Comments on Luke 17 This chapter presents three separate passages who's connection is nothing more than chronology in that Luke records them as they happened: Instruction to disciples (v. 1-10), an account of healing lepers (v. 11-19), and discussion concerning the Second Coming of Christ (v. 20-37). This chapter is unparalleled in the other Gospels. v1-10 comprises a set of instructions given to the disciples. Verses 1-4 are a reiteration and distillation of Matt. 18:1-22, which is discussed in LDSS Vol. 3, No. 14. This particular rendition warns against offenses (v. 1) and casts woe upon those who cause offense so great that it results in harm to another believer's faith (v. 2). But, it also tells the people to rebuke and forgive the offender (v. 3) as often as they offend (v. 4). This would presumably be in the case of lesser offenses and honest mistakes, as opposed to malicious acts of sedition, which Paul apparently alludes to in Acts 20:29-30. Verses 5-6 deal with faith. The apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith, but Jesus' reply is that making it "larger" so to speak isn't what he wants. It isn't a matter of quantity, it is a matter of quality. One can have faith as small as a grain of mustard seed and if it is genuine then one can do miraculous things that are seemingly impossible, cf. Matt. 17:20. Verses 7-10 address Christian service. When a slave does the slave's labor they are not thanked for it because it is expected of them. So too should a disciple do the disciples labor and not expect to be rewarded for it. The attitude of the disciple should be one of duty and obligation, and not of looking for thanks and rewards. Verse also serves as a warning against self-righteousness and self-aggrandizement when they do the things required of them, cp. Mosiah 2:21-25. v11-19 recounts the cleansing of ten lepers, with the test of faith being his telling them to go and see the priests to declare them clean. They have the faith sufficient to do so and are cleansed on the way. However, among the ten only one of them returns to Jesus to thank him. Jesus remarks upon how only the foreigner, a Samaritan, returned to thank him and glorify God and then goes on to say his exceptional faith has resulted in him being both physically and spiritually healed. One would conclude from this the other 9 were Jews and while they had faith sufficient to be healed physically, it was not sufficient to make them "whole". The passage also serves to indicate the relative fame or notoriety Jesus had among the populace in general such that as he traveled lepers would beseech him for healing. v12-13 "stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices", lepers were unclean according to the Law and therefore had to keep apart from the populace in general, cf. Lev. 13. Thus necessitating their standing far away from everyone else and having to yell to be heard by Jesus. v14 "Go shew yourselves unto the priests", upon being cleansed of leprosy the priests were to declare them clean and they were to make sacrifice, cf. Lev. 14. v20-37 Jesus is asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of Heaven will be established on the earth (v. 20). He tells them to forget about signs because it is already here (v. 21). It has been offered to them and they are ignoring it, because it doesn't match their perception of what it should be. Jesus then talks to his disciples separately and tells them about the Second Coming, or the "Day of the Lord" as it is called in the OT. Jesus tells them the days will come when they will wish to see the Day of the Lord but still not see it (v. 22). And people will say that it has happened here or there, but do not believe them (v. 23). Because when Jesus comes again all the world will know it just as all people know together when the sun rises (v. 24, see the IV). However, before this, Jesus must first be slain at the hands of this generation (v. 25). Later, the days will come just like in Noah's Flood and in Sodom and Gomorrah where the people were carnally secure and indulgent (v. 26-29), and then the Day of the Lord will overtake them unawares (v. 30). When that day comes, don't be like Lot's wife and care for the things of the world (v. 31-32). This who love their worldly lives will lose them, and those who abandon the worldly life will gain spiritual life (v. 33). Abandon those things and take heed of the warnings. Just as Lot was warned and removed from Sodom, so will people be selectively gathered out by angels and brought together as the righteous remnant (v. 34-36). The disciples ask where the people who are gathered out will be taken to, and Jesus responds with a simile: just as vultures can be seen gather around a corpse, so will the remnant be seen gathering together (v. 37, see the IV). v20-21 The Pharisees are looking for the Kingdom of Heaven as they want it, which is a selective view. They want the restoration of the glory, power, and wealth of the ancient Davidic Kingdom restored but they don't want to repent in order to get it. They ask Jesus for sings of when they will get this, and he tells them they are looking for the wrong thing and so they do not recognize the Kingdom of Heaven when it is right there. As such, Jesus doesn't give them any signs. v23-24 The events surrounding the Day of the Lord are such that they will have worldwide impact. The Second Coming will not be some private event where only a select few will know about it. v24 The IV/JST differs from the KJV, as follows: KJV IV --- -- For as the lightning, For as the light of the morning, that lighteneth out that shineth out of the one part under heaven, of the one part under heaven, shineth unto and lighteneth the other part under heaven; to the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man so shall also the Son of man be in his day. be in his day. The IV changes the imagery from some bright and blinding flash that is transient to one that is more fitting, the dawn of the sun which encompasses the whole earth. v26-29 Many signs and warnings are given concerning the Day of the Lord. But, just as Noah warned the people of his day and Lot warned his people, so will the wicked of the last generations ignore the signs and warnings given them as they continue on in their carnal ways just as their predecessors did. v34-37 The IV/JST omits the "men" and "women" added in the KJV in v. 34-36 (the italicized words in the KJV indicate additions by the translators which are not literally present in the Greek, but which the translators added for clarity). It then changes v. 37 substantially and appends three verses, as follows: KJV IV --- -- And they answered And they answered and said unto him, and said unto him, Where, Lord? Where, Lord, shall they be taken? And he said unto them, And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, Wheresoever the body is gathered; or, in other words, whithersoever the saints are gathered, thither will the eagles thither will the eagles be gathered together. be gathered together; or, thither will the remainder be gathered together. This he spake, signifying the gathering of his saints; and of angels descending and gathering the remainder unto them; the one from the bed, the other from the grinding, and the other from the field, whithersoever he listeth. For verily there shall be new heavens, and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. And there shall be no unclean thing; for the earth becoming old, even as a garment, having waxed in corruption, wherefore it vanisheth away, and the footstool remaineth sanctified, cleansed from all sin. The IV changes the meaning of those "taken" from being destroyed, which the KJV suggests, to being gathered to the righteous remnants by angels. v36 is absent in many ancient manuscripts. v37 "eagles", a better translation would be "vultures". Copyright © 2002 by S. Kurt Neumiller . All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form or by any means for commercial gain without the express written consent of the author. 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