Luke 17
OGC**Butler’s Comments
Chapter Seventeen
(Luke 17:1-36)**
THE SON OF MAN ON PREPARING FOR THE END OF THE WORLD
IDEAS TO INVESTIGATE:
What is a temptation and why is it inevitable in this world (Luke 17:1-2)?
Can a person really uproot trees if he has faith (Luke 17:5-6)?
Why is a servant unworthy when he has done his duty (Luke 17:10)?
Why speak of the leper being cleansed and then healed (Luke 17:14-15)?
What did Jesus mean, the kingdom of God is in the rnidst of you (Luke 17:21)?
What is Jesus warning the disciples about in Luke 17:22-25?
What are we supposed to remember about Lot’s wife (Luke 17:32)?
Luke 17:1-10
**Butler’s Comments SECTION 1
Be Good **(Luke 17:1-10)
17 And he said to his disciples, Temptations to sin are sure to come; but woe to him by whom they come! 2It would be better for him if a millstone were hung round his neck and he were cast into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin, 3Take heed to yourselves; if your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him; 4and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, and says, -I repent,-’ you must forgive him.
5 The apostles said to the Lord, Increase your faith! 6And the Lord said, If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this sycamine tree, -Be rooted up, and be planted in the sea,-’ and it would obey you.
7 Will any one of you, who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep, say to him when he has come in from the field, -Come at once and sit down at the table-’? 8Will he not rather say to him, -Prepare supper for me, and gird yourself and serve me, till I eat and drink; and afterward you shall eat and drink-’? 9Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, -We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.-'
**Luke 17:1-2 Forbearance: Jesus warns His disciples against the careless, intemperate lack of self-control that puts a stumbling-block in the way of someone else. The Greek word Luke uses here is skandala; it is the word from which we get the English word, scandal or scandalize. The Greek word literally means, a trap, or snare. The Greek word most often used in the New Testament for temptation is perisamos, which means to test, try and sometimes means the subjective desire to sin and thus put God’s warnings to the test. God sometimes sends or allows a perisamos (temptation or test) to come (cf. Hebrews 11:17; James 1:2-4; James 1:12). But God does not entice or lure anyone to break His commandments (James 1:13-15); enticement to sin is the work of Satan (Revelation 2:9; 1 Peter 5:8-9; 1 Thessalonians 3:5; 1 Corinthians 7:5; Matthew 4:1; Luke 4:2; Mark 1:13). The Lord is warning that men may allow themselves to become tools of Satan and put stumbling-blocks in the way of other men. Even disciples of Jesus are vulnerable, if they do not trust completely in His word, to enticing others to sin.
So long as there are people in rebellion against God’s will stumbling-blocks are inevitable. Anything done contrary to the will of God is a potential enticement to sin for someone else. Age, social status, economic circumstances and educational level has no bearing on whether a disciple may or may not be instrumental in putting a stumbling-block in another’s way. Temptation to entice someone else does not discriminate. It may come upon us in a rush, galloping boldly at us, trying to overpower usor it may come seductively, discreetly, slithering through the brushbut it comes. It comes every day and in all circumstances! Temptation is almost always camouflaged. Evil artfully masquerades as good. Evil appropriates the highest levels of life (sex, food, possessiveness) even religion, as its vehicles of expression.
Temptation may distort reality. This is the way the devil worked on Eve; … has God said.. Satan distorted the nature of God, portraying Him as a bully or an egomaniac. Some distort the real nature of God by imagining Him to be an indulgent grandfather type. Distort the nature of God and the reality of sin gets distorted. Temptation is more intense when we are near that which entices us to rebel against God. The case of David with Bathsheba is a classic. This is so obvious but so seldom acknowledged by men. As one person puts it: It is not wise for a dieter to hang around a bakery! Flee youthful lusts.. (2 Timothy 2:22) is exemplified in Joseph’s refusal to be seduced by Potiphar’s wife. Temptation may be more effective when we have no fellowship with other believers. We are dependent upon the other members of the body for proper function (1 Corinthians 12:14 ff.). Temptation may come at a time of great spiritual experience or triumph. It was right after David’s greatest victories that he was tempted with Bathsheba; Israel’s deliverance from Egypt was just before they made their golden calves; Elijah’s despondency came right after his victories over the prophets of Baal; Jesus-’ most intense temptations apparently came right after His baptism and God’s approving voice. Temptation may be based on the assumption that God’s word is subject to our judgment, (cf. Jeremiah 5:12; Amos 9:10). The Corinthians fell into the trap. This is the temptation to read the Bible to prove our point of view rather than to honestly determine what the author actually intended to say! The more we contemplate that which tempts us, the more apt we are to fall to it. Sin is like a birth. First the temptation is conceived through the wish or desire (lust); then it grows as it is harbored or nursed; finally it is born as the sinful act itself. Just as a child is alive before birth, so sin is alive in the conception stageit doesn-’t have to be an action to be a sin! Repentance from sin necessitates a change of mind, a change or renunciation of the desire.
The subject of stumbling-blocks is very serious. The apostles had a great deal to say about it. The possibility that any man might tempt another to sin is always there. No man is an island.. said the poet, but the Holy Spirit said it long before the poet when Paul wrote, None of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself, (Romans 14:7). Paul wrote this in a context dealing with stumbling-blocks (Romans 14:1 to Romans 15:13). Things innocent enough in themselves, engaged in without regard for another person’s scruples, may become stumbling-blocks and therefore sins. If we cause another to stumble, even though the thing we have done may not be against our own conscience, we have sinned against Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 8:11-13). There are four main Chapter s in the New Testament which amplify and elucidate Christ’s warnings herethey are Romans 14:1-23, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; 1 Corinthians 9:1-27; 1 Corinthians 10:1-33. The reader must study these Chapter s in connection with the Lord’s imperative warning in Luke 17:1-2.
To be trapped by a stumbling-block is sin. The man who succumbs to a temptation is guilty. But Jesus goes even further behind the sin to search out the one who put the temptation there! The one who put the stumbling-block in the way of the sinner is even more guilty than the sinner. There are those who not only do sinful things but also approve of others practicing them (Romans 1:32). Peter’s refusal to accept the will of God for the crucifixion of the Messiah became a stumbling-block to Jesus (Matthew 16:23; Mark 8:33). Now the Lord did not say that the punishment of such a one is that he should have a great millstone hanged about his neck and cast into the sea. He said it would be better for such a one if that happened to him! It would be better to cut off one’s right hand than allow it to cause anyone to stumble (Matthew 5:29-30)! It would be better to starve to death than to cause someone to stumble (Romans 14:13-21; 1 Corinthians 8:13; 1 Corinthians 9:12, etc.). No wonder Jesus said, … woe to him by whom they (stumbling-blocks) come!
The little ones are not necessarily children, but all little or weak or beginning ones in their relationship to God. The apostles discuss the weak brother in their writings on stumbling-blocks. Some, because of conscience or custom, see things and actions as contrary to God’s will which others do not so see. The truly mature Christian will forbear and even forego his own liberty in such areas rather than cause another to violate his conscience, and cause him to be enticed to sin. On the other hand the weak brother must not be guilty of a legalism which insists on binding his scruples (opinions) on the other who has been set free in Christ. Legalism may be equally as serious as carelessness. Legalism may in itself become a stumbling-block!
**Luke 17:3-4 Forgiveness: **What if the reverse should be true; suppose some one puts a stumbling-block in your way, sins against you or offends you. What is to be your attitude toward him? First, I am to rebuke him (Gr. epitimeson, lit. charge him to do the honorable thing). I am to point out to him that the thing he has done is wrong, dishonorable. Then, if he repents, I am to forgive him. Actually, we must have a willingness to forgive even if our enemy does not repent. If he does not repent, our willingness to forgive will not profit him but it will certainly profit us, for it will make us sons of our Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:43-48). Christ died willingly forgiving all men their sins against God, but His forgiveness is of no avail to those who do not repent. One cannot forgive another unless he is willing, in some sense, to bear the consequences of the offense done to him. The only way Christ could forgive us was to bear our sins in His body on the tree. If we are unwilling to forgive until the humiliation, hurt or offense is transferred back to the offender, we really have not forgiven!
One of our greatest temptations is to be unforgiving. As a matter of fact, to be unforgiving casts a sure stumbling-block in the path of another. Forgiveness is not a virtue of the worldly-minded. The pagan philosophy is: Be kind to friends, take vengeance on enemies. Even in the Old Testament, man’s forgiveness of man is seldom mentioned. Some Jews appealed to Deuteronomy 23:6 and Ezra 9:12 to indicate that forgiveness of some was not necessary. Forgiveness is uniquely a Christian virtue. Forgiveness is a must for Christ’s followers (Matthew 6:12). No limit can be set to the extent of forgiveness (Matthew 18:21-22). Even if a man says he repents, and offends you seven times in one day, and says he repents seven times, you are to forgive him seven times. Love does not keep records of the evil done against it (1 Corinthians 13:5). Better for your character to forgive seven times, even if the offender appear to you to be insincere, than by refusing to forgive and thus cast a stumbling-block in his way.
To forgive one another as God in Christ forgives us. (Ephesians 4:32) demands humility and self-denial. It requires a realistic acknowledgement of sin and stumbling-blocks. It requires loving others as we love ourselves. The Christian’s responsibility toward someone who has offended him is not created by the fact that he has been wronged, but by the fact that the sinner has sinned and harmed himself! That is how God forgives us. Forgiveness is a two-way street. It is one part of a relationship that must be mutual if both parties are to be profited. Repentance is the other part. The desired effect of forgiveness is to restore a relationship of harmony and peace. But that effect cannot be accomplished without repentance by the one forgiven. Failure of the offender to repent does not release the offended from his obligation to extend forgiveness because an unforgiving heart is also an impenitent heart! The unforgiving heart is not prepared for the end of the world!
Luke 17:5-6 Fidelity: All the apostles were shocked. Jesus had spoken startling words. He had challenged them to a life on the level of heaven itself. He was preparing them for the end of this world and the coming of the next. When the initial shock had passed, they cried out, Increase our faith! What they were saying was, Lord, if we are to live like that, to forgive like that, we must have more faith. Their appeal was an intelligent one. Faith is what it takes to live like that. Any man can live without concern for others. Any person can say selfishly, What I do is my business, and if anyone is offended by it, that is their tough luck. Any person who thinks this world is all there is to life is sure to seek vengeance, hold grudges and be unforgiving. Only the person who believes God’s word about atonement, judgment and the world to come has the power to live on the spiritual level Jesus described.
Jesus-’ reply is very much in contrast with the way men think of faith. Men say, increase our faith.. as if more or bigger is better. Jesus said, in essence, It is not more faith you need, it is better faith. Faith is not quantative, but qualitative. He did not even give them any formula by which they might increase the amount of faith. He said faith as a grain of mustard seed was what they needed. Note, He did not say faith as big or as small as a grain of mustard seed. Jesus used the mustard seed to illustrate a faith that has life in itseedlike faith. Life that is in a grain of mustard seed is powerful enough to overcome obstacles which seem insurmountable and produce a plant. Put a mustard seed into fertile soil and it will grow. If a clod or a rock gets in the way it will grow around it and come forth. The answer of Jesus was a strong rebuke which underscored the fact of their own personal responsibility for the quality of their faith. Christ cannot do for them what they must willingly do for themselves. He never gave them faith. He performed some miracles to prove Who He was and that His every word could be believed. But they had to do the believing. He always left people (including the apostles) to wrestle with their problems themselves by applying whatever lived in their hearts. If faith in Him lived there, any obstacle could be overcome; if unbelief lived there, even the smallest obstacle spelled defeat. Jesus is not talking about miracles of faithbut works of faith. He did not mean that everyone who believes can go around uprooting trees and dropping them into the oceans, literally. After all, trees and mountains are not man’s real obstacles anyway! The real mountains to men are temptation, sin, guilt, death. Men can move mountains and trees with bulldozersbut not guilt. The most impossible things are possible and the absolutely unattainable things may belong to men who believe and follow the will of God. To keep from falling into temptation or from tempting someone else a person needs not miracles but a living, working faith. Jesus Himself overcame temptation, not by miracles, but by faith in God’s word (cf. comments on Luke 4:1-13). To forgive unlimitedly one needs not miracles, but a working trust in Christ’s promises. We can live on heaven’s plane if we believe. The kingdom of God on earth, the church, is supposed to be living on heaven’s planeit is in the world, but not of the world.
Luke 17:7-10 Fealty: Jesus told the parable of the Unprofitable Servant to warn all His disciples against thinking they can ever merit equal status with their Lord. God, by His grace through Jesus, may grant men joint heirship with Him, but they can never merit it. They may be called in at some time to sit down and eat, but they can never go in demanding it. Because they can never do more than they are obligated to do. The obligation of man is to believe and obey perfectly the Creator. Man is commanded to produce perfect servicehe does not do so, therefore, he is an unprofitable servant. Until a servant has done more than is expected of him or that which is commanded of him he can expect no merit or reward. God owns us outright. We are His by right of creation. We are doubly His by redemptive grace. He does not owe us anythingwe owe Him everything and more. This parable is aimed at erasing that kind of self-righteousness Jesus saw in the Pharisees and all who follow in their steps. The Pharisees arrogantly considered themselves to have done all they were commanded to do. They believed they had earned the right to demand from God a seat at the Master’s table. This is no way to prepare for the end of the world. The way to prepare for being called in by the Master is to consider oneself an unprofitable servant, dependent totally upon the grace and goodness of God!
We must constantly remind ourselves that whatever God cares to give us is up to Him. There is nothing coming to us of good which we deserve! We can take no credit for our world, our wisdom, our opportunities. We are indebted to Him for everything. Even our expressions of thanks to Him add to our indebtedness to Him because even our thanks is borrowed. We would not even know how to say thanks as we should without his revealed Word. There are many things we would like to say to Him and should say to Him, but can-’t, which His Spirit says for us (cf. Romans 8:26-27)! If we give Him our life we are only letting Him have what already belongs to Him. Only when we admit that we are born destitute (cf. 1 Timothy 6:6-7) of all merit and that we earn are we prepared to appreciate God. Only when we recognize He gave us our freedom to choose Him or not shall we be good servants. When we have this perspective, work in His vineyard is welcomed as a privilege and not as a necessary evil. Work ceases to be work and become a way to express appreciation when we acknowledge that we are unprofitable servants.
To the non-Christian, everything must seem quite a price to pay for serving Jesus. But, in the light of God’s everything it is nothing at all (cf. Romans 8:31-39). It is the least we can do and live with our consciencesand not be depressed with unexpressed gratitude.
**Applebury’s Comments
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Outline**
A.
Luke told about Jesus-’ instruction on the subject of forgiveness (Luke 17:1-10).
The duty of His disciples to forgive (Luke 17:1-4).
a)
Occasions of stumbling are inevitable.
b)
Warning to the disciples in view of this.
(1)
Woe to him through whom they come.
(2)
It would be better for him to have a millstone put around his neck and be cast into the sea than to cause one of the little ones (young in faith) to stumble.
c)
What they were to do if a brother should sin.
(1)
Watch themselves.
(2)
Rebuke the brother who sins.
(3)
Forgive the brother who repents.
(4)
Forgive him even if it should happen seven times a day, if he says I repent.
The inference of His disciples that it was too much for them to obey such an order (Luke 17:5-10).
a)
It is implied in their request for increased faith.
b)
It is answered in Jesus-’ remarks:
(1)
About faith as a grain of mustard seed.
(a)
He assumed that they had such faith.
(b)
By exercising it, they could command the tree to be unrooted and planted in the sea and it would obey them.
(2)
About the unprofitable servant.
(a)
The servant who after working all day in the field came in and served his master was not thanked because he had done what he was commanded to do.
(b)
In the same way, the disciples should treat the command to forgive; they were unprofitable servants; this was their duty.
B.
Luke told about the incident of healing the ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19).
The marvel of their being healed (Luke 17:11-14).
a)
It happened on their way to Jerusalem in a village in the area between Samaria and Galilee.
b)
The lepers from afar begged Jesus for mercy.
c)
He told them to go and show themselves to the priests.
d)
As they went they were cleansed.
There was one, a foreigner, who returned to thank the Lord for what He had done (Luke 17:15-19).
a)
When he saw that he was healed, he turned back and with a loud voice glorified God and fell at Jesus feet and thanked Him.
b)
He was a Samaritan.
c)
Jesus said, The ten were cleansed, were they not? The nine, where are they? Were there none who returned to give glory to God except this stranger?
d)
Jesus said to him, Arise, go your way; your faith has saved you, that is, from the plague of leprosy.
C.
He told about Jesus-’ lesson concerning the coming of the kingdom (Luke 17:20-37).
What He said to the Pharisees (Luke 17:20-21).
a)
The kingdom was not to come with observation; it could not be pointed to as being here or there.
b)
The kingdom of God is within you.
What He said to His disciples (Luke 17:22-37).
a)
He warned about deceptive claims that would be made about His second coming (Luke 17:22-25).
(1)
The warning was necessary for the disciples would desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man.
(2)
They were not to follow those who would say, say, Lo, here! Lo, there!
(3)
They were to remember that His coming would be as clear as lightning from heaven; there would be no need to follow false reports.
(4)
He said that He must first suffer and be rejected by that generation.
b)
He told of conditions that would prevail at the time of His coming (Luke 17:26-37).
(1)
It would be like the days of Noah when life went on normally until the day he entered the ark.
(2)
It would be like the days of Lot when life went on normally until God rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed Sodom.
(3)
It would be too late to prepareRemember Lot’s wife.
(4)
It would be a time of separation.
(5)
It would be where the condition existed that merited it: they asked, Where, Lord? He answered, Where the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
Summary
Occasions of stumbling are inevitable, but there is a fearful penalty involved in causing the little ones who believe in Christ to fall. The brother who sins and repents is to be forgiven, even if it happens seven times a day. This is a command that is to be obeyed. It took no miracle to do so. The disciples had been given power to perform miracles and the faith through which that power was made operative. They could even command a tree to be planted in the sea and it would obey them. They, then, as intelligent followers of Christ could obey His command to forgive. Jesus illustrated the point with the story of the servant whose duty it was to do all that his master told him to do. As Jesus and His disciples were traveling along the route that lay along the border between Samaria and Galilee, they met ten men who were lepers. Jesus told them to go and show themselves to the priest. As they went they were healed. Only one, a Samaritan, returned to thank Him. Jesus said, There were ten healed, were there not? Why was it that only the Samaritan returned? Ingratitude? Jesus-’ language seems to indicate that it was. Their failure does emphasize the gratitude of the foreigner who came back to glorify God for what happened to him. The Pharisees asked Jesus, When is the kingdom coming? They may have been taunting Him, or again they could have been sincere. He said, It is within you. Evidently they were not submitting to God’s rule or they would have known this. This became an occasion for Jesus to teach His disciples about His second coming. As they faced persecution, they would long for the triumph of the gospel and the eternal kingdom of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He warned them against those who would say that it is here or there, for when He comes all will know about it. But it will be at an unknown time and a time of separation. Judgment, of course, will come wherever there is a condition that merits it.
Questions
What is the connection between Jesus-’ command to forgive, the disciples request for increased faith, and the story of the unprofitable servant?
How often should one be forgiven?
On what condition is one to be forgiven?
What responsibility does the one who is sinned against have?
What does James say about the erring brother?
What did the disciples imply by their request for increased faith?
Why didn-’t they need to have their faith increased?
What did they need?
What may be done to help those who are weak in faith?
What is the lesson of the story of the unprofitable servant?
Why did the lepers stand afar off?
Why did Jesus tell them to show themselves to the priest?
When did their healing take place?
Who was the one who returned to glorify God?
What about the nine?
Explain the fact that the faith of the Samaritan made him whole.
Why did the Pharisees ask Jesus about the kingdom of God?
Why did He say that it was not here or there?
Where, then, is the kingdom?
Why didn-’t the Pharisees know this?
What phase of the kingdom did Jesus have in mind as He spoke to the disciples?
What did He mean by one of the days of the Son of man?
What would happen before that time?
Why were they to pay no attention to those who would say that it is here or there?
What does the reference to lightning from heaven indicate about the coming of Christ?
What does the reference to Noah teach about His coming?
What marks the difference between the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. and the second coming of Christ?
How did Jesus show that there will be no time to prepare when He comes?
Why did He say, Remember Lot’s wife?
How did He show that His coming will be at a time of separation?
What is meant by, Where the body is, there will the eagles be gathered together?
Applebury’s Comments
The Duty to Forgive Scripture
Luke 17:1-10 And he said unto his disciples, It is impossible but that that occasions of stumbling should come; but woe unto him, through whom they come! 2 It were well for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3 Take heed to yourselves: if thy brother sin, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4 And if he sin against thee seven times in the day, and seven times turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. 6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye would say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou rooted up, and be thou planted in the sea; and it would obey you. 7 But who is there of you, having a servant plowing or keeping sheep, that will say unto him, when he is come in from the field, Come straightway and sit down to meat; 8 and will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? 9 Doth he thank the servant because he did the things that were commanded? 10 Even so ye also, when ye shall have done all the things that are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which it was our duty to do.
*Comments
And he said unto his disciples.*Some assume that there is no connection between the three thoughts that follow: (1) offenses; (2) the request for increased faith; (3) the story of the unprofitable servant. It does make sense, however, to take them as a unit. Offenses are impossible to avoid, but one must forgive a brother who sins and repents even if it is seven times a day. Such an order was so astounding that the disciples said, Lord, increase our faith. But it was not increased faith that they needed; all they needed was to obey His command to forgive. The story of the unprofitable servant illustrated this very point.
*It is impossible but that occasions of stumbling should come.*Since it is impossible to avoid occasion that lead to giving offense, one must be ready always to forgive when the offender says, I repent. To be guilty of causing another to sin is a serious offense. It would be better if one were drowned in the sea rather than suffer the consequences of causing one who is immature in the faith to sin, Sin can lead to eternal death. What awful danger and responsibility are involved in occasions of stumbling!
*If your brother sin.*Watch out! This is a very real possibility. What are you to do to avoid the consequences of it? Two things are suggested: (1) rebuke him, and (2) forgive him.
It is wrong to let a brother go on in sin without trying to lead him to repent. James has a word to say about this: My brethren, if any among you err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know that he who converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins (James 5:19-20).
*And if he sin against thee seven times a day.*This means that there is no limit to forgiveness if he repent. The one who sins has an obligation in the matter also. If he sins, he should repent and seek forgiveness. But an unforgiving attitude on the part of the offended party could cause the sinner to be lost eternally. See 2 Corinthians 2:5-11; Matthew 5:23-24; Matthew 18:35; Ephesians 4:31-32; Colossians 3:13.
*Increase our faith.*The response of Jesus-’ disciples seems to suggest that they felt that His command was too much for them to obey. But what did they mean by the request to increase their faith? Were they suggesting that it would take a miracle to carry it out? One thing is certain: Jesus-’ reply indicates that all they needed was to obey His order.
*If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed.*See also Matthew 17:21 where this expression is found in connection with the miracle of casting out the demon from the epileptic boy. See also Luke 9:37-45 for meaning of faith as grain of mustard seed. The least of this faith would cause the sycamine tree to obey them. No increase in faith in connection with power to perform miracles was necessary; all they needed was simply to believe Him and show that they did by obeying what He said about forgiveness. This faith involves a total commitment to Christ that is intellectual, volitional, and emotional. This is the faith that takes the Lord at His word and does what He says. See it illustrated in the lives of the great men of faith as reported in Hebrews 11:1 to Hebrews 12:2.
The reference to faith in Mark’s account of healing of the epileptic boy helps us to see the difference between faith in connection with miracles and faith that is trust in the Lord. See Mark 9:22-24. The disciples had failed to help the grief-stricken father. When Jesus arrived, he said, If you can do anything, help us; have pity on us. Our text seems to suggest that Jesus rebuked him for saying If you can. It is quite possible, however, that Jesus-’ response should be translated: As to your suggestion, -If you can,-’ why, all things are possible to the one who believes. Then the father said, I do believe; help my unbelief. His unbelief had to do with his questioning Jesus-’ ability to perform the miracle. This is not the little faith of the disciples, for that concerned the ability on their part to perform the miracle.
Our own unbelief may need to be overcome on many occasions. It can be done by knowing what He would have us do and by a willingness to trust Him even though we may not always see the immediate outcome. Knowing what He would have us do depends on studying His revealed will, the Bible. The examples of those who have acted by faith can help to encourage us to trust the Lord. As we see in our own experience what it means to trust Him we are strengthened in our desire and determination to live the life of faith.
*But who is there of you, having a servant plowing.*This illustration shows that the disciples were under obligation to obey the command to forgive. The servant does not tell the master what he will do. Even when he has worked hard all day, he may have additional services to perform in the evening. But not even for that is he thanked, for it is his duty to do whatever his master commands. It was the duty of Jesus-’ disciples to do whatever He commanded themforgive even seven times in a dayeven though it might seem difficult.
*Even so ye also.*There could be no mistake about the purpose of the story: Jesus meant for them to obey His command to forgive. This was their duty, for they were like unprofitable servants. The reason which lies back of this is seen in the story of forgiveness which is presented in Matthew 18:21-35. When God forgives those who sin against Him, He does so not because of duty but of grace. That puts the forgiven sinner under obligation to forgive his fellowman from the heart.
Luke 17:11-19
**Butler’s Comments
SECTION 2
Grateful (Luke 17:11-19)**
11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13and lifted up their voices and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14When he saw them he said to them, Go and show yourselves to the priest. And as they went they were cleansed. 15Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16and he fell on his face at Jesus-’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17Then said Jesus, Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner? 19And he said to him, Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.
Luke 17:11-14 Made Well: A harmonization of the gospel accounts indicates that between Luke 17:10-11, Jesus was called to Bethany where His friend Lazarus had died. Jesus went there and raised Lazarus from the tomb. The account of this is found in John 11:1-57. From Bethany (which was a suburb of Jerusalem) Jesus retired to a remote area of Judea for a brief rest because the fateful Passover week of His arrest and crucifixion was only a few days away. The crowds were already gathering and forming caravans in the north (Galilee). Jesus wanted one final opportunity to evangelize, so He went through Samaria into Galilee to join one of these caravans bound for Jerusalem and the Passover. The time was the spring of A.D. 30. Luke takes up the record of His ministry here.
Before considering the incident of the ten lepers the student should refer to comments on Luke 5:12-26 concerning the information on Biblical leprosy:
a.
There is no mention of leprosy (defilement) after the death and resurrection of our Lord. Old Testament Law was nailed to the cross and fulfilled. When that was accomplished there was no such thing as ceremonial defilement for psoriasis or scaly sores. The apostles healed the sick, cast out demons, raised the dead, caused the blind to see, the lame to walk, the deaf to hear, the dumb to speak, but never cleansed a leper! We therefore conclude that the significance of psoriasis in the Old Testament and in Jesus-’ ministry (leprosy) was the need to be ceremonially cleansed, not healed. Biblical leprosy was not Hansen’s disease. b. Actually the English word, leprosy, is a misnomer for both the Old Testament tzara-ath, for the New Testament lepra or lepros, and for modern Hansen’s disease!
c.
What these ten lepers had was not Hansen’s disease and a rotting away of the flesh, but a scaly skin disease like psoriasis which by Old Testament law caused them to be declared defiled and in need primarily of being declared, cleansed.
Ten lepers came to meet Jesus as He entered a village near the border of Galilee and Samaria. Lepers were religiously defiled and therefore banned from all associations with other people. They haunted the roads leading into cities and villages (they were not allowed to live within the walls of the towns). Frequently they lived in caves. Whenever healthy people came near them they were to cry out, Ame, Ame! (Unclean, unclean). These lepers stood at a distance and cried out to Jesus, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. Jesus healed them of their disease. Nine of them looked and found themselves cleansed (healed, too, of course) which apparently emphasizes they were Jews and thus restored to ceremonial cleanness with their healing. All they needed to be permitted to worship again in the Temple and to be restored to society was official declaration from a priest. One of them, a Samaritan, was also healed but since he was not allowed in the Temple of the Jews anyway, there was no need to emphasize that he had been cleansed. No doubt, even the Samaritans (because of their close adherence to the first five books of Moses) enjoined some social bans against lepers too, thus the only companionship this Samaritan could find was nine leprous Jews. It is a sad commentary on human nature, but true nevertheless, that human misery is the only condition that seems to draw people together without racial distinctions. Had these Jews and this Samaritan not been suffering the social ostracization of leprosy, they would probably never have associated with one another.
Some interesting observations about this healing:
a.
Jesus did not even touch the persons healed. He simply said a word and they were healed.
b.
Jesus did not pray for them to be healed, or to have faith.
c.
He sent them away before the miracle took placeto test their faith.
d.
He healed nine people whom He knew (by divine foreknowledge) would be ungrateful, hoping they would be grateful.
e.
He demanded no money, no praise, no testimoniesnothingas a result of their healing.
f.
The one with the least privilege was thankful.
g.
The ingratitude of the nine apparently shocked and hurt Jesus.
**Luke 17:15-19 Made Whole: **Jesus addressed the Samaritan who returned to thank Him, Rise and go your faith has made you well. Actually Luke reports Jesus as saying, … your faith has saved you, using the Greek word sodzo which may be translated, saved, preserved, made whole, delivered, set free, rescue. It was the Samaritan’s attitude that saved him, or set him free, not the healing. Miracles do not save, attitudes do. The statement of Jesus implies that although the nine others were healed, they were not saved because they did not have the attitude of thanksgiving. Ingratitude is a symptom of disbelief. Ingratitude leads to futility and darkening of the mind in unbelief (cf. Romans 1:21). Nine of these lepers wanted to be cleansed (or healed), but that is all they wanted. They simply wanted to exploit the power of Jesus for their own selfish ends. They really did not wish any further commitment to Him. Ingratitude belies a condition of the heart making it impossible to receive grace. The ungrateful person refuses to acknowledge receipt of anything by grace. But it is only by grace that man can be saved. The man not willing to be saved totally by grace, really does not obey the will of Christ by faithhe obeys it hoping to merit salvation by self-righteousness.
Applebury’s Comments
Healing the Ten Lepers Scripture
Luke 17:11-19 And it came to pass as they were on the way to Jerusalem, that he was passing along the borders of Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off: 13 and they lifted up their voices, saying, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go and show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, with a loud voice glorifying God; 16 and he fell upon his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering said, Were not the ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 Were there none found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger? 19 And he said unto him, Arise, and go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
*Comments
along the borders of Samaria and Galilee.*The route He was following lay along the line that separated Samaria from Galilee. To say through the midst would be to suggest that He was actually going through these two provinces.
*there met him ten men who were lepers.*For the subject of leprosy, see comment on the healing of the leper in Luke 5:12-16. These men followed the law of the leper, standing afar off and calling out to Jesus for mercy.
*Go show yourselves unto the priests.*This also was a part of the law of the leper. The priest was appointed to pronounce on the cure. The remarkable thing about it is that Jesus ordered them to go show themselves before they were healed. He knew, of course, that they would be cleansed as they went.
*And one of them.*All ten were cleansed, but only one thought to return to give glory to God. He was a Samaritan, but he fell on his face before Jesus and thanked Him for what He had done.
*Were not the ten cleansed?*The thing that puzzled Our Lord was the fact that only the Samaritan had returned to praise God and thank Him for the miraculous healing.
*thy faith hath made thee whole.*Jesus said this same thing on many occasions to those whom He had healed. He believed that Christ could save him from the awful plague of leprosy; he expressed that belief by going on his way to the priest, and as he went the miracle took place.
Luke 17:20-30
Applebury’s Comments
The Coming of the Kingdom Scripture
Luke 17:20-30 And being asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God cometh, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, There! for lo, the kingdom of God is within you.
22 And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. 23 And they shall say to you, Lo, there! Lo, here! go not away, nor follow after them: 24 for as the lightning, when it lightened out of the one part under the heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall the Son of man be in his day. 25 But first must he suffer many things and be rejected of this generation. 26 And as it came to pass in the days of Noah, even so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27 They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise even as it came to pass in the days of Lot; they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all: 30 after the same manner shall it be in the day that the Son of man is revealed. 31 In that day, he that shall be on the housetop, and his goods in the house, let him not go down to take them away: and let him that is in the field likewise not return back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whosoever shall seek to gain his life shall lose it: but whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. 34 I say unto you, In that night there shall be two men on one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. 35 There shall be two women grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. 37 And they answering say unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Where the body is, thither will the eagles also be gathered together.
*Comments
when the kingdom of God cometh.*It was the Pharisees who asked Him when the kingdom of God was coming. Were they sincere or were they taunting Him about a favorite subject on which He had been teaching for nearly three years? Of course, not all of the Pharisees were opposed to Him, but most of them were, Nicodemus was sincere in his desire to learn about the kingdomsome would even question this.
If they were sincere, it is evident that they didn-’t understand the nature of His kingdom, for Jesus had to tell them that it could not be located here or there. It was not an earthly kingdom.
*the kingdom of God is within you.*Some assume that this meant that the kingdom was in their midst as represented by the presence of Christ the King. But more likely, it had to do with the spiritual kingdom or rule of God in the hearts of those who were willing to accept Christ as their King and obey His word. The spiritual kingdom, the church, did come on the Day of Pentecost. The citizens of that kingdom do acknowledge Him as King and Savior so that He does rule in their hearts.
*And he said unto his disciples.*Having answered the question of the Pharisees, Jesus turned to the disciples to instruct them on another phase of the kingdom, that is, the eternal kingdom of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ into which the saints will enter when He comes again. See 2 Peter 1:11.
*one of the days of the Son of man.*Not one of the days when He was on earth with them, but one of the days of His coming in His glorious kingdom. Just as He was to suffer before that day was to come, so they were to face persecution and even death. As this happened, they would long for the triumph of the gospel and the day of His coming; but it would not be in their day. Paul is a good example of this. See Philippians 1:23 and 2 Peter 1:12-15.
*And they shall say to you, Lo, there! Lo, here.*This is what false prophets and false Christs would say in order to deceive even the elect at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem. See Matthew 24:23-24 and Luke 21:5-8.
*for as the lightning.*Why shouldn-’t they follow those who would speak of His coming in the days of distress and longing to be with Him? His answer is clear: they would not need to be deceived, for His coming will be as lightning from heaveneverybody will recognize Him when He comes. There will be no need for anyone to say, He is there, or He is here.
He mentioned the nature of His second coming in connection with His prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem to let the disciples see the contrast between His coming and the deceptive claims of the false prophets.
*must suffer many things and be rejected.*They had failed to grasp this point in His teaching because of their own mistaken notion about the nature of His kingdom. They thought of an earthly kingdom like that of David or Solomon. They dreamed of the time when the Jews would again be a nation respected and honored among the nations of the world. But His kingdom was not of this world. He refused the crown when men tried to force it upon Him, for He came to give His life a ransom for His people. He came to die on Calvary for the sins of the world. He came to conquer the devil who has power of death, and that required His death on the cross (Hebrews 2:14). But death, and suffering, and pain will forever be banished from His eternal kingdom.
*As it was in the days of Noah.*This refers to His second coming. It will be as sudden and unexpected as the closing of the door of the ark or the raining of fire and brimstone on Sodom.
*They ate, they drank, they married, and were given in marriage.*This is often taken to mean that extreme wickedness will be a sign of His coming just as extreme wickedness prevailed before the Flood. But the point is this: Life will go on in its normal fashion right up to that day just as it had done in the days of Noah.
There is no reason to assume that eating means gluttony, or that drinking means drunkenness, or that marrying means immorality. No one denies that these sins are present today, or that they have been present in all ages of the past and probably will be when Christ comes again. But these are not signs of His coming, for that will be at an unknown time. There were to be signs warning people of the approaching destruction of Jerusalem which came in 70 A.D. But the warning about Christ’s second coming is given in His word and the word of His apostles. That warning indicates that it will be at an unknown time as life is going on in a normal fashion. That’s why He said, Watch and be ready, for no one knows when it will be.
*In that day, he that shall be on the housetop.*He is still speaking of the day of His second coming. There will be no time to prepare when He comes, Now is the time to make preparation for that great event. This is clearly illustrated by the parable of The Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13).
*Remember Lot’s wife.*The story is found in Genesis 19:26. Her heart was set on that wicked city even in the hour of its terrible destruction. The Christian is warned not to have his heart set on this world that will be destroyed by fire when He comes. Not even a longing glance at the world where sin did its corrupting work will be tolerated when the Lord comes. The one who seeks to preserve life as he is living it here will lose it, but the one who sets his hope on the Lord and life eternal will find it.
*In that night there shall be two men in one bed.*Not only is the coming of Christ to be at an unexpected time, but it will also be at a time of separation (Matthew 25:32). Jesus dramatically pictures that time by saying, Two men shall be sleeping in a bed; one shall be taken and the other left, Two women shall be grinding together; one of them shall be taken and the other left. The same thought is suggested by the separating of the wheat from the tares (Matthew 13:40).
*Where the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.*These words are also found in Matthew 24:40 where they may refer to the destruction of Jerusalem. The judgment on Jerusalem was like that of the Judgment Day, for both deal with the rejection of Christ. The words as Luke records them definitely refer to the final Judgment and the separation that will occur when He comes. The disciples had asked, Where, Lord? That is, Where would this terrible thing take place? Would it be on this earth? Would it be at the end of the age? The final separation is at the end of the age (Matthew 13:40). But of course, sin separates and brings judgment wherever it is practiced. Jesus-’ words seem to indicate that wherever a condition exists that merits judgment, there judgment will come.
Summary
Occasions of stumbling are inevitable, but there is a fearful penalty involved in causing the little ones who believe in Christ to fall. The brother who sins and repents is to be forgiven, even if it happens seven times a day. This is a command that is to be obeyed. It took no miracle to do so. The disciples had been given power to perform miracles and the faith through which that power was made operative. They could even command a tree to be planted in the sea and it would obey them. They, then, as intelligent followers of Christ could obey His command to forgive. Jesus illustrated the point with the story of the servant whose duty it was to do all that his master told him to do. As Jesus and His disciples were traveling along the route that lay along the border between Samaria and Galilee, they met ten men who were lepers. Jesus told them to go and show themselves to the priest. As they went they were healed. Only one, a Samaritan, returned to thank Him. Jesus said, There were ten healed, were there not? Why was it that only the Samaritan returned? Ingratitude? Jesus-’ language seems to indicate that it was. Their failure does emphasize the gratitude of the foreigner who came back to glorify God for what happened to him. The Pharisees asked Jesus, When is the kingdom coming? They may have been taunting Him, or again they could have been sincere. He said, It is within you. Evidently they were not submitting to God’s rule or they would have known this. This became an occasion for Jesus to teach His disciples about His second coming. As they faced persecution, they would long for the triumph of the gospel and the eternal kingdom of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He warned them against those who would say that it is here or there, for when He comes all will know about it. But it will be at an unknown time and a time of separation. Judgment, of course, will come wherever there is a condition that merits it.
Questions
What is the connection between Jesus-’ command to forgive, the disciples request for increased faith, and the story of the unprofitable servant?
How often should one be forgiven?
On what condition is one to be forgiven?
What responsibility does the one who is sinned against have?
What does James say about the erring brother?
What did the disciples imply by their request for increased faith?
Why didn-’t they need to have their faith increased?
What did they need?
What may be done to help those who are weak in faith?
What is the lesson of the story of the unprofitable servant?
Why did the lepers stand afar off?
Why did Jesus tell them to show themselves to the priest?
When did their healing take place?
Who was the one who returned to glorify God?
What about the nine?
Explain the fact that the faith of the Samaritan made him whole.
Why did the Pharisees ask Jesus about the kingdom of God?
Why did He say that it was not here or there?
Where, then, is the kingdom?
Why didn-’t the Pharisees know this?
What phase of the kingdom did Jesus have in mind as He spoke to the disciples?
What did He mean by one of the days of the Son of man?
What would happen before that time?
Why were they to pay no attention to those who would say that it is here or there?
What does the reference to lightning from heaven indicate about the coming of Christ?
What does the reference to Noah teach about His coming?
What marks the difference between the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. and the second coming of Christ?
How did Jesus show that there will be no time to prepare when He comes?
Why did He say, Remember Lot’s wife?
How did He show that His coming will be at a time of separation?
What is meant by, Where the body is, there will the eagles be gathered together?
Luke 17:20-37
**Butler’s Comments
SECTION 3
Guarded (Luke 17:20-37)**
20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming he answered them, The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; 21nor will they say, -Lo, here it is!-’ or -There!-’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.
22 And he said to the disciples, The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, -Lo there!-’ or -Lo, here!-’ Do not go, do not follow them. 24For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, 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, so will it be in the days of the Son of man. 27They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28Likewise as it was in the days of Lotthey ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built, 29but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom fire and sulphur rained from heaven and destroyed them all30so will it be on the day when the Son of man is revealed.31On that day, let him who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away; and likewise let him who is in the field not turn back. 32Remember Lot’s wife. 33Whoever seeks to gain his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35There will be two women grinding together; one will be taken and the other left. 37And they said to him, Where, Lord? He said to them, Where the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
**Luke 17:20-25 Missing the Kingdom: **Jesus had said a great deal about the kingdom of God in His ministry. He had worked many miracles; He taught with great wisdom and grace. Many believed He was speaking as a prophet of God and that He had some divine information about it. Others, however, were antagonistic toward Him because His teachings about the kingdom did not fit their materialistic, militaristic views. Jesus said much about the kingdom, but so far as they could see, He had done nothing to bring about what the Jews expected of the golden age of the Messiah. The Jewish Apocrypha reveals two fundamental expectations in Jewish tradition about the Messianic Age (or, the Kingdom of God):
a.
Politicsthe Messiah will be a warrior, he will conquer the enemies of the Jewish people, subdue them and rule over them in an earthly kingdom with the throne in Jerusalem. He will kill many of the Gentiles and reduce all the others to servanthood to Israel.
b.
ProsperityThere will be great material prosperity, for Israel. Some of the prosperity will take on supernatural proportions in the golden age of the Messiah. All Jews would be blessed with an abundance of worldly wealth.
So, when Jesus proclaimed Himself as the Anointed One (the Messiah) the majority of the Jewish people expected Him to show signs according to their concept of the kingdom. Jesus informs these Pharisees that they are completely unprepared for the messianic age because they are not on guard spiritually. They are watching for a materialistic kingdom but the Messiah’s kingdom is not of this worldit is spiritual. Luke uses an interesting word to report Jesus-’ answer. He uses the word paratereseos which is translated signs to be observed. The word is most often used to mean watching with hostility (cf. Mark 3:2; Luke 6:7; Luke 14:1; Luke 20:20; Acts 9:24 and Galatians 4:10). What Jesus is saying then is that the kingdom of God is not recognizable by those watching for it with views hostile to it, Those who are looking for it with a worldly-minded concept are unable to see it because it is a spiritual kingdom. Pilate could not see Jesus-’ kingdom (John 18:33-38) because it was a spiritual kingdom. His kingdom is not provincialnot localizablebecause it is not earthly. His kingdom is wherever the King is in body or Spirit. His kingdom was right then in the very midst of the Pharisees because the King was there. But they did not see it. His kingdom is not at Jerusalem or on Mt. Gerizim, but in spirit and in truth (cf. John 4:1-54). His kingdom is His rule in the hearts of men and is therefore universal.
Even His own disciples will be tempted to want an earthly utopia in place of a spiritual kingdom. The King will have to leave His disciples for a while and go back to heaven. The absence of the King will especially pressure His citizens to want Him to come back and set up an earthly Eden. Men will try to seduce the King’s subjects into thinking that His kingdom is an earthly one and that it has been set up Here or There. But Jesus-’ disciples must not let down their spiritual guard. They must not be seduced into thinking the kingdom is worldly in nature or they shall not be prepared for the ultimate manifestation of His other-worldly kingdom.
**Luke 17:26-37 Manifestation of the Kingdom: **Some day the Son of man will come back, bodily, to destroy the world and give the consummate manifestation of His kingdom. When the King comes back there will be no doubt by anyone as to the true essence of His kingdom. It will be revealed in a flash of brilliance like the lightning lightens the sky. In the meantime, the kingdom does exist in the world. The Spirit of Christ is ruling in that kingdom as He rules in the hearts and lives of men and women. But the world goes blindly on in its way of materialism unable to see the kingdom because it is spiritual. Some will try to say, Lo, there! or, Lo, here! or, He will be here when you see this sign or that sign.. but do not go running off after them. But keep your spiritual guard up. God does not operate according to man’s concepts or man’s time-tables. Christ never really stated times or seasons for His return. As a matter of fact, He stated that He would return when the world’s society was functioning normally! The ultimate, final manifestation of His kingdom will not be preceded by any abnormal, extra-ordinary signs pointing to a definite time. It will be just like the days preceding the flood in Noah’s time. There were no extra-ordinary signs that God was going to destroy the world before the flood. The only warning was the promise of God through the preaching of Noah. In Noah’s day life went on its normal path. People married, built, ate and drank. Suddenly the end came. Business as usualand without a signal, the end was there. So will the coming of the Son of man be. The Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect (Matthew 24:44). Of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven nor the Son, but the Father only (Matthew 24:36; Mark 10:32-33). If men cannot see the signs of His kingdom while it is here in the world, and surrender to it, -they would not surrender to it in faith and obedience should spectacular signs be given to precede its final manifestation.
The final manifestation of the Son of man in His kingdom will be just like the days of Lot. There will be people still clinging to this world and its goods as if it were the only world. People who will not renounce all their worldly goods now for the kingdom will not be prepared to do so when the end comes. Remember Lot’s wife! She had invested her life in Sodom, not in the spiritual heritage of her uncle Abraham. She could not give up this world. The time to turn loose of this world’s pull is now. When the Son of man reveals His kingdom for the final time it will be too late. And since no one knows when He will reveal His kingdom for the final time, since it could be the very moment you are reading this sentence, it is imperative that you and I lose our lives for His sake every day, every hour. If you are a disciple of Jesus you must be prepared every moment to leave all your worldly possessions behind. You must also be prepared to be separated from all your friends and relatives who are hostile to the kingdom. Because when the Son of man comes the great judgment of separation will take place. One will be taken and one left. This is not to be taken literally, of course, that out of every bed one will be taken and the other left. In some beds and in some kitchens (grinding at the stone) perhaps all will be taken, or all will be left. The idea is that those who have seen the spiritual kingdom and become members of it by faith and obedience will be takenwhile those who have not seen it and are clinging to this world will be left to be destroyed with it. Would Jesus sneak up on the world? Yes! He is coming as a thief in the night (Matthew 24:27-51; Matthew 25:1-13; 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3; 2 Peter 3:8-10). Thieves do not announce their coming ahead of time. If He came tonight would you go with Him? Is there anything or anyone you couldn-’t leave behind in order to go with Him? If there is, you aren-’t readyyou-’ve let your spiritual guard down.
All this eschatological imagery excited the disciples so they eagerly asked Jesus, Where willall this take place Lord? Jesus replied, Where the body is, there the eagles will be gathered. Wherever the dead are is where the vultures gather. The most important thing about Biblical eschatology is its emphasis on the certainty of the end of this world and the judgment. Where (and when) the rotten comos needs dealing with, there the Lord will come and deal with itwhich is, of course, all over! The Lord’s return will be instantaneous and universal. Jesus never spoke of His final coming in terms of time or place (see comments on Luke 21:1-38), but of condition. There is only one way to be certain Jesus is coming againthat is to take His word for it. He promised, and His promise is authenticated by His resurrection from the dead (Acts 17:30-31). That is the only sign this evil world will be given (cf. Matthew 12:38-42; Luke 11:29-32). It is spiritually recognized and spiritually anticipated and comes neither at the first nor finally with signs perceivable by carnally-minded people.
Obviously, Luke 17:26-37 indicates Jesus does not expect to find the faith universally triumphant on the earth when He returns (cf. Luke 18:8 which is connected to this discussion). There will be some (perhaps the majority) who will be indifferent or who have lost heart. Only those who have prayed and endured and kept up their spiritual guard will be vindicated (declared to have been right all along) when He comes back, Only those are prepared for the end.
STUDY STIMULATORS:
Just how careful must we be in our conduct in not causing someone else to stumble?
Does the weaker brother have any responsibility in the area of scruples?
Can you forgive like Christ forgaveeven when you know the offender will not accept it? What if you don-’t?
How much does the willingness to forgive demand of you?
Why does it take faith to forgive?
Why doesn-’t Jesus give faith? Do miracles produce faith? If we had more miracles, wouldn-’t we have more faith?
Do you ever catch yourself thinking you are a worthy servant? Are you?
Does the church today need to be on guard against misidentifying the kingdom? How?
Is it possible that there are religious teachers today showing signs that the kingdom will come physically or materially here and there? What should you do about that?
If Jesus came to the World at midnight tonight, could you leave all your worldly possessions, even some of your kinfolk, and go with Him? He won-’t force you to, you know!