Luke 17

Luke 17:1

Impossible [ανενδεκτον] . Inadmissable. Only here in New Testament. See on it cannot be, ch. 13 33.

Offenses. See on offend, Matthew 5:29; and compare on Matthew 16:23.

Luke 17:2

It were better [λυσιτελει] . Only here in New Testament. The verb means to pay what is due, and is equivalent to our phrase, it pays.

Millstone. Compare Matthew 18:6. The correct reading here is liqov mulikov, a millstone; not a great millstone as Matthew.

Thrown [ερριπται] . Hurled : with an underlying sense of violence, called out by so great an outrage.

Luke 17:3

Rebuke. See on straitly charged, ch. 9 21.

Luke 17:6

Sycamine. Or mulberry. Luke distinguishes between this and sukomorea, the fig - mulberry (ch. 19 4). The names were sometimes confused, but a physician would readily make the distinction, as both were used medicinally.

Luke 17:9

I trow not. Omitted by the best texts.

Luke 17:10

Unprofitable [αχρειοι] . From creia, requirement; something which the master must pay. 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).

Luke 17:11

Through the midst of. It may also mean between or on the borders of. The Am. Rev. insists on the latter.

Luke 17:12

Lepers. See on ch. Luke 5:12.

Luke 17:20

With observation [μεταπαρατηρησεως] . 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.

Luke 17:21

Within. Better, in the midst of. Meyer acutely remarks that “you refers to the Pharisees, in whose hearts nothing certainly found a place less than did the ethical kingdom of God.” Moreover, Jesus is not speaking of the inwardness of the kingdom, but of its presence. “The whole language of the kingdom of heaven being within men, rather than men being within the kingdom, is modern” (Trench, after Meyer).

Luke 17:24

Lighteneth [αστραπτουσα] . Only here and ch. 24:4.

Luke 17:25

Rejected. See on disallowed, 1 Peter 2:4; and tried, 1 Peter 1:7.

Luke 17:31

Goods. See on Matthew 12:29.

On the house - top. See on Matthew 24:17.

Luke 17:33

Shall preserve [ζωογονησει] . Only here and Acts 7:19. Originally to engender; thence to produce alive or endue with life, and so to preserve alive. Wyc., shall quicken it.

Luke 17:37

Eagles. See on Matthew 24:28. ===Luk18

CHAPTER XVIII

THE PARABLES OF THE UNJUST JUDGE AND THE PHARISEE AND PUBLICAN.

Peculiar to Luke. 1 - 14.