Luke 17:5-10

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Luke 17:1-10

We are here taught, I. That the giving of offences is a great sin, and that which we should every one of us avoid and carefully watch against, Luke 17:1, 2. We can expect no other than that offences will come, considering the perverseness and frowardness that are in the nature of man, and the wise purpose and counsel of God, who will carry on his work even by those offences, and bring good out of evil. It is almost impossible but that offences will come, and therefore we are concerned to... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Luke 17:1-10

17:1-10 Jesus said to his disciples, "It is impossible that snares to sin should not arise; but woe to him through whom they do arise! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to trip up. "Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. Even if he sins against you seven times in the day, and if seven times he turns to you,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 17:5

And the apostles said unto the Lord ,.... Either on account of what was now said by Christ concerning offences, and forgiving injuries; being conscious to themselves of their own weakness to withstand temptations; and fearful lest they should be stumbled and offended with what they should meet with; or that they should give offence to others: and being also sensible of what spirits they were of, and of the difficulties of conquering them, and mastering the resentment of their minds, when... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 17:6

And the Lord said ,.... In answer to the disciples. The Syriac version leaves out the word "Lord": and the Persic version, in the room of it reads, "Jesus": if ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed ; See Gill on Matthew 17:20 . ye might say unto this sycamine tree ; which was near at hand; for in Galilee, where Christ now was, such trees grew, especially in lower Galilee: hence those words F21 Misna Sheviith, c. 9. sect. 2. ; "from Caphar-Hananiah, and upwards, all the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 17:7

But which of you having a servant ploughing ,.... In order to keep the disciples humble in the performance of such miraculous works; and that they might not imagine they could have any thing at the hands of God by merit; and to excite them to go on from one duty to another; and never think they have done, or done enough, or more than what is their duty, Christ delivers the following parable. Which of you having a servant ploughing, or feeding cattle ; or "sheep", as the Syriac and Persic... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 17:8

And will not rather say to him ,.... Or, "will he not say to him?" it is very likely, it is more agreeable to the language of a master, and the condition of a servant, that he should say to him, make ready wherewith I may sup : by dressing the food, spreading the table, and putting the food on it; for it was the business of servants to prepare, as at the passover; see Gill on Matthew 26:17 so at ordinary suppers: and gird thyself and serve me ; by giving him drink, or whatsoever he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 17:9

Doth he thank that servant ,.... As if he had done him a favour, and what he was not obliged to; because he did the things that were commanded him ? for, as a servant, he ought to do them, and in so doing does but his duty: he may indeed be commended for it, but not thanked: I trow not ; or "I think not"; it do not seem so to me, as if he would, or, as though it was proper and necessary he should. The Ethiopic version leaves out this last clause. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 17:10

So likewise ye ,.... This is the accommodation and application of the parable to the disciples of Christ, who whether ministers or private believers, are as servants, and should be as laborious as the ploughman, and the shepherd; and as their condition is, so their conduct should be like theirs: the employment of the ministers of the word lies in reading, prayer, meditation, and study; in preaching the word, and administering the ordinances; and in performing other duties of their office:... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 17:5

Increase our faith - This work of pardoning every offense of every man, and that continually, seemed so difficult, even to the disciples themselves, that they saw, without an extraordinary degree of faith, they should never be able to keep this command. But some think that this and what follows relate to what Matthew has mentioned. Matthew 17:19 , Matthew 17:20 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 17:6

As a grain of mustard seed - A faith that increases and thrives as that is described to do, Matthew 13:32 ; (note), where see the note. See also Matthew 17:20 . This sycamine - The words seem to intimate that they were standing by such a tree. The sycamine is probably the same as the sycamore. Sycamore with us, says Mr. Evelyn, is falsely so called, being our acer majus , greater maple. The true sycamore is the ficus Pharaonis or Aegyptia, Pharaoh's, or Egyptian fig-tree; called... read more

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