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Luke 17-18

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Luke 17

1¶ Then said he unto the disciples, ‹It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe› [unto him], ‹through whom they come!›

2‹It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.›

3‹Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.›

4‹And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.›

5And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

6And the Lord said, ‹If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.›

7‹But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go 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 that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.›

10‹So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.›

11¶ And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

12And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

13And they lifted up [their] voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

14And when he saw [them], he said unto them, ‹Go shew yourselves unto the priests.› And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

15And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

16And fell down on [his] face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

17And Jesus answering said, ‹Were there not ten cleansed? but where› [are] ‹the nine?›

18‹There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.›

19And he said unto him, ‹Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.›

20¶ And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, ‹The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:›

21‹Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.›

22And 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, See here; or, see there: go not after› [them], ‹nor follow› [them].

24‹For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one› [part] ‹under heaven, shineth unto the other› [part] ‹under heaven; so shall also 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 was in the days of Noe, 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 Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.›

28‹Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;›

29‹But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed› [them] ‹all.›

30‹Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.›

31‹In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.›

32‹Remember Lot's wife.›

33‹Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.›

34‹I tell you, in that night there shall be two› [men] ‹in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.›

35‹Two› [women] ‹shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.›

36‹Two› [men] ‹shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.›

37And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, ‹Wheresoever the body› [is], ‹thither will the eagles be gathered together.›

Luke 18

1¶ And he spake a parable unto them [to this end], that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

2Saying, ‹There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:›

3‹And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.›

4‹And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;›

5‹Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.›

6And the Lord said, ‹Hear what the unjust judge saith.›

7‹And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?›

8‹I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?›

9¶ And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

10‹Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.›

11‹The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men› [are], ‹extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.›

12‹I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.›

13‹And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as› [his] ‹eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.›

14‹I tell you, this man went down to his house justified› [rather] ‹than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.›

15¶ And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when [his] disciples saw [it], they rebuked them.

16But Jesus called them [unto him], and said, ‹Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.›

17‹Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.›

18¶ And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

19And Jesus said unto him, ‹Why callest thou me good? none› [is] ‹good, save one,› [that is], ‹God.›

20‹Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.›

21And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

22Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, ‹Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.›

23And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

24And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, ‹How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!›

25‹For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.›

26And they that heard [it] said, Who then can be saved?

27And he said, ‹The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.›

28Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.

29And he said unto them, ‹Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,›

30‹Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.›

31¶ Then he took [unto him] the twelve, and said unto them, ‹Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.›

32‹For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:›

33‹And they shall scourge› [him], ‹and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.›

34And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

35¶ And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:

36And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.

37And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.

38And he cried, saying, Jesus, [thou] Son of David, have mercy on me.

39And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, [Thou] Son of David, have mercy on me.

40And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,

41Saying, ‹What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?› And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.

42And Jesus said unto him, ‹Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.›

43And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw [it], gave praise unto God.

Commentary Insights

Study and Reflection

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Matthew Henry Concise Commentary

Pastoral and devotional reflections focused on spiritual formation and application.

Luke 17:1-10 Verses 1-10

It is no abatement of their guilt by whom an offence comes, nor will it lessen their punishment that offences will come. Faith in God's pardoning mercy, will enable us to get over the greatest difficulties in the way of forgiving our brethren. As with God nothing is impossible, so all things are possible to him that can believe. Our Lord showed his disciples their need of deep humility. The Lord has such a property in every creature, as no man can have in another; he cannot be in debt to them for their services, nor do they deserve any return from him.

Luke 17:11-19 Verses 11-19

A sense of our spiritual leprosy should make us very humble whenever we draw near to Christ. It is enough to refer ourselves to the compassions of Christ, for they fail not. We may look for God to meet us with mercy, when we are found in the way of obedience. Only one of those who were healed returned to give thanks. It becomes us, like him, to be very humble in thanksgivings, as well as in prayers. Christ noticed the one who thus distinguished himself, he was a Samaritan. The others only got the outward cure, he alone got the spiritual blessing.

Luke 17:20-37 Verses 20-37

The kingdom of God was among the Jews, or rather within some of them. It was a spiritual kingdom, set up in the heart by the power of Divine grace. Observe how it had been with sinners formerly, and in what state the judgments of God, which they had been warned of, found them. Here is shown what a dreadful surprise this destruction will be to the secure and sensual. Thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. When Christ came to destroy the Jewish nation by the Roman armies, that nation was found in such a state of false security as is here spoken of. In like manner, when Jesus Christ shall come to judge the world, sinners will be found altogether regardless; for in like manner the sinners of every age go on securely in their evil ways, and remember not their latter end. But wherever the wicked are, who are marked for eternal ruin, they shall be found by the judgments of God.

Luke 18:1-8 Verses 1-8

All God's people are praying people. Here earnest steadiness in prayer for spiritual mercies is taught. The widow's earnestness prevailed even with the unjust judge: she might fear lest it should set him more against her; but our earnest prayer is pleasing to our God. Even to the end there will still be ground for the same complaint of weakness of faith.

Luke 18:9-14 Verses 9-14

This parable was to convince some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others. God sees with what disposition and design we come to him in holy ordinances. What the Pharisee said, shows that he trusted to himself that he was righteous. We may suppose he was free from gross and scandalous sins. All this was very well and commendable. Miserable is the condition of those who come short of the righteousness of this Pharisee, yet he was not accepted; and why not? He went up to the temple to pray, but was full of himself and his own goodness; the favour and grace of God he did not think worth asking. Let us beware of presenting proud devotions to the Lord, and of despising others. The publican's address to God was full of humility, and of repentance for sin, and desire toward God. His prayer was short, but to the purpose; God be merciful to me a sinner. Blessed be God, that we have this short prayer upon record, as an answered prayer; and that we are sure that he who prayed it, went to his house justified; for so shall we be, if we pray it, as he did, through Jesus Christ. He owned himself a sinner by nature, by practice, guilty before God. He had no dependence but upon the mercy of God; upon that alone he relied. And God's glory is to resist the proud, and give grace to the humble. Justification is of God in Christ; therefore the self-condemned, and not the self-righteous, are justified before God.

Luke 18:15-17 Verses 15-17

None are too little, too young, to be brought to Christ, who knows how to show kindness to those not capable of doing service to him. It is the mind of Christ, that little children should be brought to him. The promise is to us, and to our seed; therefore He will bid them welcome to him with us. And we must receive his kingdom as children, not by purchase, and must call it our Father's gift.

Luke 18:18-30 Verses 18-30

Many have a great deal in them very commendable, yet perish for lack of some one thing; so this ruler could not bear Christ's terms, which would part between him and his estate. Many who are loth to leave Christ, yet do leave him. After a long struggle between their convictions and their corruptions, their corruptions carry the day. They are very sorry that they cannot serve both; but if one must be quitted, it shall be their God, not their wordly gain. Their boasted obedience will be found mere outside show; the love of the world in some form or other lies at the root. Men are apt to speak too much of what they have left and lost, of what they have done and suffered for Christ, as Peter did. But we should rather be ashamed that there has been any regret or difficulty in doing it.

Luke 18:31-34 Verses 31-34

The Spirit of Christ, in the Old Testament prophets, testified beforehand his sufferings, and the glory that should follow, 1Pe 1:11. The disciples' prejudices were so strong, that they would not understand these things literally. They were so intent upon the prophecies which spake of Christ's glory, that they overlooked those which spake of his sufferings. People run into mistakes, because they read their Bibles by halves, and are only for the smooth things. We are as backward to learn the proper lessons from the sufferings, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ, as the disciples were to what he told them as to those events; and for the same reason; self-love, and a desire of worldly objects, close our understandings.

Luke 18:35-43 Verses 35-43

This poor blind man sat by the wayside, begging. He was not only blind, but poor, the fitter emblem of the world of mankind which Christ came to heal and save. The prayer of faith, guided by Christ's encouraging promises, and grounded on them, shall not be in vain. The grace of Christ ought to be thankfully acknowledged, to the glory of God. It is for the glory of God if we follow Jesus, as those will do whose eyes are opened. We must praise God for his mercies to others, as well as for mercies to ourselves. Would we rightly understand these things, we must come to Christ, like the blind man, earnestly beseeching him to open our eyes, and to show us clearly the excellence of his precepts, and the value of his salvation.

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Key Words and Topics

These study connections are drawn from the internal BSB concordance and topical index imported into Daily Bread Intake.

Related Topics

Accountability Luke 17:3

Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

Adultery: Forbidden Luke 18:20

You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.’”

Answers To Prayer: Blind Man Luke 18:38, 41–43

So he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” / “What do you want Me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “let me see again.” / Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God. And all the people who saw this gave praise to God.

Answers To Prayer: Denied to Those Who are Self-Righteous Luke 18:11, 12, 14

The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. / I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’ / I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Antediluvians: Destruction of Luke 17:26, 27

Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man: / People were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.

Apologizing Luke 17:3, 4

Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. / Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

Babies Going to Heaven Luke 18:15, 16

Now people were even bringing their babies to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them. And when the disciples saw this, they rebuked those who brought them. / But Jesus called the children to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Bad Parents Luke 17:3

Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

Bad Treatment Luke 17:26, 27

Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man: / People were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.

Bartimeus (Bartimaeus): A Blind Man Luke 18:35–43

As Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting beside the road, begging. / When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. / “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” they told him.

Being Discouraged Luke 18:1

Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:

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Bible Dictionary

Related Dictionary Terms

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Kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33; Mark 1:14, 15; Luke 4:43) = "kingdom of… Righteousness See [535]JUSTIFICATION. Eternal life This expression occurs in the Old Testament only in Dan.… Son of man (1.) Denotes mankind generally, with special reference to their weakness… Generation Gen. 2:4, "These are the generations," means the "history." 5:1,… Foreigner A Gentile. Such as resided among the Hebrews were required… Pharisees Separatists (Heb. persahin, from parash, "to separate"). They were probably… Adversary (Heb. satan), an opponent or foe (1 Kings 5:4; 11:14,… Lightning Frequently referred to by the sacred writers (Nah. 1:3-6). Thunder… Jerusalem Called also Salem, Ariel, Jebus, the "city of God," the… Mulberry Heb. bakah, "to weep;" rendered "Baca" (R.V., "weeping") in Ps.… Nazareth Separated, generally supposed to be the Greek form of the… Adultery Conjugal infidelity. An adulterer was a man who had illicit… Marriage Was instituted in Paradise when man was in innocence (Gen.… Building Among the Jews was suited to the climate and conditions… Villages (Judg. 5:7, 11). The Hebrew word thus rendered (perazon) means… Gentiles (Heb., usually in plural, goyim), meaning in general all nations… Parable (Gr. parabole), a placing beside; a comparison; equivalent to the…