1Christ teacheth to avoid giving occasions of offence: 3and to forgive one another. 5The power of faith, and defect of merit toward God in our best services. 11Christ healeth ten lepers: 20sheweth the spiritual nature of the kingdom of God; 22and instructeth his disciples concerning the coming of the Son of man.
1THEN said hea unto the disciples, 1It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!
a Mat. 18:7; Mark 9:42.
1 Gr. It is unallowable, that is, it cannot happen. See hereof Mat. 18:7.
2It were 2better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these 3little ones.
2 Gr. it is profitable for him, that is, it were less evil for him, that that punishment were inflicted on him, before he gave offense, than that after the offense given, he would be punished with everlasting death, as Christ here threatens.
3 That is, even the least among the faithful. See Mat. 18:6.
3¶Take heed to yourselves: Ifb thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and 4if he repent, forgive him.
b Lev. 19:17; Prov. 17:10; Mat. 18:15; James 5:19.
4 Or, if he be sorry for it, that is, acknowledges his fault and desires pardon. Whereby, notwithstanding, Christ does not mean to say, that we should not forgive them who do not yet do as such. For, He has taught us differently by His own example, Luke 23:34, as Stephen did also, Acts 7:60, and Paul, 1 Cor. 4:12.
4Andc if he trespass against thee 5seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
c Mat. 18:21.
5 That is, often, as Psalm 119:164; Prov. 24:16.
5And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
6And the Lord said, Ifd ye had faith 6as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this 7sycamine tree, Be thou 8plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
d Mat. 17:20; 21:21; Mark 11:23.
6 That is, though it were ever so little, if it is but true. See Mat. 17:20.
7 Gr. sycaminos, which is a kind of a mulberry tree, or, as some think, a fig tree.
8 That is, taken out by the root, or rooted out.
7But which of you, having a 9servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
9 That is, a slave, bondman, who owes his lord all that he can do.
8And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and 10gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
10 Namely, after the manner of those countries, where they wore long clothes. See Luke 12:37.
9Doth he 11thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trowe not.
11 That is, does he, in acknowledging, thank him for that, as if he were therefore obligated to him?
e think, suppose
10So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are 12unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
12 That is, which bring no benefit or profit to our Lord, Rom. 11:35. Although there be no man who does even that which he ought. 1 Kings 8:46; Job 9:3; Mat. 6:12.
11¶And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst 13of Samaria and Galilee.
13 That is, of the land of which the city Samaria was the chief city. For, the nearest way from Galilee to Jerusalem was through the land of Samaria.
12And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood 14afar off:
14 That is, separated from the people, according to the law, Num. 5:2.
13And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, 15Master, have mercy on us.
15 Gr. overseer.
14And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go 16shew yourselves unto thef priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
16 The cause hereof, see Mat. 8 on verse 4.
f Lev. 13:2; 14:2; Mat. 8:4; Luke 5:14.
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?
18There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this 17stranger.
17 That is, which is of another race than the Jews. For, the Samaritans were descended from the Gentiles, 2 Kings 17:24.
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 18with observation:
18 Or, with outward show, that is, in such manner, that it can be taken notice of before, as it is in the arrival of worldly princes, which, by reason of the great outward pomp, may be observed and expected beforehand.
21Neither shall they say, Log here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is 19within you.
g Mat. 24:23; Mark 13:21; Luke 21:7, 8.
19 Or, in the midst of you, which may be understood, either of the Jews in general, forasmuch as the Messiah was now in the midst among them, John 1:26, or, else of the faithful amongst them in whose heart He sets up His Kingdom by His Word and Spirit.
22And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see 20one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.
20 Namely, to enjoy His bodily presence, and to hear the word out of His own mouth.
23Andh they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.
h Mat. 24:23; Mark 13:21.
24For 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 21in his day.
21 Namely, in the swift spreading abroad of the Gospel throughout the whole world, Rom. 10:18, as well as in His last coming to judgment, 1 Cor. 15:52; 2 Peter 3:10.
25Buti first must he suffer many things, and be 22rejected of 23this generation.
i Mat. 16:21; 17:22; 20:18; Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33; Luke 9:22; 18:31; 24:6, 7.
22 Gr. disapproved.
23 Namely, of the Jews.
26Andj as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
j Gen. 6:2; 7:7; Mat. 24:37, 38; 1 Peter 3:20.
2724They did eat, they drank, 25they married wives, 26they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
24 That is, they took care for nothing else, but for these and such like worldly or bodily things, without taking notice of that which was foretold.
25 Namely, the men.
26 That is, the women or daughters.
28Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
29Butk the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
k Gen. 19:24; Deut. 29:23; Isa. 13:19; Jer. 50:40; Hosea 11:8; Amos 4:11; Jude verse 7.
30Even thus shall it be 27in the day when the Son of man is 28revealed.
27 Namely, of vengeance and judgment, which He shall execute as well in particular against the Jews and the city of Jerusalem, as in general over the entire world. See Mat. 24:3.
28 Or, shall be revealed.
31In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and 29his 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.
29 Gr. his vessels.
3230Rememberl Lot’s wife.
30 Namely, that you do not stick with your hearts too much to earthly things, and looking back to them, as she did, you be not punished with her.
l Gen. 19:26.
33Whosoeverm shall seek to save his 31life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall 32preserve it.
m Mat. 10:39; 16:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24; John 12:25.
31 Gr. soul. See Mat. 10:39.
32 Gr. beget it alive, that is, to preserve it to everlasting life.
34 In tell you, in that 33night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be 34taken, and the other shall be 35left.
n Mat. 24:40, 41; 1 Thes. 4:17.
33 Namely, when Christ shall come to judgment.
34 Namely, by God in grace.
35 Namely, to be justly condemned.
35Two women shall be 36grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
36 See hereof the annotation at Mat. 24 on verse 41.
36Two 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, 37Wheresoevero the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.
37 See the exposition hereof in Mat. 24 on verse 28.
o Job 39:30; Mat. 24:28.