Luke 17

Christ forewarns them of offences.1. Teacheth that we must forgive our brothers as often as he is sorry for his offences. 3. The Desciples pray for the increase of their faith, the whereof he describeth. 5. By the similitude of a servant coming from a field, he declareth, that a man doth not merit before God when he doth his duty. 7. He cleamseth ten lepers, whereof but one is thankfull. 11. Teacheth in what manner the coming of his kingdom shall be. 20. Describes the last times, which he compares to the times of Noe and Lot.26.

1. And he said unto the disciples and it can not be [Gr it is unchanceable that is it cannot happen see hereof Matthew 18:7] that no offence should come but wo to him by whom they come

2. It would be more profitable for him [Gr it is profitable for him]that is it were less evil for him that punishment were inflicted on him before he gave offence given he should be punished with everlasting death as Christ here threatens] that a mill-stone were put about his neck and cast into the sea then that he should offend one of his little ones [that is even the least amongst the faithful see Matthew 18:6]

3. Take heed to yourselves and if thy brother sin against thee rebuke him and if he is sorry for it [Gr if he repent that is acknowledge his fault and desire pardon and whereby not withstanding Christ meaneth not that we should not forgive them which yet do not thus for he hath us otherwise by his own example Luke 23:34 like as Stephen did also Acts 7:60 and Paul 1 Corinthians 4:2] forgive it him

4. And if he sin against thee seven times a day [that is often as Psalm 119 .164 Proverbs 24:16] and seven times a day turn again to thee saying I am sorry for it thou shall forgive him.

5. He and the apostles said increase faith unto us

6. And the Lord saith if ye have faith as the mustard seed [that is although it were never so little so it be but true see Matthew 17 verse 20] ye should say to this mulberry tree [Gr sycaminos which is a kind of mulberry tree or as some think of a fig tree] be thou rooted up [that is plucked out by the root or rooted out] and planted in the sea and he should obey ye

7. And which of ye hath a servant [that is slave or bond man who owes his Lord all he can do] loughing or keeping cattle who will presently say to him when he commeth in from the field come near and sit down?

8. But will be not say to him make ready that I shall eat at supper and gird thee about [namely after the manner of those countries were they wore long clothes see Luke 12:37] and serve me until I shall have eaten and drink afterwards

9. Doth he also thank that servant [that is doth he con him thank for that as if were therefore beholding to him] because he hath done that which was commanded him? I think not

10. so ye also when ye shall have all that is commanded you say we are unprofitable servants [that s which bring no benefit or profit to our master Romans 11:35 although there be no man which doth that which ought 1 Kings 8:46 Job 9:2,3 Matthew 6:12] for we have but done which is our duty to do

11. And it came to pass when he traveled towards Jerusalem that he went through the midst of Samaria [that is off the Land of the city were Samaria was the chief city for from Galilee to Jerusalem the next way was through the land of Samaria]and Galilee

12. And when he came into a certain town there he met him ten leaper when which stood afar off [that is separated from the people according to the law Numbers 5 verse 2]

13. And they lift up their voices saying Jesus master [Gr forestander] have mercy on me

14. And when he saw them he said unto them go your way and shew yourselves to the priest [the cause hereof see Matthew 8:4] and it came to pass that while they were away they were cleansed

15. And one of them seeing that he was cured turned back with a loud voice glorifying God

16. And he fell on his face before his feet thanking him and the same was a Samaritan

17. And Jesus answering said was not the ten cleansed? And where the nine?

18. And there none found who return to give glory to God but the stranger? [That is which is of another race then the Jewish for the Samaritan were descended from the Gentiles 2 Kings 17:24]

19. And said unto him arise and go thy way thy father have saved thee

20. And being asked by the Pharisees and the kingdom of God should come be answered them and saith the kingdom of God cometh not with out ward shew [Gr with observation that is in such manner that it can be taken notice of before as it is in the coming of wordly princes which by reason of the great out ward pomp may be observed as expected before hand]

21. Neither shall man say Lo here or lo there for behold the kingdom of God is within you [or in the midst of you which may be understood either of the Jews in general for sa much as the messiahs was now in the midst among them John 1:26 or else faithful among them in whose heart he set up his kingdom by his word and spirit]

22. And he said to the disciples there shall come days when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the son of man [namely to enjoy his bodily presence and to hear the word out of his own mouth] and ye shall not see it

23. And they shall say unto ye Lo here or lo he is there go not your way neither follow them

24. For as the lightning which lighteneth from one end under the heaven so shall the son of man be in his day [namely as well in the swift spread abroad the gospel through the whole world Romans 10:18 as his last coming to judgment 1 Corinthians 15:52 2 Peter 3:10]

25. But first he must suffer much and be rejected [Gr disapproved] of this generation [namely of the Jews]

26. And as it happened in the days of Noe so shall it be also in days of son of man

27. They did eat they drank [that is they took care of nothing else but for these and such like wordly corporal things without taking notice of what of this was foretold] they took in marriage [namely the men] they were given in marriage [that is the women or maidens]until the day on which Noah went onto the ark and stood and came and destroyed them all

28. In the like manner as it also happened in the days of Lot they did eat they drank they bought they sold they planted they builded

29. But on that day in which Lot went on Sodom it rained fire and Brim storm from heaven and destroyed them all

30. Even so shall it be the day [namely of vengeance and judgment which he shall execute as well in particular with the Jews and the city of Jerusalem as in general as over the whole world see Matthew 24:39] on which the son of men shall be revealed [Gr be revealed]

31. In that day he that shall be on the roof and his house hold stuff [Gr his vessels]in the house let him not come down to take the same away and he that shall be in the field let him likewise not turn to that which is behind

32. Remember Lots wife [namely that ye do not with your heart stick to earthly things and looking back to them as she did ye be not punished with her]

33. Whosoever shall seek to save his life Gr soul see Matthew 10:39] he shall lose it whoso shall lose the same he shall preserve it alive [Gr begot it alive that is preserve it to everlasting life]

34. I say unto ye in the night [namely when Christ shall come to judgment] two shall upon one bed the one shall be received [namely by God in grace] the other shall be left [namely to justly condemn]

35. Two women shall gring together [see hereof the annotate on Matthew 24:41] the one shall be received and the other shall be left

36. Two shall be in the field the other shall be receive and the other left

37. And they answered and said unto him where Lord? And he said unto him where the body is there will the eagles be gathered together [see the exposition hereof Matthew 24:28]