Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Luke Ch.17 / 24 Ch.s
LU:17
* To avoid offences, To pray for increase of faith, Humility
taught.11-19. Ten lepers cleansed. (1-10) Christ's kingdom.
(20-37)
#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.
#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.
#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.