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Luke Chapter Seventeen

                             

I. Content of the Chapter

 

The Life that One Watches and Waits for the Coming of the Lord

I. Do not offend others and forgive others (v.1-4).

II. Walk by faith (v.5-6).

III. The parable of the unprofitable servants------completely for the enjoyment of the Lord (v.7-10).

IV. The teachings of the healing of ten lepers------having the hearts of gratitude (v.11-19).

V. Live in the reality of the kingdom of God:

  A. The kingdom of God is within men (v.20-21).

  B. The day of the coming of the Son of Man comes suddenly (v.22-32).

  C. The judgment of that day is based on how one lives today (v.33-37).

 

II. Verse by Verse commentary

 

Luke. 17:1 “Then He said to the disciples ‘It is impossible that no offenses should come but woe to him through whom they do come!”

   YLT: “And he said unto the disciples `It is impossible for the stumbling blocks not to come but wo [to him] through whom they come;”

   Literal Meaning: “it is impossible that no offenses should come” “Offenses” indicates that one’s faith in the Lord is shaken so that he goes astray and even commits a sin. Wherever there are people it is impossible that no offenses should come but the degree of seriousness of offenses differs.

  “But woe to him through whom they do come!” “Woe” indicates that one shall be punished by God.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The Lord regards offense as very serious. If believers offend others though they are unlikely to lose the eternal life they must suffer losses in the kingdom.

2) In the assembly it is impossible that on offenses should come no matter it is on purpose or not however if possible we should always avoid offenses. 

3) The main reason to offend others or be offended is pride. The pride one either offends others or is offended by others.

 

Luke. 17:2 “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than that he should offend one of these little ones.”

   YLT: “it is more profitable to him if a weighty millstone is put round about his neck and he hath been cast into the sea than that he may cause one of these little ones to stumble.”

   Literal Meaning: “if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea” “Millstone” refers to the oblate stone in the mill that is used to grind grain and it is quite heavy. “He” indicates the one who offends others.

  If it was hung around one’s neck not only he would be drowned in the depth of the sea but also it is impossible for him to emerge from the surface of the sea.

  “It would be better… than that he should offend one of these little ones.” “Little ones” indicate the young listeners (See 10:21; Matt. 18:6; Mark. 10:24).

  The Lord meant that we could let one disappear in the sea rather than let him offend others.

   Spiritual Meaning: “if a millstone were hung around his neck” “Neck” symbolizes the stubborn will of men (stubbornness). “If a millstone were hung around the neck” symbolizes making one’s stubborn will be frustrated.

  “Be thrown into the sea.” “Sea” symbolizes the world of the Gentiles. “Be thrown into the sea” symbolizes that we should treat them as the Gentiles and have no company with them (See 2Thess. 3:14) lest they may continually harm others.

  “He should offend one of these little ones.” “One of those little ones” indicates one common and naïve believer.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Believers in the assembly should be those who supply the spiritual bread (“a millstone”). However if one always offends others even though he is spiritually talented he is useless.

2) A millstone could help men grind grain for men’s living. It could also be used to drown men into the sea and deprive the meaning of men’s existence. Whether something is positive or negative depends on men’s own spiritual state.

3) It is impossible that there are not the phenomena of offenses in the assembly. If we seek the reason of it we will find that offenses are always caused by our pride and stubbornness. 

 

Luke. 17:3 “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you rebuke him; and if he repents forgive him.”

   YLT: “`Take heed to yourselves and if thy brother may sin in regard to thee rebuke him and if he may reform forgive him ”

   Literal Meaning: “take heed to yourselves” indicates that few men could “rebuke” and “forgive” properly.

  “Your brother” refers to fellow-believers.

  “If your brother sins against you rebuke him.” If you do not rebuke him he may be unaware of his wrongness.

  “And if he repents forgive him.” “Repent” shows that he is aware of his sin confesses it and repents. It indicates that we should forgive brothers according to his repentance that he has truly expressed.

   Controversial Clarification: “if he repents forgive him.” Many believers quoting this verse hold that the other does not repent from his heart and therefore he won’t forgive him. Actually the Lord here did not ask us to discern the trueness of the intention of the other. As long as the other repents orally we should forgive him. The trueness of repentance is not our matter but the matter between him and the Lord because it is almost impossible for us to determine.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) It is a slight matter that your brother has sinned against you and it is a great thing that he who has sinned against you is unaware of his wrongness.

2) In order to let your brother be aware of his wrongness and not run greedily in the error (Jude 11) and “gain” your brother we should rebuke him and point out his wrongness (See Matt. 18:15).

3) Pointing out one’s wrongness is not blame or accusation but hoping that one would be corrected.

4) We should point out one’s wrongness in his presence and should not tell his wrongness behind his back. Do not tell what we dare not to say in the presence of your brother at his back.

5) We should put ourselves in others’ position and be concerned about the other person. We should not let others know that he has sinned against us unless absolutely necessary.

6) Believers should do the “right” thing by the “right” attitude and way. If the attitude and method are wrong even someone has done the “right” thing it would not receive the “right” effect.

7) Whether you forgive the other is not determined by how much he has sinned against you but that: 1) he is your brother; 2) he hears your rebuke; 3) he expresses the repentance.

8) When one Christian is mistreated by another Christian he should forgive the one who has sinned against him from his heart (See Eph. 3:32) and keep his spirit from hatred and evil thoughts.

 

Luke. 17:4 “And if he sins against you seven times in a day and seven times in a day returns to you saying ‘I repent ' you shall forgive him.’”

   YLT: “and if seven times in the day he may sin against thee and seven times in the day may turn back to thee saying I reform; thou shalt forgive him.’”

   The Background: according to the traditional saying of the Jewish rabbis one could forgive his brother four times at most.

   Literal Meaning: if he sins against you seven times in a day and seven times in a day returns to you” “Seven” is the number of perfection. Seven times of offenses refer to the extreme offenses. It is not much if there are seven times in a life however it is not little if there are seven times in a day and this kind of condition is almost impossible. Generally we hold that his “return” is not sincere under this condition.

  “You shall forgive him.” In other words forgiveness should be inexhaustible. “Forgive” in the original refers to “send forth” and “let go” i.e. to forgive the matter that one has been sinned against. If one forgives others and still remembers “the times” it shows that he hasn’t forgotten the times that he has been sinned against and therefore it cannot be counted as forgiveness.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) God has forgiven our sins and God will remember our sins and lawlessness deeds no more (See Heb. 8:12 10:17). When we forgive others we should remember their sins no more. 

2) When we have been sinned against by others on one hand we should give consideration to them and hope them to be corrected on the other we should not have resentment grievance and hurt in our hearts.

3) The one who truly forgives others does not remember the times that he has been sinned against by his brother at all because he has forgotten the matter that he has been sinned against.

4) Men’s forgiveness is limited and its utmost is seven times. The Lord’s forgiveness is unlimited. Therefore we forgive each other by the forgiveness in the Lord instead of by men’s forgiveness.

 

Luke. 17:5 “And the apostles said to the Lord ‘Increase our faith.’”

   YLT: “And the apostles said to the Lord `Add to us faith;’”

   Literal Meaning: “the apostles said to the Lord” “The apostles” shows that many apostles made this request.

  “Increase our faith.” Apostles made the request because they heard the Lord’s teaching of forgiveness (v.3-4) that no matter one’s repentance is sincere or not you should forgive him. They felt that they may lack faith in whether they have enough grace to forgive others under this condition. Therefore they asked the Lord to increase their faith.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) It is difficult to put forgiveness (v.3-4) into practice and therefore we need faith. If we believe that God would enable us to forgive others we will be able to forgive others.

2) We have to seize the unseen by faith and hope to have more and more confidence in the eternal things in the daily life otherwise we cannot live by the standard of living which the Lord has required of us.

3) Faith is not of our own and it is not determined by our own will. It is the gift of God (See Eph. 2:8).

4) We have to look unto the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2).

5) Whether one’s faith is great or not does not matter and what matters is whether he has faith (See Matt. 17:20). However our faith is always like that: 1) we are in the state between believing and suspicion; 2) we trust sometimes and doubt sometimes. Therefore we need to ask the Lord to increase our faith.

6) Many of our prayers have not been answered because we lack faith. Therefore we should ask the Lord for help to increase our faith first and then we could ask the Lord to solve our difficulties.

 

Luke. 17:6 “So the Lord said ‘If you have faith as a mustard seed you can say to this mulberry tree Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea ' and it would obey you.”

   YLT: “and the Lord said `If ye had faith as a grain of mustard ye would have said to this sycamine Be uprooted and be planted in the sea and it would have obeyed you.”

   The Background: the root of the mulberry tree takes root very deeply and it is very difficult to uproot it.

   Literal Meaning: “if you have faith as a mustard seed” has two meanings: 1) Faith is able to grow “as a mustard seed”. 2) Even if faith is as little as “a mustard seed” (See Mark. 4:31) it does not matter. Whether one’s faith is great or not does not matter and what matters is whether he has faith.

   Spiritual Meaning: “if you have faith as a mustard seed” “A mustard seed” symbolizes the power of life. There is life in faith that could bring forth the immeasurable vitality.

  “Mulberry tree” indicates the firm difficulties that are hard to be rooted out and here it specially indicates the stubbornness and hardness of hearts that block us from forgiving brothers continually.

  “Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea.” It symbolizes that not only overcome the difficulty but also get it done once and for all.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The quantity of faith does not matter and the quality of faith really matters. And what matters is not to have more faith but to use the faith that one already has.

2) All things are possible to him that believes (Mark. 9:23); Faith is to rely on God and let Him do and nothing is too wonderful for Jehovah (Gen. 18:14).

3) Only the faith which has the strong vitality as the mustard seed could realize what is impossible in the sight of men.

4) Christians should remember that we do not work alone because faith binds our work with God’s work.

5) Because of unbelief believers are unable to be united with the Lord and draw His power.

6) Though our faith is little we could use the power of the kingdom. Therefore all things are possible to him that believes and none of the difficulties are unable to overcome.

7) There isn’t any reason for believers to be proud and the intention of self-importance has to be pulled up by the roots. 

 

Luke. 17:7 “And which of you having a servant plowing or tending sheep will say to him when he has come in from the field Come at once and sit down to eat'?”

   YLT: “`But who is he of you having a servant ploughing or feeding who to him having come in out of the field will say Having come near recline at meat?”

   The Background: at that time a servant had five features:

1) He did not have the so-called human rights and he had to receive the ceaseless work willingly.

2) He had to understand that his work would neither be shown any consideration nor appreciated by others.

3) He was not of his own and all his work was for the enjoyment of the Lord.

4) Even if he had tried his utmost he had to still acknowledge that he was the unprofitable servant.

5) He had to acknowledge that all he had done and borne were his duty to do.

   Spiritual Meaning: “plowing” refers to reclaim land and sow and it symbolizes the work of preaching the glad tidings to save sinners (See 8:5-8 11-15; 1Cor. 3:6-9).

  “Tending sheep” refers to shepherd the flock and it symbolizes the work of feeding and taking care of believers (See 1Pet. 5:2; John. 21:15-17).

  “Sit down to eat” It symbolizes the rest and enjoyment.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) A Christian is of Christ (“servant”). The time and everything of us are of Him.

2) To believers the servants of the Lord preaching the glad tidings and taking care of believers are what we should do. And no matter how much we have done there won’t be the end of this forever.

3) Our rest and enjoyment cannot be based on the achievements of our work.

 

Luke. 17:8 “But will he not rather say to him ‘Prepare something for my supper and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk and afterward you will eat and drink'?”

   YLT: “but will not [rather] say to him Prepare what I may sup and having girded thyself about minister to me till I eat and drink and after these things thou shalt eat and drink?”

   Literal Meaning: “gird yourself and serve me” is to cheep yourself up and to serve the Lord Himself.

   Spiritual Meaning: “gird yourself and serve me” is to gird your waist with truth (See Eph. 6:14).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) A servant does not have the right to decide when he could have rest. He has to listen to the order of the Lord at any time.

2) When we live on earth at present we are fulfilling the duty of serving the Lord. We have to follow the Lord’s instructions absolutely and we should neither do presumptuously nor act carelessly.

3) “Gird yourself and serve me.” When the Lord’s servants serve Him they have to gird themselves with truth. If one has not girded himself in one’s heart there will be no service. Whenever one is girded with truth in his heart there will be service.

4) “Gird yourself and serve me.” Whenever we are slack there won’t be service power or way. The moment we gird up the loins of our mind (1Pet. 1:13) we will have power be humble and diligent and watch.

5) “Gird yourself and serve me.” The service of the one who girds himself is the true and acceptable service. The service of the one who does not gird himself is inacceptable to the Lord.

6) The work in the fields is not as good as that in the house. The field and sheep (v.7) are not as good as the Lord Himself. Apparently we serve the Lord and actually we do serve the Lord------the Lord Himself is the aim of our service.

7) “Till I have eaten and drunk and afterward you will eat and drink.” Our service should let the Lord have enjoyment first and then we could have enjoyment. We should satisfy the Lord first and then we could have our satisfaction. No matter how hard we toil in service it is all in vain if our service could not let the Lord have enjoyment and satisfaction.

 

Luke. 17:9 “Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.”

   YLT: “Hath he favour to that servant because he did the things directed? I think not.”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Servants are debtors in serving the Lord. However they won’t be lenders forever in gaining the Lord’s reward.

2) God does not owe thanks to us. If we have received something from God it is all due to the mercy and love of Him who gives us grace freely and it is not because of what we have done for Him.

 

Luke. 17:10 “So likewise you when you have done all those things which you are commanded say ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’”

   YLT: “`So also ye when ye may have done all the things directed you say We are unprofitable servants because that which we owed to do we have done.’”

   Meaning of Words: “unprofitable”: unworthy useless.

   Literal Meaning: “we are unprofitable servants” It does not indicate that they consume rations in vain and are useless. It indicates that their work is their duty to do and they have not made the additional profit to the lord thus they could hope for the lord’s reward.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Even the spiritual ones could have the spiritual pride and hold that their service towards the Lord deserves some rewards.

2) In the life of Christians the so-called merits do not exist. When one has made his great effort he is still “an unprofitable servant”.

3) Even if we serve Him at the cost of our lives we could only say that “we are unprofitable servants” compared to His sacrifice and grace to us.

4) “We are unprofitable servants” shows the true state of us. We are actually useless and we could not serve the Lord unless His power upholds us.

5) It is right that a servant dedicates all his strength to the Lord. What we have done for the Lord is our duty.

 

Luke. 17:11 “Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.”

   YLT: “And it came to pass in his going on to Jerusalem that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee

   Literal Meaning: “He went to Jerusalem” It is the third time that Luke mentioned that the Lord Jesus advanced to Jerusalem (See 9:51-53; 13:22).

  “He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.” It indicates the corridor between the two districts.

 

Luke. 17:12 “Then as He entered a certain village there met Him ten men who were lepers who stood afar off.”

   YLT: “and he entering into a certain village there met him ten leprous men who stood afar off ”

   Literal Meaning: “who stood afar off” The lepers have to keep their distance from the multitudes and shout out that “Unclean! Unclean!” (See Lev. 13:45-46) so as to remind others that they should not approach them lest they may be infected.

   Spiritual Meaning: “there met Him ten men who were lepers” According to cases recorded in the Old Testament leprosy is connected with disobeying authority and commandments (See Num. 12:1-10 2Kings. 5:9-14) therefore a leper is the type of the disobedient people i.e. Israel (Rom. 10:21).

  In the Bible leprosy is the type of men’s unclean sins:

1) Leprosy starts from the inner part symbolizing that sin is of men’s nature.

2) Leprosy is difficult to be healed symbolizing that sin is difficult to be removed.

3) Leprosy is contagious symbolizing that sin is contagious.

4) Leprosy makes men rot and stink unto death symbolizing the dirtiness of sin and the dreadful and miserable end of sin.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Men’s flesh and nature full of dirties of sins always offend God. We are lepers in the sight of God.

2) “There met Him” The one who truly seeks the Lord should meet Him in His presence and should not turn unto Him the back.

 

Luke. 17:13 “And they lifted up their voices and said ‘Jesus Master have mercy on us!’”

   YLT: “and they lifted up the voice saying `Jesus master deal kindly with us;’”

   Meaning of Words: “Master”: the lord an appointee over commander.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The conditions that a sinner could be healed: a) he has to acknowledge his corruption and hopelessness; b) he has to confess his sins to the Lord; c) he has to believe in the power of healing; d) he has to beseech the Lord Jesus.

2) “Have mercy on us!” It is the humble cry of repentance and God will not despise a broken and a contrite heart (Ps. 51:17).

 

Luke. 17:14 “So when He saw them He said to them ‘Go show yourselves to the priests.’ And so it was that as they went they were cleansed.”

   YLT: “and having seen [them] he said to them `Having gone on shew yourselves to the priests;’ and it came to pass in their going they were cleansed ”

   The Background: according to the law of the Old Testament when a leper was healed he would be looked by the priest (See Lev. 13:9-10). After the priest had pronounced him clean he would be able to offer sacrifice to the Lord. Since he had sacrificed to the Lord he bore witness before the folk and it became a fact which was unable to be overthrown (Lev. 14:2-20).

   Literal Meaning: “Go show yourselves to the priests” means “obtain the proof of cleanness from the priests according to the law of the Old Testament”. Therefore it includes the promise of being cleaned showing that when they came to the priests their leprosy would be healed because the priests did not have the power to heal them.

  And so it was that as they went they were cleansed.” “Went” shows that they were healed because they have believed and listened to the word of the Lord (See v.19). It is valuable that they even did not ask a word and immediately went to see the priests according to the command of the Lord.

Controversial Clarification: The Lord Jesus asked them to show themselves to the priests and it did not indicate that He asked believers of the New Testament to walk according to the regulations of the law of the Old Testament. The reason why He asked them to do so is that the Lord Jesus had not been crucified to fulfill the redemption. And it was not the dispensation of grace but the transitional period and therefore the Jewish believers still walked according to the regulations of the law of the Old Testament.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The Lord did not fully disregard the righteousness of the law (Matt. 3:15). Believers should not disregard to give just and lawful testimony before men in excuse of being of spirit.

2)And so it was that as they went they were cleansed.” If they waited until they were clean and then went to see the priests they won’t be healed. God waits to cleanse them and as long as their faith works the blessing comes.

3) The true faith should be based on the word of the Lord. Faith should be built upon the word of the Lord otherwise it would turn into superstition.

4) A way of faith is a way of practical walk------we walk while believing which brings in the living experience.

 

Luke. 17:15 “And one of them when he saw that he was healed returned and with a loud voice glorified God ”

   YLT: “and one of them having seen that he was healed did turn back with a loud voice glorifying God ”

   Literal Meaning: “returned with a loud voice glorified God.” It shows that he believed that his being healed was due to God’s work.

 

Luke. 17:16 “and fell down on his face at His feet giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.”

   YLT: “and he fell upon [his] face at his feet giving thanks to him and he was a Samaritan.”

   Literal Meaning: “and fell down on His face at His feet giving Him thanks” “Fell down” indicates the right attitude of worship. “At His feet” indicates the right object of worship.

   Spiritual Meaning: “And he was a Samaritan” Samaritans were despised by the Jews and here it typifies that the Gentiles will partake in the salvation of the Lord (See Acts. 11:18).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) We have to come down from our own throne and come to the Lord with the humble heart (“fell down on his face at His feet”) and then we will experience His power.

2) Giving thanks is the key to receive grace. The more one gives thanks the more he will receive grace.

 

Luke. 17:17 “So Jesus answered and said ‘Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?”

   YLT: “And Jesus answering said `Were not the ten cleansed and the nine where?”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Only one of the ten gives Him thanks. The common trouble of believers in their daily life is that they receive grace and do not give Him thanks.

2) The nine only sought to be healed and therefore after they had been healed they rejected the Lord. The one valued the Lord Himself and therefore he still came to seek the Lord Himself after he had been healed.

3) “But where are the nine?” The Lord’s words show that He hopes that all that have been healed and granted His grace would come to meet Him and remember thank and praise Him.

 

Luke. 17:18 “Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?’”

   YLT: “There were not found who did turn back to give glory to God except this alien;’”

   Literal Meaning: “this foreigner” indicates the Samaritan (See v.16). Samaritans are the people of mixed blood of Israel and the Gentiles and they are treated as foreigners.

   Enlightenment in the Word: the reason of our salvation is our faith. However faith is the manifestation of God’s grace in men and it is not men’s own achievement. Though God does not ask men to pay Him back we should have a thankful heart.

 

Luke. 17:19 “And He said to him ‘Arise go your way. Your faith has made you well.’”

   YLT: “and he said to him Having risen be going on thy faith hath saved thee.’”

   Literal Meaning: the word of the Lord shows proves that his being healed is due to his faith to the Lord.

 

Luke. 17:20 “Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come He answered them and said The kingdom of God does not come with observation;”

   YLT: “And having been questioned by the Pharisees when the reign of God doth come he answered them and said ‘The reign of God doth not come with observation;”

   Meaning of Words: “observation”: inspection review pry (in the original it shows hostility).

   Literal Meaning: “when the kingdom of God would come” “the kingdom of God” indicates the realm where God reigns. In a broad sense all things in the universe are under the authority of God all the time. Therefore times and places are all in the kingdom of God. However in a narrow sense there are places where the will of God is obstructed because of the betrayal of Satan and the fall of men and therefore the kingdom of God hasn’t really come yet (See 11:2).

  The Pharisees asked this problem with satire meaning that since you called yourself the Messiah then when you would build the kingdom of God.

  The kingdom of God does not come with observation.” It shows that the kingdom of God is not material but spiritual and therefore it does not come with observation.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) God executes His authority in heavens without obstruction. However His authority could only be executed in us with the submission of our will.  

2) The kingdom of God cannot be measured by quantity------the quantity of people in the assembly does not matter. The kingdom of God cannot be determined by the outside conditions------because the deepest work may be not the most remarkable and much work is not clear apparently but it takes great effect in the course of time.

 

Luke. 17:21 “nor will they say ‘See here!' or ‘See there!' For indeed the kingdom of God is within you.’”

   YLT: “nor shall they say Lo here; or lo there; for lo the reign of God is within you.’”

   Literal Meaning: ‘See here!' or ‘See there!'” indicates that the kingdom of God is not regional but omnipresent.

  “For indeed the kingdom of God is within you.” It has two different kinds of explanations:

  1) “You” indicate the Pharisees who asked the Lord. The kingdom of God is not in them but within them. The word of the Lord Jesus implies that He Himself is the kingdom of God and He is within them (John. 1:14) that is to say the kingdom of God is within them (See 11:20).

  2) “You” indicate “men”. Christ the Savior lives in those who believe in Him (See John. 14:20; Rom. 8:10) in other words He brings the kingdom of God to them. Therefore today the kingdom of God is in the assembly (See Rom. 14:17).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Since God is the omnipresent God the kingdom of God is the omnipresent kingdom. Where there are people magnifying the Lord and letting Him be the king there will be the kingdom of God.

2) The kingdom of God is not external (See John. 18:36) but internal. It is not material but spiritual.

3) If God establishes His throne among believers and reigns and rules us and believers are of one mind it is the kingdom of God that is within us (See Matt. 18:19-20).

 

Luke. 17:22 “Then 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.”

   YLT: “And he said unto his disciples `Days will come when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man and ye shall not behold [it];”

   Literal Meaning: “The days will come” indicates that the day of the departure of the Lord Jesus was coming.

  “One of the days of the Son of Man” It has two different kinds of explanations:

1) It indicates the days of His second coming because the context all speaks of the Lord’s coming and the states of the last days. After the Lord Jesus departed out of the world and was taken up into heaven the disciples suffered persecutions and tribulations and they early looked forward to the prompt coming of the Lord. However they would not see it.

2) It indicates “the time when the bridegroom is with them” (See Matt. 9:15) i.e. the days that the Lord hadn’t departed out of the world. After the Lord had suffered been raised up and taken up into heaven His disciples hoped to turn to the days that they were with the Lord so as to regain the sweet fellowship with Him. The days to a certain degree indicate the foretaste of the days after the Lord comes back.

   Enlightenment in the Word: Sufferings benefit us because men long for the vision of the Lord more in sufferings and hope that He could come to save us.

 

Luke. 17:23 “And they will say to you ‘Look here!' or ‘Look there!' Do not go after them or follow them.”

   YLT: “and they shall say to you Lo here; or lo there; ye may not go away nor follow;”

   Literal Meaning: “‘Look here!’ or ‘Look there!’” “Here” and “there” both indicate a certain place showing that the Christ they talked about was risen on earth (i.e. men of the earth) instead of coming on the clouds of heaven (See Matt. 24:30). Though nobody could predict the day of the coming of the Lord everyone would see Him when He comes.

  “Do not go after them or follow them.” It indicates that we should neither depart from our positions rashly nor follow men blindly.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The Lord does not want us to hear and trust men’s words rashly because He is near us even in our mouth and in our hearts (See Rom. 10:8).

2) The coming of the Lord Christ is not shown to a small part of people but to be seen by all people (See Matt. 24:30).

3) Christ is exceeding and He fills all in all and He will never be limited by men.

4) Today anyone who calls himself Christ who was born in the world must be the false Christ undoubtedly.

 

Luke. 17:24 “For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven so also the Son of Man will be in His day.”

   YLT: “for as the lightning that is lightening out of the one [part] under heaven to the other part under heaven doth shine so shall be also the Son of Man in his day;”

   Literal Meaning: “as the lightning…so also the Son of Man will be in His day” “Lightening” dazzles at high speed and lightens the skyline. It describes that when the Lord comes the conditions are as follows: 1) It is unexpected. 2) It happens quickly as a thunder and makes men be caught unawares. 3) Men of all the land will see His coming and it is not hidden. 4) It is shocking and terrible.

  Annotation: there are two phases of the Lord’s second coming. The first phase is that He comes in the clouds and it is hidden and at that time the Lord will catch up the overcomers; the second is that He comes with clouds (See Rev. 1:7 Acts. 1:11) and it is public and at that time the Lord will judge the whole world and the failing Christians. The first phase will last a period of time and then the second phase will come suddenly.

 

Luke. 17:25 “But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.”

   YLT: “and first it behoveth him to suffer many things and to be rejected by this generation.”

   Literal Meaning: the Lord here seriously told the disciples that He had to suffer many things and be killed before He comes back in glory (See 5:35; 9:22 43-45; 12:50; 13:32-33; 18:32; 24:7).

 

Luke. 17:26 “And as it was in the days of Noah so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:”

   YLT: “`And as it came to pass in the days of Noah so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man;”

   Literal Meaning: “as it was in the days of Noah” The features of “the days of Noah” are as follows:

  a) The world was corrupt and evil (See Gen. 6:5-13). b) They ate they drank they married wives they were given in marriage (See v.27). c) They did not believe that the flood would come suddenly (See 2Pet. 2:5). d) They did not believe in the salvation of the ark (See 1Pet. 3:20).

  “So it will be also in the days of the Son of Man.” This passage is the teachings especially for believers of the New Testament (See v.22 “He said to the disciples”) and therefore the Lord here showed that believers may act like the world who indulge themselves in the needs of the flesh (i.e. eating and drinking marrying and giving in marriage) and are unaware of preparing themselves for facing the judgment of the Lord’s second coming (they did not know until the flood came and took them all away).

 

Luke. 17:27 “They ate they drank they married wives they were given in marriage until the day that Noah entered the ark and the flood came and destroyed them all.”

   YLT: “they were eating they were drinking they were marrying they were given in marriage till the day that Noah entered into the ark and the deluge came and destroyed all;”

   Literal Meaning: “they ate they drank they married wives they were given in marriage.” “Eating and drinking” speaks of maintaining the existence of the flesh and the enjoyment of soul. “Marrying and giving in marriage” speaks of continuing the life of the flesh and the joy of soul.

  This verse shows that the Lord will come suddenly and execute judgment when men are absolutely unconscious.

   Spiritual Meaning: “Noah entered the ark” typifies that men are able to enjoy the salvation of the cross by believing in Jesus Christ and are saved from God’s judgment of wrath (the flood).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The world who do not believe in the Lord only makes provision for the flesh (“they ate they drank they married wives they were given in marriage”) and seeks the earthly enjoyment however their hearts are hardened and they are unwilling to receive the salvation (“entered the ark”).

2) Believers in last time should live in Christ all the time lest we may be judged by God.

3) Everything and everyone that are not related to Christ will be taken away by the flood. What we should seek is what can not be taken away by the flood.

 

Luke. 17:28 “Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate they drank they bought they sold they planted they built;”

   YLT: “in like manner also as it came to pass in the days of Lot; they were eating they were drinking they were buying they were selling they were planting they were building;”

   Literal Meaning: “they ate they drank they bought they sold they planted they built.” These are the common and reasonable activities of human beings. The problem is that they live only for these things and there is not the place of God in their thoughts. They have not left any time for God and they pay no heed to His warning. The Lord will come suddenly when they are not alert at all.

 

Luke. 17:29 “but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.”

   YLT: “and on the day Lot went forth from Sodom He rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed all.”

   The Background: at that time the sins of the city of Sodom were extremely grievous and God purposed to destroy the whole city. However because the intercession of Abraham was remembered by God He sent angels to lead the whole family of Lot to get away from the city and then rained fire and brimstone from Him out of heaven to destroy the whole city (See Gen. 18:20; 19:15; 23-25 29).

 

Luke. 17:30 “Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.”

   YLT: “`According to these things it shall be in the day the Son of Man is revealed;”

   Literal Meaning: “the day when the Son of Man is revealed” indicates the day of the Lord’s second coming. “Being revealed” indicates that all will see Him clearly (See 1Cor. 1:7; 2Thess. 1:7 1Pet. 1:7 13; 4:13).

  “So will it be” indicates that in the day when the Lord comes back He will destroy all the wicked and cast them into the lake of fire (See v.27 29).

 

Luke. 17:31 “‘In that day he who is on the housetop and his goods are in the house let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field let him not turn back.”

   YLT: “in that day he who shall be on the house top and his vessels in the house let him not come down to take them away; and he in the field in like manner let him not turn backward;”

   The Background: the houses of the ancient Jews were terraces and there were the outside ladders to climb to the housetop.

   Literal Meaning: “in that day” indicates the day when the Lord comes again in last days.

  “He who is on the housetop” “housetop” indicates the roof and it is outside of the house.

  “Let him not come down to take them away.” It means that do not go down from the outside ladder to take things.

  This verse indicates that the situation is too urgent for them to delay at that time and they should run immediately.

   Spiritual Meaning: “he who is on the housetop” symbolizes those who have reached the heavenly realm. “His goods are in the house” symbolizes the worldly and material things.

  “The one who is in the field” symbolizes bondmen who serve the Lord (See v.7). “Turn back” is to turn back to the former worldly position.

  This verse spiritually means that we should not desire the earthly things or be reluctant to give up the pleasures of sin. We should fix our eyes on the heavenly things and what’s more important is to fix our eyes on the Lord Jesus.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Every believer who has already got some spiritual attainments (“he who is on the housetop”) should take care and avoid being dragged by earthly things (“not come down to take them away”).

2) The true servants of the Lord (“in the field”) regard the will of God as the most important in all circumstances and should not be influenced by the love of their family members (“not turn back”).

3) Those who love the Lord with pure hearts (“in the field”) should not turn back to their former lives (“not turn back”).

 

Luke. 17:32 “Remember Lot's wife.”

   YLT: “remember the wife of Lot.”

   The Background: when angels led Lot’s whole family out of the city that day they asked them to escape to the mountain quickly and not to look behind them. However Lot’s wife looked back and she became a pillar of salt (See Gen. 19:17 26).

   Literal Meaning: “Remember Lot’s wife” It indicates that the story of Lot’s wife could be a warning example for us upon whom the ends of the world are come (See 1Cor. 10:11).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) No one having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God (See 9:62).

2) Believers are the salt of the earth (Matt. 5:13) and they take effect in preventing and eliminating sin towards the sinful world. However if one covets the world in his heart he will not only lose the function as salt but also become a pillar of salt i.e. the sign of humiliation and warning.

3) Though believers have been saved if they have not borne good witness on the earth they will be punished by the Lord when He comes back.

4) Lot’s wife departed from Sodom. However Sodom has not departed from her. Today though many people outwardly call themselves Christians sins have not departed from them actually.

 

Luke. 17:33 “Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it and whoever loses his life will preserve it.”

   YLT: “Whoever may seek to save his life shall lose it; and whoever may lose it shall preserve it.”

   Meaning of Words: “save”: heal preserve; “lose”: omit miss ruin.

   Literal Meaning: “life” is “soul” in the original. It includes thought feeling and will.

  This verse has two meanings:

  1) He who seeks comfort and ease in this time and satisfies his soul will suffer in the coming age and lose the enjoyment of soul. He who suffers for the Lord’s sake will receive the enjoyment of soul in the coming age.

   2) In Tribulation he who is only concerned about his safety of body and neglects his soul will lose life. Whoever loses his life for his faithfulness to the Lord actually preserves his life unto eternity.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Whoever wants to save actually loses and whoever wants to lose actually saves. Whoever gains actually loses and whoever wants to lose actually gains (Mark. 8:36). The knowledge of this principle will save men from grudging eternally.

2) “Losing his life” in this verse also refers to “denying oneself” and “taking up his cross”; what the cross finally deals with is the self and the life of soul.

3) Taking up one’s cross and denying oneself always make the soul suffer. Everything that is unable to make the soul suffer could not be counted as the cross.

4) One meets the kingdom of God only by losing his own soul. We hope that we could be willing to receive the death of the cross and would let our souls suffer in order to partake in the reality of Christ’s royalty------kingdom.

5) We should not lose life because of the concern of the material and we should pay attention to the matter of life. He who sacrifices himself temporarily in order to gain the Lord gains life contrarily.

 

Luke. 17:34 “I tell you in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left.”

   YLT: “`I say to you In that night there shall be two men on one couch the one shall be taken and the other shall be left;”

   Meaning of Words: “be taken”: receive associate with oneself; “be left”: lay aside yield up.

   Literal Meaning: “the one will be taken and the other will be left.” “Be taken” means “associate with oneself”; “left” means the one has not been taken away. Which is good of “being taken” or “being left”? We should see the one who takes or leaves one. The former passage refers to the coming and the appearing of the Son of Man (See v.24 30) and therefore we could conclude that blessed is the one who has been taken by the Lord and woe to the one who has been left by the Lord. Being taken does not refer to being judged. Being taken and being left are the results of the Lord’s judgment when He comes (1Thess. 4:13-18).

  “The one will be taken and the other will be left.” It does not indicate that only a half of men will be taken and the other half will be left. It indicates that there are only two kinds of people: a kind of them will be taken and the other will be left and besides these two kinds there is not the third kind.

   Controversial Clarification: who does “two men” refer to? In the past the majority of the Bible exegetes held that it referred to the whole world (including those who have been saved and those who have not been saved) and the “taken” one indicated that the one who has been saved will be taken and the “left” one indicated that the one who has not been saved will be abandoned by the Lord. However we hold that this kind of explanation is inappropriate and the reasons are as follows:

  1) The talk concerning the coming of the Lord (v.22-37) was said to the disciples instead of the world.

  2) If all believers after they have been saved are taken and enjoy the glory of the kingdom with the Lord whether their states are good or not it does not accord with the consistent principle of rewards and punishments of the Bible and it also disobeys the word that “judgment begins at the house of God” (1Pet. 4:17).

  3) We believe that every true believer gains the eternal life and will enjoy the everlasting pleasures in a new heaven and a new earth for ever. However after Christ comes back there will be a period of time for the punishments of the failing believers when they could lean in “losses” (See 1Cor. 3:15).

  4) “Being left” does not indicate that one is abandoned and perishes for ever. Here it refers to being temporarily abandoned and left. 

In a word when the Lord comes first He comes secretly in clouds of the air and catches up the living believers in the clouds to be with Him. This is the meaning of “being taken”. As for believers who do not watch they will be “left” on the earth and experience the Great Tribulation of three and a half years and then they could see the countenance of the Lord.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) “There will be two men in one bed.” In disregard of men’s intimate relation on the earth (they are in one bed) one may be punished by the Lord and the other may be rewarded by Him when the Lord comes. The intimate relation on the earth does not ensure that they would be with each other in future.

2) The Lord whom we believe in is just and wise. He uses “the one will be taken and the other will be left” to encourage believers so that we could pursue the spiritual growth and should not waste the remainder of our life after we have been saved.

 

Luke. 17:35 “Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left.”

   YLT: “two women shall be grinding at the same place together the one shall be taken and the other shall be left;”

  Literal Meaning: “Two women will be grinding together” Generally grinding and being in the field (v.36) take place in the day. Being in one bed (v.34) should be at night. The Lord’s prophecy of two thousand years ago accords with the present scientific principle: the globe is round and the day of the Eastern Hemisphere is the night of the Western Hemisphere. Therefore whenever the Lord comes there will be some people who are in the day and others who are at night.

  This verse mentions “two women” and the next verse mentions “two men” in the field. When the Lord comes back there will be some who will be taken and some will be left whether one is a brother or sister.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) “Grinding” and farming (See v.36) are both related to grain. The most important work of believers in the church is to supply spiritual food to each other.

2) Not only brothers are responsible to supply spiritual food (work in the field) but also sisters partake in this work (“two women will be grinding together”). There is no male or female in the church (See Gal. 3:28).

 

Luke. 17:36 “Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.’”

   YLT: “two men shall be in the field the one shall be taken and the other left.’”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Today believers seem to be the same in appearance and they all live and labor for the Lord however God knows the one who loves Him (See 1Cor. 8:3).

2) There is no doubt that we should work in toil however we must work “in the Lord” and then our labor will not be in vain (See 1Cor. 15:58) otherwise though one works in toil he may be left by the Lord.

3) There is no doubt that workers who serve the Lord are building however they must take heed how they build upon it. If their work is wrong it may be burned one day (See 1Cor. 3:10-15).

4) To servants it is our duty to work in the field and serve the Lord in the house (See 17:7-10). The problem is that what the real motive and attitude of us to serve the Lord are.

 

Luke. 17:37 “And they answered and said to Him ‘Where Lord?’ So He said to them ‘Wherever the body is there the eagles will be gathered together.’”

   YLT: “And they answering say to him `Where sir?’ and he said to them `Where the body [is] there will the eagles be gathered together.

   The Background: wherever the body is the raptors such as the eagles will be gathered from unknown places suddenly. The reason for their coming may be their keen nose or sense of sight and they do not need men’s notification. Therefore when men see groups of eagles hovering around there must be the body there.

Literal Meaning: “Where Lord?” The disciples were still clumsy and asked “where” these would take place (See v.23).

“Wherever the body is there the eagles will be gathered together.” Seeing the unusual scenes in the last age that the Bible has predicted we should know that the day of the Lord’s coming is near.

   Spiritual Meaning: there are three different kinds of explanations about this verse:

  a) “Body” typifies the corporate sinners. They are like body which does not have life in God’s sight (See Eph. 2:1). “Eagles” typify God’s judgments. It indicates that when the Lord comes with His Angels He will execute judgment over the whole world (See Matt. 25:31).

  b) “Body” typifies the antichrist and its evil army. They are stinky body in God’s sight. “Eagles” typify Christ and His angels and they will wipe them out (See Rev. 19:17-21).

  c) “Body” typifies Christ who has been crucified. “Eagles” typify God’s people (See Is. 40:31; Deut. 32:11). Where Christ is those who believe on Him will be gathered there. Since the Lord’s coming is as sudden as the lightening (See v.27) those who truly believe on Him will know immediately and be gathered in the place where He is.

 

III. Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons

 

The Secret of Success of Life in the Assembly

I. How to deal with others------do not offend others (v.1-2).

II. How to deal with others’ treatment------rebuke and forgive the brother who has sinned against you (v.3-4).

III. How to fulfill the above requirements------live by faith (v.5-6).

 

God’s Servants

I. The work of servants------plowing and tending sheep (v.7)------preaching the glad tidings and taking care of believers.

II. The life of servants------serving the master (v.8)------serving and satisfying the Lord.

III. The spirit of servants------not seeking the thanks of the Lord (v.9)------being willing and content.

IV. The attitude of servants------confessing themselves as unprofitable servants (v.10)------having done all things and feeling that they owe to the Lord.

 

The Virtue that the Lord’s Servants should Have

I. One should obey God in everything (v.7).

II. One should try his best in serving the Lord (v.8).

III. We do not have the right to request the Lord’s special praise or reward in serving Him (v.9).

IV. One should be truly humble in service (v.10).

 

The Lord Healed the Ten Lepers

I. The ten lepers typify that the world is born in sins (v.12).

II. Only the Lord Jesus could deliver men from sins (v.13).

III. Hearing and obeying the word of the Lord is the condition for one to be saved (v.14).

IV. There are few believers who value His grace and give thanks to Him (v.15-18).

V. Believers who give thanks to Him could stand by faith and run on forward (v.19).

 

Knowledge of the Kingdom

I. The kingdom of God is spiritual and it does not come with observation (v.20).

II. The kingdom of God is that Christ is within the world that is to say the Lord is within believers (v.21).

 

The Prophecies of the Coming of Christ

I. Believers long for the coming of the Lord however we should not trust men’s words rashly (v.22-23).

II. The Lord’s second coming happens suddenly (v.24).

III. The world rejects the Lord and He comes again to destroy the world (v.25-30).

IV. Believers should not love the world lest they may be punished when the Lord comes (v.31-32).

V. Believers should not love their souls in hope of gaining rewards when the Lord comes (v.33).

VI. One’s being punished or rewarded when the Lord comes is based on believers’ present pursuit (v.34-36).

VII. There must be punishments when the Lord comes (v.37).

 

── Caleb HuangChristian Digest Bible Commentary Series

   Translated by Sharon Ren