] Being conscious of the cure of his leprosy, he now ventured to come near our Saviour. Dean Stanhope.
Luke 17:18
18.—save this stranger.] The Samaritans were considered as heathens by the Jews. Dr. Hammond.
We should well reflect on the conduct of the persons on whom this signal benefit was conferred. Their complaint was common as well as their calamity; but they, who were unanimously loud in their request, and seemed equally sensible of their affliction, were far from being equally affected by their deliverance. Nine out of the ten no sooner received the mercy than they forgot it: and only one poor Samaritan out of the number had the grace to come back, and with becoming humility and zeal, to pay the acknowledgments due for so sudden, so signal a mercy. This passage is the very picture of mankind, and holds out to us a glass, in which almost every soul may see its own disposition but too exactly represented, too strongly reflected. How closely do the generality of the world resemble
Of the kingdom of God, and the coming of the Son of man. Anno DOMINI 23.
Luke 17:19
- — thy faith] Thy belief that I could do this. Bp. Mann.
Luke 17:20
- — when the kingdom of God should come,] The
Luke 17:22
- — The days will come, &c.] When the impending calamities shall fall on the nation of the Jews, ye will wish, in the time of your distress, for the comfortable enjoyment of My presence again, which then ye cannot have. Dr. S. Clarke.
Luke 17:24
- — in his day.] In the day when He shall come to judgment, and His power shall be manifested in the destruction of Jerusalem. Bp. Mann.
Luke 17:31
- — upon the housetop.] See note at Matt. xxiv. 17.
Luke 17:32
- Remember Lot’s wife.] Remember, by the example of Lot’s wife, the folly of looking back at small and temporal things, when your life and happiness, your greatest and most lasting concerns, are at stake. Dr. S. Clarke.