Continuing a Bible study of the Gospels:
(Luke 17:1) Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses will come, but woe through him they come!"
At the end of the last chapter, Jesus had been teaching and telling parables to His disciples and also to Pharisees who had been among those who heard Him speak. He then told His disciples that there was no escaping offenses in life; they would indeed come at some point or another and probably multiple times. However, the greatest woe would be to those from which the offenses came! In this, He was directing His comments to the Pharisees who were notorious for cheating for their own gain and to the detriment of the people.
(2) "It would be better for him that a millstone was hung around his neck and he was cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones."
Jesus went on to say that it would be better for one of those offenders if a millstone was hung around his neck and he was thrown into the sea, than what was in store for him if he offended the least of Christ's own, those followers of Him. The world is full of people who distrust church and Christianity because of the harm done by people who call themselves Christians. We are all imperfect people who sin, even pastors do. However, the difference between a true Christian pastor of God and a Pharisee is that the first one will be shown his sin by the Holy Spirit and he will confess it and repent, but a Pharisee is in it for his own gain and will only deny and defend his actions.
(3) "Take heed to yourselves. If your brother trespasses against you, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him."
Although He declared the most severe woe and doom to the offender, Jesus warned that those little ones who were offended must be willing to forgive. If it was a brother who offended him, it was okay to rebuke him; it was good to go to him and tell him his fault and the effect of his conduct and seek an explanation, that is, talk about it. If he repented, the offended one must forgive him.
(4) "And if he trespasses against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turns again to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him."
Even if a brother trespassed against one seven times in one day, the number seven usually representing perfection or completeness, I believe in this case represents an infinite number of times, if he came to the one and repented, the offended one must be willing to forgive him. To err is human, and Christians are to be of a forgiving nature, actually even to those who may not repent, because we were forgiven by God, so ought we forgive others (Matthew 6:14-15).
(5) And the apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith.'"
The apostles asked the Lord to increase their faith, which may have been a response to His command that they must be willing to forgive an infinite number of times. They perhaps thought they needed more faith to be able to continually forgive such offenses, and perhaps also that they themselves not offend anyone else.
(6) And the Lord said, "If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you might say to this sycamore tree, 'Be plucked up by the root and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you."
Jesus told them that if they only had faith the size of a grain of a tiny mustard seed, they could tell a tree to be uprooted and plant itself in the sea, and it would indeed obey them. This scripture makes me sad. It really only takes so tiny a faith, and yet we must not have even that small amount of faith if we can't move a tree. However, I don't really think this has to be taken literally. There is no real purpose of God's to transplant a tree into the sea, but it refers to any obstacles that might stand in the way of our performing our service to accomplish God's will. Jesus might have been telling the apostles they already had all the faith they needed if they had faith in Him; it was up to them to use it. Likewise, with just a little faith, we should not let offensive articles stand in our way of doing good for the Lord. Doubts and fear are a lack of faith, faith as tiny as a grain of mustard seed.
(7) "But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say to him by and by, when he has come from the field, 'Go and sit down to eat'? (8) And will not rather say to him, 'Make ready so that I may sup, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'?"
Jesus then asked His disciples which one of them would reward his servant who had come in from doing his job in the field with a meal before he himself ate. Rather, it was more likely that he would instruct him to continue with his duties and serve him his meal and then he could eat afterward.
(9) "Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not."
Jesus asked them if that master would thank his servant for doing the job he was hired to do. Jesus said He didn't think he would. Although it is possible a master might commend his servant for a particular job well done, it would probably not be a regular occurrence because the servant was just doing what he was hired to do.
(10) "So likewise you, when you have done all those things which are commanded you, say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which was our duty to do.'"
Jesus told them that in like manner, they should not expect thanks and reward just for doing what was commanded to them. They should recognize and confess that they were truly unprofitable servants, for men cannot profit God. All the good men do is that which is their duty to do; they should not expect any great reward for that. Additionally, our best service is still imperfect as we all come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23); no reward should be expected for a flawed job. However, because of His love and mercy for us, we are saved and rewarded with eternal salvation, but this is not a result of our own doing (Ephesians 2:8). Though men are unprofitable to God, following God's commands is profitable to them and may be to others, as well.
(11) And it came to pass, as He went to Jerusalem, that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
Jesus was journeying toward Jerusalem, and as He went, He passed through Samaria and Galilee. Bible commentators suggest that the meaning is more likely in the middle between Samaria and Galilee, as that is a more likely path to Jerusalem.
(12) As He entered into a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers who stood afar off.
As Jesus came into a village, He was met by ten lepers who stood far back from Him. It is plausible that these men were confined together to this place on the edge of the village, and they stood a distance away from Jesus as was the law for lepers.
(13) And they lifted up their voices, and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"
The lepers raised their voices to be heard by Jesus and asked Him to have mercy on them. They recognized Him and called Him Master and probably all called out in unison. Adam Clarke, in his Commentary on the Bible, wrote something beautiful that bears contemplation, "Sin is the worst of all leprosies; it not only separates those to whom it cleaves from the righteous, but it separates them from God; and nothing but the pitying heart and powerful hand of Christ Jesus can set any soul free from it."
(14) And when He saw them, He said to them, "Go show yourselves to the priests." And it came to pass that as they went, they were cleansed.
When Jesus saw the lepers, He told them to go show themselves to the priests, as was the law that the priests were the ones who could proclaim lepers clean. As they went, they were cleansed. Note that it was as they did what was commanded them by Jesus, that they were cleansed. That's a beautiful picture of us just doing the right thing as commanded by Jesus, and as we do that, we may receive the mercy and blessings we desire. It's not always a matter of us just praying for something expecting it immediately and deciding God didn't answer when it doesn't turn out the way we asked. As Proverbs 3:5-8 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones." Trust Him and He will direct your paths and it will be health to you. Another thing to remember is Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." Love and trust God and do what He asks and it will always work for good. But we also must remember that God's ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9) and He sees the big picture that we cannot yet see, but we can be assured His ways are for the best if we love, trust, and follow Him.
(15) And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back and with a loud voice glorified God,
One of the lepers, when he realized he was healed, turned back, in this case meaning he returned to Jesus, and glorified God in a loud voice.
(16) And fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks; and he was a Samaritan.
The leper returned to Jesus and fell down on his face at Jesus's feet, thanking Him. This particular man was a Samaritan. That was noted because the Samaritans were considered by the Jews to be ignorant and not religious and no better than heathens. But this "heathen" was the one who came back to thank Jesus.
(17) And Jesus, answering, said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?"
Jesus answered the man by asking about the other nine who had also been cleansed.
(18) "There are not found any who returned to give glory to God, except this stranger?"
Jesus went on to ask if there were none to return to give thanks to God except that one stranger, or foreigner, that Samaritan that the other nine likely considered a heathen. This is a potent reminder that we should always give thanks to God for our blessings. He notices when we do not. I always have a pang of guilt when I realize that thanking Him was not the first thing I did after receiving a blessing. This Samaritan came back and thanked Him first thing, before even going to the priest as Jesus had told him to do.
(19) And He said to him, "Arise, go your way; your faith has made you whole."
Jesus told the man to arise from His feet and continue on his way to the priest, that his faith had made him whole, that is, healed and saved. Although Jesus had healed the other nine also and they were certainly whole in health and that would not be rescinded, I'm not sure that they were all eternally saved. The Bible doesn't always make a point of saying that one who was healed would be with Jesus in heaven eternally as He told the thief on the cross that he would be with Him that day in paradise. However, in this instance, Jesus did commend the leper's faith and told him it had made him whole. Jesus did the healing which made his health whole, but the man's faith in Jesus made his spirit whole, as well.
(20) And when He was demanded of the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation."
Apparently there were Pharisees in Jesus's presence at some point in His journey between the cities of Samaria and Galilee, and they asked Jesus when the kingdom of God would come. Jesus replied that it was not something they would physically see with their eyes and know instantly that the kingdom had come.
(21) "Neither shall they say, 'Lo here!' or 'Lo there!' For behold, the kingdom of God is within you."
Jesus went on to say that no one would say that they saw it here or there or anywhere, as the kingdom of God was within oneself. Or perhaps Jesus meant that it was already among them. Either way was true; the kingdom of God was already among them and was present in the soul of every true believer. The Pharisees were always looking for a worldly king Messiah who would set up a kingdom they would see with their eyes, but it was a spiritual kingdom that existed in the heart.
(22) And He said to the disciples, "The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and you will not see it."
Jesus then told His disciples that there would come a day when they would wish for the days when they personally had Jesus with them, but He would not be there.
(23) "And they shall say to you, 'See here!' or 'See there!' Do not go after them or follow them."
In those days when Jesus was no longer physically among them, there would be those who were still looking for that worldly king Messiah, and they would declare that he was now with them. Jesus warned His disciples not to go after those people or follow their "Messiah."
(24) "For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also will the Son of man be in His day."
Jesus told them that there would be no doubt when He returned. Just as lightning flashed out of one part of the sky and went across the sky to another side, so would His coming be, just as swift and wide and self-evident. It also described the swift judgment that would come upon Jerusalem when it would fall to the Romans. The Roman army would descend upon them swift and wide as lightning across the sky. Lightning also describes His kingdom of God on earth. The Pharisees expected to see it, but Jesus had said it was within them. So once again, they were not to believe anyone who said, "There it is!" The kingdom of God was within their hearts and would spread fast and wide as lightning and would light the world.
(25) "But first must He suffer many things and be rejected by this generation."
Before Jesus would come again, and before His church would spread all over the world, He would suffer many things and be rejected by his own people.
(26) "And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man. (27) They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark and the flood came and destroyed them all."
As it was in the days of Noah when he was building the ark, so it would be when Jesus came again in judgment. The people in Noah's time ignored the signs of Noah and continued living their jolly normal lives until the flood came and destroyed them all.
(28) "Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built, (29) But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all."
As it was also in the days of Lot, the people lived their jolly debauched lives ignorant of the swift fate that befell them when Lot and his family left Sodom. It rained fire and brimstone and destroyed them all.
(30) "Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed."
So it would be when Jesus returned. Immediately before the destruction of Jerusalem, people would be just as oblivious to its coming. When Jesus returned in judgment on Jerusalem, though not personally, there would be no doubt this was a judgment of God against the Jews. When He returns on the last day and is revealed to all just who He is, it will be as a thief in the night, so sudden and unexpected to the people who will be once again living their corrupt lives with no thought to Him or His coming.
(31) "In that day, he who is on the housetop and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away, and he who is in the field, let him likewise not turn back."
Jesus spoke specifically about the destruction of Jerusalem here. In that day when the Romans besieged Jerusalem, anyone on the housetop or in the field should not turn back to retrieve anything, but flee for his life.
(32) "Remember Lot's wife."
Jesus told His disciples and anyone listening to remember Lot's wife, who turned back when she had been warned not to; she was turned to a pillar of salt.
(33) "Whoever shall seek to save his life will lose it and whoever shall lose his life shall preserve it."
Just as what happened to Lot's wife was symbolic of one turning back to the world and sin and not obeying God, so it would be with those who sought to save their lives and their worldly possessions themselves. Their only hope was to trust God, not look back, and flee from the destruction. Of course, as Jesus said this before in Luke 9:24, He meant this spiritually. By giving their lives up to Jesus, they would have eternal life.
(34) "I tell you, in that night there shall be two in one bed; the one shall be taken and the other shall be left."
So uncertain was their fate, Jesus told them that there might be two in a bed and one would be taken by the Roman soldiers and the other might escape.
(35) "Two shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken and the other left. (36) Two shall be in the field; the one shall be taken and the other left."
Also uncertain was the time that destruction might occur. It might be at night when they were in bed, or it might be while they were working during the day. Even in the daytime with no turning back, so uncertain was their fate, one would be taken by the Roman soldiers while the other might escape.
Some have suggested that the above verses are about the end times and imply that some will be raptured away while others remain. I think it is very evident that Jesus was talking about the coming destruction of Jerusalem. Even though the swift destruction of Jerusalem might be symbolic of the destruction of the world in the end, it is clear that the meaning is that one will be spiritually saved and have eternal life while the other will not. A Left Behind scenario is a relatively new interpretation of scripture and is probably a trick of the devil to lull us into a false sense of security. We are told by Jesus to endure till the end and we will be saved (Matthew 24:13). I believe that implies that there might be fair weather believers who will fall away when things get tough, and that is why a belief in a pre-trib rapture could be dangerous.
(37) And they answered and said to Him, "Where, Lord?" And He said to them, "Wherever the body, there will the eagles be gathered together."
Either the disciples asked, or perhaps it was the Pharisees who had asked when the kingdom of God would come before Jesus had turned His attention to His disciples. The Pharisees may have still been within hearing. They wanted to know where these things would happen. Jesus answered that it would be where the body was, more specifically, where the dead carcass was, as He said in Matthew 24:28. That was symbolic of the spiritually dead Jerusalem; it was there where the Roman eagles would gather (the Romans wore eagles on their ensigns), just as vultures would gather at a dead carcass.
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