"The Whole Book"

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

#1411 Luke 17 Part 4 Thy Kingdom Come

20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” Luke 17: 20-21

Luke 17: 20-21 Thy Kingdom Come

Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come - As we have been reading through Luke, by now, we should have a certain awareness of the religious culture of that time. The Pharisees considered themselves not only members, but members in good standing to the approaching kingdom. They had done all the good deeds, read all the works of all the best Scribes, and they were sons of Abraham. Jesus answer to them was, "before Abraham was, I Am", and then He has throughout the gospels showed them the errors with their doctrines and interpretations. He has showed them that many of their teachings actually defy the God they say they believe in. He has let a Samaritan woman in on the reality of His Messiahship, and John the Baptist, the first OT style prophet after 400 years of silence has pointed to Christ, even baptizing Him to fulfill all righteousness. So there is a lot of wonder surrounding Jesus, people will even throw down palm fronds before Him as He comes into Jerusalem riding on a donkey. Many think He is the Messiah because of His miracles, little things like raising the dead, healing lepers, walking on water, restoring sight to the blind. Others hope He is the Messiah, King of the coming Kingdom, because of miracles like feeding the five thousand. Jesus keeps talking about the Kingdom, and so the Jewish people, who are now living under Roman occupation, wonder when this will be. Given the attitude of the Pharisees though, I doubt this is a genuine, sincere question. They already want Jesus dead for exposing them as the hypocrites they are, yet the question is not without reason, like I said, Jesus taught about the Kingdom and the OT also teaches about a coming Kingdom.

…35“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?” 36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.” 37“Then You are a king!” Pilate said. “You say that I am a king,” Jesus answered. “For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.”… John 18: 35-37

…43As you saw the iron mixed with clay, so the peoples will mix with one another, but will not hold together any more than iron mixes with clay. 44In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself stand forever. 45And just as you saw a stone being cut out of the mountain without human hands, and it shattered the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold, so the great God has told the king what will happen in the future. The dream is true, and its interpretation is trustworthy.”… Daniel 2: 43-45

This is not a bad question, although it originates in this case from a group of men who are generally bad! The Jews in general were looking for the Kingdom of God. They knew it was coming from the Old Testament and from the rabbim had taught. And as MacArthur says they were all "premillennialists!" And why would they ask Jesus about the timing of the Kingdom of God? One reason of course is because He had repeatedly made reference to the Kingdom of God (Kingdom of Heaven) As with all who do not have spiritual eyes to see, the Pharisees missed the fact that the kingdom had already come in the sense that the King was present. - Precept Austin

The Kingdom of God is not coming in ways that cannot be observed - If He is the King then they want to see signs in the heavens, and again, this isn't an expectation foreign to the Scriptures, and their eschatology is actually better than that which many hold today. It is lacking though, and significantly, as Jesus is pointing out. Here is the gist of it, the Kingdom will not allow for the unholy, because God is Holy. There are vast sections of their OT that lay this out in the pictures of atonement through the sacrificial system. It is seen in the substitution of Abraham's son Isaac for a Ram caught in the thicket. The Kingdom is not a racial Kingdom, for there is only one race, the human race, and all, including these Pharisees are fallen in Adam. It is not an ethnic Kingdom, as John the Baptist and Jesus have made clear, that being related to Abraham is not a saving grace. From their own prophets they could look and see that the Messiah will be rejected by His own, and that He will give His life for many. This is the great object of His first coming, the pivotal point in all human history, that which has to happen in order to make the physical kingdom possible. He has to go to Calvary to become a curse for us, to take my sins upon Him, to die an unfair death to make up for what would have been fair to inflict upon me. Remember the veil in the temple, it separated us from the Holy of Holies, the presence of God. The approach demanded perfect holiness, that only God has, and so in the picture of the tabernacle and the priests, we see that they had to be cleansed and offer a sacrifice, all pointing to Christ's ultimate sacrifice. Now this is going to hurt some feelings, make some irate, but God doesn't accept you just the way you are or on your own terms, hence the veil, and the two dead priest who brought strange fire. What does He accept? Christ, His Son, and so God's acceptance of you is in Christ Jesus. The Kingdom of God is made one believer at a time, of all those who trust not in their works, not in their own righteousness, not in their heritage, but in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

MacArthur gleans much of the following from The History of the Jewish People in the Time of Christ, (Volume 2 -Topic - The Messianic Hope, here is a cumulative index) written by historian, Emil Schurer (biography) who collected the ancient material from the time of Christ and pieced together the eschatology espoused by the Jews in the first century (see Schurer's topics covered under "The Messianic Hope")...

Here is what the Jews expected.

(1) the coming of Messiah would be preceded be a time of tribulation or trouble, even like birth pangs

(Ed Comment: Schurer was correct here, and it was not the Roman occupation of the first century, not even the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, which certainly was not followed by the establishment of Messiah's Kingdom. This "time of tribulation" is referred to several times in Scripture =Great Tribulation; Daniel's Seventieth Week; " a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time" = Daniel 12:1-note. See discussion of the "Time of Jacob's Trouble" in note on Jeremiah 30:7; see commentary on Jesus' Olivet Discourse Matthew 24:15 Matthew 24:16 Matthew 24:17 Matthew 24:18 Matthew 24:19 Matthew 24:20 Matthew 24:21).

(2) in the midst of this trouble and turmoil there would appear a prophet like Elijah, heralding the coming of Messiah (Ed: cf the mysterious "two witnesses" in Revelation 11:3ff-note).

(3) Messiah would establish His kingdom, age and glory and vindicate His people.

(4) and they found this in the Sibylline Oracles, the nations would ally to fight the Messiah. They would literally interrupt all of their wars to come and fight against Him (Ed: See Revelation 16:14-16-note).

(5) the Messiah would destroy all the opposing nations, subjugate them all (Ed: See Revelation 19:11-21, esp Rev 19:15-note).

(6) the restoration of Jerusalem would occur. It would be made new and magnificent. (Ed: See Zechariah 14:10-11-note)

(7) scattered Jews from all over the world would return to Israel. (Ed: Ezekiel 36:24-note)

(8) Israel would become the center of the world and all nations would be subjected to the Messiah. (Ed: See Zechariah 14:16-note)

(9) the Messiah would establish the kingdom and the kingdom would be a time of eternal peace, righteousness and glory. (Ed: See Isaiah 2:2-4-note, Jer 33:15-16-note)

(MacArthur goes on to say) That's pretty accurate. Tribulation, an announcement of the arrival of the Messiah, a prophet before He comes, like Elijah. He comes, the world fights Him. He defeats them. He sets up His kingdom, restores Jerusalem, gathers His people, His sheep from all over the world. Israel becomes the center of the world. Jerusalem the throne from which He reigns. And He goes into a kingdom that is forever, a kingdom of peace, righteousness and glory. That's good eschatology. That's my (John MacArthur's) eschatology. And some people say somebody invented this type of eschatology in the 1800's? These expectations on the part of the Jews were drawn from Old Testament teaching and they were embellished by extra biblical writers. They got a little carried away, but the basic eschatology is fairly sound. And remember, the first century Jews did not see two comings of Messiah but only saw one. Their idea was, all Jesus needed to do was show up and do this (set up the Kingdom of God). They did not expect (or understand) that He would come (first) to establish a spiritual kingdom. They were not looking for an internal kingdom, a spiritual kingdom. To put it simply, they were not looking for a Savior because they did not see their need to be saved. And that is why Jesus' message was so offensive. It wasn't that they did not want the kingdom of God. It was not that they didn't like to hear Jesus speak about that kingdom. It was not that they were not looking for a King. But it was the kind of kingdom Jesus was talking about that agitated them. - Precept Austin quoting J Mac

#1410 Luke 17 Part 3 Healed or Saved

11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17: 11-19 ESV

Luke 17: 11-19

John MacArthur - Up to this point, Luke has focused on Jesus’ coming, detailing the angelic announcement of His birth to Mary the account of His birth, the incident in the temple when He was twelve, His baptism by John, His temptation by Satan, and the first two and a half years of His ministry as Messiah, reaching its pinnacle at the transfiguration. But at this point, the whole tenor of Luke’s gospel changes. The focus is no longer on Jesus’ coming, but on His going. The Galilean ministry is over, and He is on His way for the final time to His passion in Jerusalem. Although the Lord would, in the few intervening months of His Judean ministry, make brief return visits to Galilee (e.g., Lk 17:11-37), Galilee was no longer His base of operations. Much of the material in this travelogue (cf. Lk 9:52, 57; 10:1, 38; 13:22, 33; 17:11; 18:35; 19:1, 11, 28-29) of Christ’s final journey to the cross (Lk 9:51-19:27) is unique to Luke’s gospel. Of the other gospel writers, only John records features from the months in Judea (John 7-11). (See Luke Commentary) - Precept Austin

On the way to Jerusalem - This is nearing the end of His ministry. Jesus is on His way to being the Passover Lamb.

…6I offered My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle. 7Because the Lord GOD helps Me, I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set My face like flint, and I know that I will not be put to shame. 8The One who vindicates Me is near. Who will dare to contend with Me? Let us confront each other! Who has a case against Me? Let him approach Me!… Isaiah 50: 6-8

He was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance - Leprosy is one of the saddest of diseases, an ancient disease, an ostracizing disease. These men are not a welcome sight to the people of this area, and are unclean, so they stand at a distance. Remember also, to the Pharisees this means that these men were sinners of a special sort. A remarkable symptom of it, with a great spiritual application, is that those that have it don't feel it, they don't feel. They are numb to all the warning signals.

Dr. Paul Brand is the modern, world-renowned expert on leprosy, gives us some wonderful insight in a modern up-to-date look. It's called Hansen's Disease, HD. It is cruel, not at all the way other diseases are. It primarily acts as an anesthetic, numbing the pain cells of hands, feet, nose, eyes, ears. Not so bad really, one might think; most diseases are felt because of their pain. What makes a painless disease so horrible? Hansen's Disease's numbing quality is precisely the reason it is so horrible. For thousands of years people thought this disease caused the ulcers on hands and feet and face which eventually led to rotting flesh and loss of limbs. Mainly through Dr. Brand's research it's been established that in 99 percent of the cases HD only numbs the extremities, the destruction follows solely because the warning system of pain is gone. Basically people destroy their own limbs.

How does the decay happen? In villages of Africa and Asia, a person with HD has been known to reach directly into a charcoal fire to retrieve a dropped potato. Nothing in his body tells him not to. Patients at Brand's hospital in India would work all day gripping a shovel with a protruding nail or extinguish a burning wick with their bare hands or walk on splintered glass. Watching them, Brand began formulating his radical theory that HD was chiefly anesthetic and only indirectly a destroyer. On one occasion he tried to open the door of a little storeroom but a rusty padlock would not yield. A patient, an undersized, malnourished, ten-year-old approached him smiling, "Let me try, Sahib Doctor," he offered and reached for the key. With a quick jerk of his hand, he turned the key in the rusty lock. Brand was dumbfounded. How could this weak youngster show more strength than him? His eyes caught a tell-tale clue. Was that a drop of blood on the floor? Upon examining the boy's fingers, Brand discovered the act of turning the key had gashed the finger open to the bone. Skin, fat, and joint were all exposed yet the boy was completely unaware of it.

The daily routine of life grinds away at the HD patient's hands and feet. No warning system alerts him. If an ankle is turned, tearing tendon and muscle, he will adjust and walk crooked. If a rat chews off a finger in the night, he will not discover it even missing until the next morning. And so the sad story goes.

Stanley Stein went blind because of another quirk of HD. Each morning he would wash his face with a hot washcloth. But neither his hand nor his face was sensitive enough to temperature to warning him that he was using scalding water, gradually destroyed his eyes. That's how it worked. - J Mac sermon on Luke 17 Ten Men Healed, One Man Saved

Jesus, Master, have mercy on us - They cry out from a respectful distance. At this point Jesus is famous, and they know that He has healed more people than the Scriptures even report. All of His healings point to Who He is. He has power over life, death, nature, and a lot of people today even realize that about God, that He has that power, and for that they would gladly come to Him, but let's read on.

29As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. 30And there were two blind men sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” 31The crowd admonished them to be silent, but they cried out all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”… Matthew 20: 29-31

…24This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who has written them down. And we know that his testimony is true. 25 There are many more things that Jesus did. If all of them were written down, I suppose that not even the world itself would have space for the books that would be written. John 21: 24-25

Go and show yourselves to the priest - This was part of the Mosaic law concerning diseases of the skin. Note, Jesus has no issue in following the actual laws of God, and teaching others to do so. This was legit, it was Biblical, but where He differs from the religious rulers of that day is that He puts God's word above their traditions. They add to the law thinking it makes them more righteous, they pervert the law in their teachings thinking that their wording or supposed good they do makes it okay. Whenever they attack Jesus on His actions or deeds, it is according their apostasy and bad interpretations. It's plain to see here that He upholds God's law, and in sending these men to present themselves this is one of the greatest calling cards you could send a priest. Who can heal leprosy, ten lepers at once no less, and then because there are still priests, Jesus sends the lepers to them, so how should a priest respond? Leviticus 13 and 14 go deep into the subject of leprosy. The priest pronounce them unclean, and it is the priest who must evaluate them before they come back into the camp as healed, clean.

1Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 2“When someone has a swelling or rash or bright spot on his skin that could become an infectious skin disease, he must be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons who is a priest. 3The priest is to examine the infection on his skin, and if the hair in the infection has turned white and the sore appears to be deeper than the skin, it is a skin disease. After the priest examines him, he must pronounce him unclean.… Leviticus 13: 1-3

2 “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing. Now he shall be brought to the priest,

3 and the priest shall go out to the outside of the camp. Thus the priest shall look, and if the infection of leprosy has been healed in the leper,

4 then the priest shall give orders to take two live clean birds and cedar wood and a scarlet string and hyssop for the one who is to be cleansed.

5 “The priest shall also give orders to slay the one bird in an earthenware vessel over running water.

6 “As for the live bird, he shall take it together with the cedar wood and the scarlet string and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the live bird in the blood of the bird that was slain over the running water.

7 “He shall then sprinkle seven times the one who is to be cleansed from the leprosy and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the live bird go free over the open field.

8 “The one to be cleansed shall then wash his clothes and shave off all his hair and bathe in water and be clean. Now afterward, he may enter the camp, but he shall stay outside his tent for seven days. Leviticus 14: 2-8

16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. 17Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. 18For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.… Matthew 5: 16-18

As they went they were cleansed - They were healed in this life. They went to Jesus about something troubling, as anyone who knows a physician should. He healed their physical, present ailment. Astounding, I can barely imagine what this was like for men who had been cast out of society, relegated to a life as beggars. They can go and present themselves to the priest and then be allowed back into society, allowed to go home. They can be touched now and feel it.

Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back - One of them, this is important. They all went to Jesus to be healed of a disease that is bound to this temporal body, and now they all realize that they received from Jesus what they asked, but only one of them turns back. This is fantastic, the priest will be at the temple, but the actual temple of God, the One that the earthly temple only foreshadowed, he had just left Him and was now going back to Him. The spirit of God had long ago left the temple in Jerusalem, and it was now a place of apostasy. Remember, Ichabod, and the first half of Ezekiel, watching the glory of the Lord departing from the temple? The only time God has been in the temple since Solomon's temple is when Jesus entered it, but they did not recognize Him.

MacArthur on the faith of the 10 lepers - Do they have faith? Sure they have faith. They have a meager, basic faith in a healer. They have faith in the power and compassion of Jesus....Were they cleansed because they believed? Well it was a meager faith and Jesus asked them to demonstrate that meager faith. They were basically healed because He chose to heal them, but He involved their faith in it. There were times when Jesus healed people because they believed. There were many times when He healed people who didn't believe. In fact, there were times when He raised dead people and they can't believe. So there were times when faith played a role, and times when it did not. But in this case, He asked them to exhibit enough faith to do what He said. (Ten Men Healed, One Man Saved) - Precept Austin

…20As she was dying, the women attending to her said, “Do not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son!” But she did not respond or pay any heed. 21And she named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel,” because the ark of God had been captured and her father-in-law and her husband had been killed. 22“The glory has departed from Israel,” she said, “for the ark of God has been captured.”… 1 Samuel 4: 20-22

…17When the cherubim stood still, the wheels also stood still, and when they ascended, the wheels ascended with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 18Then the glory of the LORD moved away from the threshold of the temple and stood above the cherubim. 19As I watched, the cherubim lifted their wings and rose up from the ground, with the wheels beside them as they went. And they stopped at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the LORD, with the glory of the God of Israel above them.… Ezekiel 10: 17-19

Praising God with a loud voice - His response is proper, it was something he couldn't do for himself. It could not be explained away or attributed to other means. God healed him, that is where this power was from. It wasn't the technology of the time; they didn't have that. It wasn't positive or wishful thinking that somehow pronounced itself unguided and spontaneously in these 10 men at the same time.

He fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving Him thanks - This was prone, the position of worship, of unworthiness touched by unfathomable mercy. He came humbly before the God Who healed him. He found the true temple wherein all the fullness of the Creator was pleased to dwell.

12 What shall I render to the Lord

For all His benefits toward me?

13 I shall lift up the cup of salvation

And call upon the name of the Lord.

14 I shall pay my vows to the Lord,

Oh may it be in the presence of all His people.

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord

Is the death of His godly ones. Psalm 116: 12-15

…8See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ. 9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form. 10And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.… Colossians 2: 8-10

Now he was a Samaritan - The only one that came back was someone who was not only physically outside the camp due to his leprosy, but also by birth he would be considered a gentile. The more "pious" Jews would walk an extra days journey to avoid going through Samaria. Let that sink in when Jesus tells the story of the "good Samaritan". I'm sure the Pharisees loved that one.

…8(His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9“You are a Jew,” said the woman. “How can You ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”… John 4: 8-10

Spurgeon on he was a Samaritan - Ah, me! nine of the seed of Israel were ungrateful, and only one poor outcast Gentile was grateful to the Lord for the miracle of healing that had been wrought....One of those off-casts and out-casts that the Jews would not own, — one of the men that they said were of a mongrel breed, — only half Israelite and half idolater. “O grace, it is thy want, Into unlikeliest hearts to come!” (Luke 17 - exposition)

MacArthur on Samaritans - According to John 4:9 the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans, they hated each other. Samaritans had intermarried with Gentiles and from a Jewish standpoint polluted their race, polluted their religion. They had a strange, hybrid religion on Mount Gerizim and were despised by the Jews who had no relationships with them. Surely no one would expect God to heal a Samaritan. - Precept Austin

Were not ten cleansed - Yes Sir.

…12Then they believed His promises and sang His praise. 13Yet they soon forgot His works and failed to wait for His counsel. 14They craved intensely in the wilderness and tested God in the desert.… Psalm 106: 12-14

Where are the nine - Remember, Jesus is always teaching, and so think about the question. He sent them to the priest, so they are on their way to the priest. Once they are examined by the priest and pronounced whole, clean, then they will enter back into society. They will get their temporal lives back. Don't pretend to be shocked, He is pointing this out so that His students, and we, the future readers, examine ourselves. He had plenty of people hanging around him to see miracles, to receive healings. He even had a massive group of people that wanted Him to be some socialist guru that they could follow around like a Grateful Dead tour or a Rainbow gathering. Remember, those were the people who came and were fed at the feeding of the 5,000 and the 4,000, many of whom left after they heard His teaching and realized they didn't like His call of discipleship, the call of self denial. He even directly calls some out on this and sends them away. The zealots would want Him if He would behave like a political and military conqueror. The Pharisees would like that, but also for Him to acknowledge their works, to see them like they see themselves. The crowds would carry Him up on their hands like a rock star if He would just keep coming out, embarrassing the religious rulers and Rome, and feeding them for free. You want to know where the nine are spiritually? Still dead, they got all they wanted from Jesus and they are done with Him, ready to live "their lives" now. They have already moved on.

25When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they asked Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?” 26 Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it is not because you saw these signs that you are looking for Me, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.”… John 6: 25-27

Your faith has made you well - Now they had all already been healed. Everyone had believed that Jesus could do that, but only one was humbled by it, only one came back to worship God. Some are content with just being healed now, and some back then thought that was the only problem they had, I mean otherwise the nine were related to Abraham, and so took for granted the life which is to come. Did you just come for a meal, for a healing, for present and passing things? I know I was guilty of such for a long time and was even angry at God for not giving me what I wanted now. I hate epilepsy, I hated the looks of pity worn on the faces of my friends and family as I would be coming back to consciousness, as I would get a sense of the urine in my pants and on my skin, and begin to realize what had just taken place. My pride couldn't take it, and I just wanted to be well so I could go on my way. I was like the dumb little kid who would trade his dime for a nickel because the nickel was bigger, only that analogy does no justice to the prospect of eternity.

And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith (pistis) has made you well (sozo)-- Faith (pistis) describes belief directed toward a person or thing, in this case conviction or belief that Jesus was the Messiah. We see this same sense in Mt 9:2 "And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven. (cf Mt 9:6)” In Luke 5:20 Jesus "Seeing their (to those lowering the paralyzed man to Jesus - Lk 5:19) faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” And note this man had the same reaction as the leper "And at once he rose up before them, and took up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God." (Lk 5:25 +)

The English translation of made well misses a critical truth in this section. Why? Because all 10 were made well physically, but only one was made well spiritually! In Luke 17:15 the verb is iaomai which in the context speaks of physical healing. But here in Lk 17:19 the verb is sozo which clearly speaks of spiritual healing. In short, the Samaritan has been saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8-9). It is interesting that most of the modern versions (NAS, NIV, ESV, NLT, CSB, NET) while translating "made you well" also have a marginal note "has saved you." Admittedly, there are some contexts in which sozo can mean something less than salvation, but in this context it is obvious that Luke is describing salvation. It is also notable that sozo is in the perfect tense, signifying action in the past with continuing or abiding effect.

MacArthur on your faith - You see in this man trust and gratitude and humility and commitment and love and praise and worship, all components of a faith that's way beyond the other nine. It's a faith that embraces Jesus as God, as Lord. It's a faith that bows humbly in recognition of one's lowliness in His presence. It's a faith that Jesus says saves. - Precept Austin

…2Just then some men brought to Him a paralytic lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.” 3On seeing this, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!” 4But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why do you harbor evil in your hearts?…

…5Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk?’ 6But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” Then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your mat, and go home.” 7And the man got up and went home.… Matthew 9: 2-7

#1409 Luke 17 Part 2 Mulberry Trees

5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

Unworthy Servants

7 “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? 8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” Luke 17: 5-10 ESV

Luke 17: 5-10

…23“If You can?” echoed Jesus. “All things are possible to him who believes!” 24Immediately the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!” 25When Jesus saw that a crowd had come running, He rebuked the unclean spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” He said, “I command you to come out and never enter him again.”… Mark 9: 23-25

Increase our faith - This follows Christ's teachings on being a stumbling block and also on our commission to forgive, even to the number of perfection, seven times a day, every time that your brother comes to you in repentance. The Apostles, who are disciples, but the inner circle, the pillars of the church, the twelve, are recognizing that they are not up for this. They don't meet this standard. James will later write that faith without works is dead. Where faith has been planted, in everyone who is born again, the fruit of that saving faith will be produced, and it is seen in obedience to what God has said. Do you believe in God? Do you believe the Bible is His word? Do you do what He says? Examine yourself to see whether you are in the faith.

Steven Cole on increase our faith - The disciples instantly realized that these were tough demands. To walk uprightly so as not to cause a new believer to stumble and to forgive someone who has wronged us are not automatic behaviors! Forgiveness especially is tough because our feelings are involved. So the disciples respond by asking the Lord to increase their faith (Lk 17:5). It was an honest request stemming from the right motives. They saw that if they wanted to fulfill these demands, they would have to have God’s strength and enabling to do it. But Jesus’ answer (Lk 17:6) indicates that more faith is not really the issue. Faith is not measured by its quantity, but simply by its presence. A mustard seed sized faith will accomplish impossible things. The real need, Jesus says (Lk 17:7-10), is for more obedience and humility. We should view ourselves as God’s slaves who owe Him simple and unquestioning obedience. And, when we have done what He requires, we should not get puffed up with pride in our great obedience, but should simply say, “We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.” (More Faith or More Obedience) - Precept Austin

Brian Bell - The demands of discipleship are great (ED: I WOULD GO SO FAR AS TO SAY THEY ARE IN FACT IMPOSSIBLE...IN RELIANCE ON OUR OWN RESOLVE, OUR NATURAL FLESHY POWER!). The disciples recognized they needed divine help to fulfill such demands. No wonder the disciples cried out to Jesus, “if we have to live like that with people, then, Lord, increase our faith!” You would expect the disciples to say, “Increase our love!” But forgiveness comes from faith in God’s Word. A grenade doesn’t ask for “more power” it just says, “pull the pin”! To make an Atomic Bomb you don’t need bigger atoms, just to split them! - Precept Austin

…12I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need. 13I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. 14Nevertheless, you have done well to share in my affliction.… Philippians 4: 12-14

If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed - In agriculture, this would be one of the smaller seeds they dealt with in this area of the world. The point is, it is a small thing, but from it, inside of it, is all the information and potential needed to make something greater, something that can be seen from much further away, something that birds may even come to nest in. A seed is something that grows from ground that is cultivated, it spreads not only branches above but also roots below. There is always some confusion here for new believers, the stagnant, and those who are not of the faith. There are a host of bad teachings on what faith is, and most try to express it as blind trust or as something you muster up, not mustard up, as though it comes from inside you, but the Bible teaches something else. It teaches that faith is a gift, not of yourself, that it grows from knowing God's word, and produces fruit evidenced by obedience to God's word, we do what we believe. The object of it is Christ.

More on the Mustard Seed from Matthew 13

…16But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. 18But I ask, did they not hear? Indeed they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”… Romans 10: 16-18

…7in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not by works, so that no one can boast.… Ephesians 2: 7-9

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.… Hebrews 12: 1-3

You would say to this mulberry tree - This difficulty, and what was the difficulty for them? Forgiveness and being stumbling blocks, they were not prone to the first and were very prone to being the latter. God's expectation is higher than our ability and own means. How can inadequate people accomplish God's commands?

Morris explains that "The rabbis held that the roots of the tree with this name would remain in the earth for 600 years (SB). Clearly it was very firmly rooted, so that removing it would be difficult. Jesus is not suggesting that his followers occupy themselves with pointless things like transferring trees into the sea. His concern is with the difficulty. He is saying that nothing is impossible to faith: ‘genuine faith can accomplish what experience, reason, and probability would deny, if it is exercised within God’s will’ (Miller)." (The Gospel According to St. Luke: An Introduction and Commentary - borrow)

MacArthur - Jesus was not speaking of literally moving a tree; He was speaking metaphorically. The point is that those who trust Him will receive supernatural power to do what they could not do in their own human strength (cf. Mt. 17:20; Mk 11:23; Jn 14:12-14; 2Co 12:10; Ep 6:10). Humble people are powerful people because they understand their weakness and depend completely on “Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us” (Eph. 3:20). (See Luke Commentary) - Precept Austin

…5By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. 7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.… Hebrews 11: 5-7

Will any of you who has a servant plowing - Now here He addresses spiritual pride. We realize well when we understand that we cannot please God of our own, that it requires faith in Jesus Christ. So once that mulberry tree is uprooted, we do not have cause to glorify in ourselves, but in God Who grants the faith. It is not time to write a self help book on how I attained enlightenment, and then all the steps a person can take in their "own" will and means to reach that same end. Remember, God's standard is impossible for us to achieve in our own flesh, and we did not create ourselves. So now with the servant (slave) He brings them back down to earth.

…19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20

Come at once and recline at table - Take the rest of the day off, you pulled up the mulberry tree that I told you to pull up, so relax. No.

Will he not rather say, "Prepare supper for me, and dress properly" - His day is not done, he's the servant, and part of his job is to prepare the meal, but he also has to clean up before he serves it. I am the slave of the One Who purchased me, and my duties do not end in the field.

Spurgeon - This world is the place of service; we are not to be expecting to have the festival here. The great supper comes at the end of the day. This is the time for us to serve, even as Jesus did when he was here; and we are to serve right on till the close of the day, even as Jesus did......See, brethren, our position as believers; we are here as servants. It is not the time for feasting yet. Whatever work we have done, even if it is getting towards the evening of our life’s day, we must not think of sitting down yet, and expecting our Master to wait upon us. No, we must go on with our service, and reckon it to be our highest privilege still to gird ourselves, and wait on him. This is not the place of resting or of feasting; this is the day of our holy servitude. Let us work on, ploughing while we have strength for it; and when the sun goes down at eventide, then waiting like servants at the table of their Lord. (Luke 17 - exposition) - Precept Austin

…43But it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”… Mark 10: 43-45

Does he thank that servant - No, not for what is expected, and especially in our case for what He had to walk out before us, and by grace give us the faith to do. There is no room for pride.

Bock - The service of God's servant is not a matter for negotiation but is a duty. The ancient household servant was responsible for many activities, from working the fields to preparing the meals. A ancient servant's work never seemed to be done. Such is also the case here. Jesus pictures a servant coming in from a long day of farming or shepherding, only to be asked to prepare the owner's dinner. The servant will not get a meal until the master is served. Not only that, the servant will not be thanked as if he had done something special. Rather, he will do it because it is his duty - Precept Austin

We are unworthy servants - Some render this "unprofitable", showing this was the minimum expectation, no "exceeds" on your review. The bar is Christ, infinite perfection.

…24The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. 25Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.… Acts 17: 24-26

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