16.19 The rich man feasted sumptuously, just as the rich fool in 12.19 “made merry” (Greek euphrainein in both cases).
16.21 Dogs, a sign of Lazarus’s outcast status (see 1 Kings 21.19, 24; Ps 22.16; Mt 15.26–27; Mk 7.27–28).
16.22 On the honored place with Abraham, see 3.8; 13.28–29; see also Gen 15.15;47.30; Deut 31.16.
16.23 Hades. See note on 10.15.
16.24 Father Abraham. See 3.8. Have mercy. See 17.13;18.38–39. The rich man knows Lazarus’s name, revealing that his previous disregard was conscious.
16.27 Send him, i.e., in a dream or vision.
16.28 Warn, lit. “bear witness.” See also Acts 2.40.
16.29 Moses and the prophets are sufficient to understand God’s purpose (see 24.26–27, 44–48; see also 16.16).
16.31 Even if someone rises from the dead, an obvious allusion to Jesus’ resurrection. See 9.22; Acts 1.22.
Luke 17
Some Sayings of Jesus
1Jesusa said to his disciples, “Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to anyone by whom they come! 2It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3Be on your guard! If another discipleb sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive. 4And if the same person sins against you seven times a day, and turns back to you seven times and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive.”
5The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of ac mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
7“Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’? 8Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’? 9Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? 10So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’”
Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers
11On the way to Jerusalem Jesusd was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. 12As he entered a village, ten leperse approached him. Keeping their distance, 13they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. 15Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16He prostrated himself at Jesus’f feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”
The Coming of the Kingdom
20Once Jesusg was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; 21nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is amongh you.”
22Then he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23They will say to you, ‘Look there!’ or ‘Look here!’ Do not go, do not set off in pursuit. 24For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.i 25But first he must endure much suffering and be rejected by this generation. 26Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the Son of Man. 27They were eating and drinking, and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed all of them. 28Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 29but on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from heaven and destroyed all of them 30—it will be like that on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. 31On that day, anyone on the housetop who has belongings in the house must not come down to take them away; and likewise anyone in the field must not turn back. 32Remember Lot’s wife. 33Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it. 34I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35There will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken and the other left.”j 37Then they asked him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”
next chapter
* * *
a Gk He
b Gk your brother
c Gk faith as a grain of
d Gk he
e The terms leper and leprosy can refer to several diseases
f Gk his
g Gk he
h Or within
i Other ancient authorities lack in his day
j Other ancient authorities add verse 36, “Two will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.”
17.1–10 Cf. Mt 18.6–7, 21–22; Mk 9.42. Diverse sayings to the disciples.
17.1 Occasions for stumbling, i.e., apostasy (see 7.23; 8.13). Woe. Inevitability and divine necessity do not eliminate personal responsibility (see also 22.22).
17.2 These little ones, probably the disciples (see 10.21; 12.32).
17.4 Seven times a day, i.e., continually.
17.5 Apostles, the twelve closest delegates (see 6.13).
17.10 Worthless slaves, those to whom nothing is owed. Cf. 12.37; 22.25–27.
17.11–19.27 The final stages of the journey to Jerusalem (see note on 9.51).
17.11–19 The healing of the ten lepers contains echoes of the healing in 5.12–14. See also 4.27.
17.11 Luke’s reference to the region between Samaria and Galilee moves the journey along but the intended location is not at all clear.
17.12 Keeping their distance, as Jewish law required (see Lev 13.46; Num 5.2–3).
17.14 Show yourselves to the priests, i.e., for examination (see Lev 13.2–8; 14.2–3).
17.16 A Samaritan. See note on 9.52. See also 10.30–37.
17.18 This foreigner. See 7.9.
17.19 Your faith has made you well. See also 7.50; 8.48; 18.42.
17.20–37 The advent of the kingdom and the coming of the Son of Man are treated here and again in 21.7–36.
17.20 As in Acts 1.6–7, the question of when the kingdom of God was coming is misguided and seeks signs (cf. 21.7).
17.21–22 Like the word of God in Deut 30.11–14, the kingdom is already present as it is announced among you (see note on 4.43; see also 6.20; 8.1; 9.2; 10.9, 11;11.20; 12.32; 16.16). The days of the Son of Man, however, await the full revelation of the last judgment (17.30; see also Dan 7.9–14).
17.24 As the lightning flashes. The return of the Son of Man will be a sudden, highly visible appearance. See Acts 1.11.
17.25 See also 9.22; 24.26. First may imply a heavenly timetable that gives opportunity for repentance (see Acts 3.17–26). This generation. See note on 7.31.
17.26 The days of Noah. See Gen 6.5–8, 11.
17.27 Eating…being given in marriage, i.e., engaging in ordinary activities until the unexpected flood destroyed them (see Gen 7.21–23).
17.28 The days of Lot. See Gen 13.13; 19.15. Eating…building. The list depicts ordinary activities, not the corruption usually associated with Sodom (cf. Ezek 16.49–50).
17.29 Fire…from heaven. See Gen 19.24. See also Lk 9.54; 10.12.
17.32 The fate of Lot’s wife, who looked back to view the destruction of Sodom (see Gen 19.26), serves as a warning not to turn back (v. 31).
17.33 See also 9.24; Mt 10.39; 16.25; Mk 8.35; Jn 12.25.
17.34 On the swift and unexpected judgment on that night, see also 12.38–40, 46; Mt 24.43–51. Taken (also v. 35), seemingly to safety.
17.37
This seems to say that to find those left one must look for the circling vultures (Prov 30.17; Hos 8.1).
Luke 18
The Parable of the Widow and the Unjust Judge
1Then Jesusa told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’ 4For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’”b 6And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ 13But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Jesus Blesses Little Children
15People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it. 16But Jesus called for them and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. 17Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”
The Rich Ruler
18A certain ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 20You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother.’” 21He replied, “I have kept all these since my youth.” 22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the moneyc to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 23But when he heard this, he became sad; for he was very rich. 24Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
26Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27He replied, “What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.”
28Then Peter said, “Look, we have left our homes and followed you.” 29And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30who will not get back very much more in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”
A Third Time Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
31Then he took the twelve aside and said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32For he will be handed over to the Gentiles; and he will be mocked and insulted and spat upon. 33After they have flogged him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again.” 34But they understood nothing about all these things; in fact, what he said was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.
Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar Near Jericho
35As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37They told him, “Jesus of Nazarethd is passing by.” 38Then he shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39Those who were in front sternly ordered him to be quiet; but he shouted even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40Jesus stood still and ordered the man to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, 41“What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me see again.” 42Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has saved you.” 43Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, praised God.
next chapter
* * *
a Gk he
b Or so that she may not finally come and slap me in the face
c Gk lacks the money
d Gk the Nazorean
18.1–8 This parable provides instruction on how to persevere until the eschaton.
18.1 Not to lose heart. On endurance in prayer, see 11.5–13.
18.2 One who has not feared God would lack the wisdom to judge equitably (see Prov 1.7; see also Acts 10.2, 22, 35; 13.16, 26).
18.3 A widow had a particular claim for justice in Israel (Deut 10.17–18; 24.17; 27.19; Sir 35.14–15; see also Lk 2.37; 4.25–26; 7.12; 20.47; 21.2–3; Acts 6.1;9.39, 41).
18.5 See 11.8. Wear me out, lit. “hit under the eye,” an image from boxing (see 1 Cor 9.27).
18.6 Listen. It is not the judge’s indifference (v. 4) but his eventual yielding to the widow’s complaint (v. 5) that is the point of the parable.
18.7 On God’s granting justice, or vindication, see Deut 32.36; Ps 34.17–18. Chosen ones. See Ps 105.6, 43; Isa 43.20; 65.9, 22; see also Lk 9.35;23.35. The questions suggest an awareness of a delay in the expected vindication (see also 12.38; Mt 24.48;25.5, 19).
18.8b The last half of the verse provides a second conclusion (see note on 16.9). Will he find faith on earth? Cf. 5.20; 7.9; 22.32.
18.9–14 The Pharisee and tax collector are stock examples of how contempt for others is the regular corollary of self-righteousness (see 5.29–32; 7.29–30; 15.1–2; see also 10.29; 16.15).
18.10 Pharisee. See note on 5.17. Tax collector. See note on 5.30.
18.11 Praying, lit. “praying to himself.” See also 12.17–19.
18.12 Fast. See note on 5.33. On the tenth, or tithe, see note on 11.42.
18.13 Beating his breast, a sign of repentance (see 23.48). The plea for God to be merciful is a prayer for pardon (see Pss 25.11; 51.1; 65.3; see also Lk 6.36).
18.14 Justified, i.e., declared righteous by God. See 14.11.
18.15–17 Cf. Mt 19.13–15; Mk 10.13–16. The parallels with Mark’s Gospel, broken off at 9.51, now resume.
18.15 Sternly ordered, lit. “rebuked.” Cf. 9.55. The disciples have not learned from the incident with the children in 9.46–48.
18.17 The qualities of openness, low status, and no claim to achievement characterize the little child.
18.18–30 Cf. Mt 19.16–30; Mk 10.17–31. An encounter with a rich ruler continues the teaching on how to inherit eternal life.
18.18 The ruler’s question is the same as the lawyer’s in 10.25. On Jesus as a Teacher, or interpreter of the law, see 7.40; 8.49; 9.38; 10.25;11.45; 12.13; 19.39; 20.21, 28, 39; 21.7; 22.11.
18.19 No one is good but God alone. Jesus redirects attention away from himself and toward God’s goodness (1 Chr 16.34; Pss 34.8; 106.1; 118.1, 29; see also Lk 11.13).
18.20 For the list of commandments, see Ex 20.12–16; Deut 5.16–20 (cf. Lk 10.27).
18.22 Discipleship to this teacher is not simply better observance of the law; the one thing lacking requires giving up all one’s possessions (see also 14.33). On care for the poor, see note on 6.20. Treasure in heaven. See 12.33; note on 16.9.
18.24 See note on 16.9. See also 6.24; 16.10–13.
18.25 A camel…through the eye of a needle, an image of extreme di
fficulty (see also 6.41–42).
18.26 Who can be saved? Cf. 13.23.
18.27 All is possible for God (see also 1.37; Gen 18.14); thus even a rich person can enter the kingdom (see 19.1–10).
18.28 See 5.11. See note on 12.41.
18.29–30 A restatement of the assurances of 12.22–34.
18.31–34 Cf. Mt 20.17–19; Mk 10.32–34. The sixth prediction of the Passion (9.22, 44; 12.50; 13.32–34; 17.25).
18.31 Jesus’ death is warranted as written…by the prophets, but without a clear reference to a particular prophetic text (see also 24.27, 44–46; Acts 3.18; 13.27; cf. Acts 4.25–28 [based on Ps 2.1–2]; 8.32–33 [based on Isa 53.7–8]).
18.32 Handed over to the Gentiles. See Acts 4.25–28; cf. Mt 20.18–19; Mk 10.33–34. Mocked and insulted. See 22.63; 23.11, 36.
18.34 The threefold emphasis on the disciples’ ignorance echoes 9.45 (see also 2.50; 24.16).
18.35–43 Cf. Mt 20.29–34; 9.27–31; Mk 10.46–52. Jesus is announced as the Son of David before his royal entrance into Jerusalem (19.29–40).
18.35 Luke sets this story at Jesus’ entrance to Jericho (see 19.1; see also 10.30), a city northeast of Jerusalem in the Jordan Valley (cf. Mk 10.46). The unnamed blind man perceives the Davidic ruler that others in the entourage do not recognize.
18.38 Son of David. See also 1.27, 32, 69; 2.4, 11; 3.31; 20.41–44.
18.42 The command receive your sight recalls the reading in 4.18 (see also 7.21–22; Acts 9.17–18). Your faith has saved you. See 7.50; 8.48; 17.19; cf. 5.20.
18.43 All the people…praised God. See 5.26; 7.16; 13.17; see also 8.39; 17.15.
Luke 19
HarperCollins Study Bible Page 471
