Annotations Upon the New Testament, Luke · Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII.
IT is the generall proposition of Christ, that scandals are studiously to be avoyded by the godly, lest either they be a hinderance to themselves or to others in the way of salvation. He also addes reasons, because it cannot be but offences will come; they follow from the wickednesse of the world.Polyc. Lyser.
Vers. 3. And if he repent, &c.] If he shall give signes of displeasure, by acknowledging the fault committed, and seeking pardon of it, forgive him, require no farther revenge,Polyc. Lyser. yea not so much as satisfaction for the injury offered. This place (saith Mr. Perkins) is meant of ecclesiasticall censures, that those must proceed no further after the party offending doth repent.
Vers. 4. And if he trespasse against thee seven times] A finite number is here put for an infinite as it is usuall in the Scriptures for its perfection; Christs meaning therefore is, as often as hee shall offend against thee and repent,Id ib. forgive him.
Vers. 5. Increase our faith] Greek adde unto us faith, As if they had said, unlesse wee have faith,foreign. Adde nobis fidem. Beza. we shall never be able to abstain from revenge so oft, but if thou wilt increase our faith, we shall be able to conquer even this sin. Mr. Hildersam.
The more faith the more mercy, for if you believe your owne ten thousands forgiven, you will forgive others tens.
Matth. 17.20. Nominavit montem qui fortè tum ipsi vicinus erat, ut digito eum Apostolis monstrare potuerit. Hic nominat arborem Sycaminum quae absque dubio tum etiam ipsis obviam erat. Sic utrobique idem est sensus.Vers. 6. If ye had faith as a graine of Mustard-seed, yee might say unto this Sycamine tree, &c.] He shewes that he doth not require a great quantity of faith, but is content with a little faith which is like a grain of Mustard-seed, lively, sharp, fervent. Proverbiale de re minima. Drusius.
Our Saviour Christ useth this and the like expression of removing a Sycamine tree, and the Mountaines, upon three severall occasions.
1. Upon occasion that the Disciples could not cast out the Devill, Matth. 17.19, 20. There he speakes of the faith of Miracles. 2. Upon an occasion of the drying up of the fig-tree, Matth. 11.20. Both justifying faith, and the faith of Miracles are there intended, one primarily, the other secondarily. Se Luke 17.3. Where a saving justifying faith is intended.
Vers. 7. But which of you having a servant plowing, &c.] As if he had said, if a servant that hath been toyling all the day long in following the plow or the like labour, at the night when he comes home weary and hungry, be commanded by his Master a further service, he is not to refuse to do it, he is still to do what his Master commands him.Loquitur Christus non de mercenarijs qui hodie nobis ministrant, sed de veteribus mancipiis quibus ea erat vivendi conditio, ut sibi nihil acquirerent, sed cum toto suo labore, studio, industria ad sanguinem usque heris essent addicti. Calvinus.
Vers. 8. Gird thy selfe] It was the fashion in those Easterne parts, for men to go in long garments downe to their feet. And therefore when men were to go about any worke, they used to gird and take up their garments, that they might not trouble them in their worke, by hanging loose about their heeles.
Vers. 10. All that yee can] To the utmost extent of naturall or gracious abilityes.
We are unprofitable servants] Christ speakes here with the Apostles now justified and renewed.
Vers. 14. Go shew your selves unto the Priests] The Papists fondly hence build their aucicular confession. The leprous men are I confesse sent by Christ to the Priest; but not to whisper into his eares their sinnes, but rather that they might offer sacrifice according to the prescript of the Law; neither were they sent to cleanse themselves,Calvin. as with the Papists confession makes men cleane, but that they might shew themselves to the Priests, they were cleane before.
Vers. 15. With a loud voyce glorified God] Which is a signe of a very cheerfull and thankfull mind.
Vers. 17. Were there not te… cleansed, but where are the nine] He askes, not because hee was ignorant,Polyc. Lyser. but that by this meanes he might reprove their ingratitude and make it known to others: he meanes, it is certaine that all the ten received the same benefit of cleansing, and yet onelyonly one acknowledgeth that with a thankfull mind.
Vers. 19. Thy faith hath made thee whole] It is an excellent sentence which Christ often useth in the Gospell, Matth. 9.22. Luke 17.29. vlt. and in many other places.Polyc. Lyser. For Christ observed this custome when he had a doctrine in which there was much contained which he would commend to his hearers, and deeply imprint on their hearts, then he included it in some famous sentence, which he afterward often repeated. Faith is the meanes and instrument by which Salvation is received from God.
Vers. 20. The kingdom of God commeth not with observation] That is, not with a worldly splendour which the Pharisees lookt for. with observation] with a splendour obvious to mens eyes, and which might be observed.It is not a thing that by any outward pompous ceremony can be observed.
Vers. 2…. The kingdome of God is within you] That is, it was brought unto them by the ministery of Iohn Baptist, of himselfe and of his Disciples; although indeed it was without profit to many of them.
Vers. 22. The dayes of the Son of man] By this he understands that outward conversation which he used in the time of his ministrie familiarly with his Apostles, by admonishing, comforting, nourishing and defending them.
Vers. 23. See here, or see there] Is the Messias, for about those times Josephus witnesseth that there was great store of seducers,l 10. Antiq. Jud. 20. c. 4.11.12.14. & l. 2. c. 12. belli Iudaici some of which called them out into the desert; others into the Mountaine of Olives, and professed that they would be their deliverers, amonst whom also was that Egyptian Act. 21.38.
Vers. 24. So shall also the Son of man be in his day] He shall come to judgement with great light, and in the majestie of the Father.
Vers. 32. Remember Lots wife] She was turned into a Pillar of Salt, ut te suo exemplo condiret. Augustine. Remember 1. Her going out of Sodome a type of hell, or the world,Consider her sin and her punishment, that so fearing the one wee may learne to take heed of the other. to Zoar, heaven, or the Church. 2. How in the way she lookt backe. 3. Her punishment.
Vers. 37. Wheresoever the body is, thither will the Eagles be gathered together] Gregory and Austen by b…dy understand heaven, by Saints Eagles, lift up your hearts thither. Origen by body understands the Church, by Eagles Doctors, gathering, that is consent. Ierome, Theophylact. Body Christs sufferings, Eagles Saints. Chrysost. Stella, Maldonate. By body others understand last judgement, by Eagles Saints, gathering together, brought generally to judgement.
The Saints are Eagles. 1. They molter off old feathers. 2. Renew. Psal. 103.5. 3. Looke on the Sun. 4. Are heavenly. Ioh. 39.27. Wheresoever shewes Christs body is not every where, he saith not ubique corpus, but ubicunque.