Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

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THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN:
VARIOUS TEACHINGS OF THE NAZARENE

Key word: Kingdom

Luke 17:1-4 – Stumbling and Forgiveness

|| Matthew 18:6, 7, 15, 21, 22; 748 Mark 9:42 749
748 Matthew 18:6, 7, 15, 21, 22: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.
749 Mark 9:42: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.

LK17:1 Now Jesus told his disciples: “Stumbling-blocks 750 are sure to occur, but woe to the person who causes them.
750 Stumbling-blocks: The Greek is SCANDALA, that is things that are scandalous, or cause scandal and thus stumble others.
LK17:2 It would be better for that person if a mill-stone was hung from the neck and then dropped into the ocean instead of causing any of these little ones 751 to stumble.
751 These little ones: The disciples of the Nazarene.
LK17:3 Pay close attention to yourselves! 752 If your brother sins, rebuke him, 753 and if he repents, forgive him. 754
752 Pay close attention to yourselves: Or, take heed, give attention, keep good watch. Note the Nazarene does not say, “pay close attention to others” as if one was judgmental of everyone but self.
753 Rebuke him: Or, reprove, check, call him to task. Most often Christians do not do this. Rather, they go to others, gossip or slander the sinning brother until he/she is the last one to hear about the problem. Genuine love and empathy will not hesitate to give loving counsel to the sinner.
754 And if he repents, forgive him: Generally, forgiveness need only be forthcoming if the sinner repents.
LK17:4 Even if he sins seven times a day against you, 755 and seven times he turns around and tells you, ‘I am sorry,’ 756 you should forgive 757 him.”
755 Even if he sins seven times a day against you: These are offenses against your person, not against others. Likely they are of a minor variety. Jesus’ words stress the needs to overlook or forgive the foibles, personality flaws, social mistakes, and other sins of a minor nature against your person. Some new Christians take a rather long time to overcome deeply entrenched character flaws.
756 I am sorry: The sinner must repent before God and ask for forgiveness from the offended person. That is, unless the “I am sorry” follows in a genuine manner, forgiveness need not occur, though some all-forgiving Christians will forgive nonetheless. This, “I am sorry,” is not “Okay, I am sorry, now are you satisfied?” Repentance should also accompany the fruitage of a true regret or change of mind. The person who does this seven times in a day – repenting and saying, “I am sorry” – will progress rapidly in the perfecting of flesh and spirit. Compare notes on 2 Corinthians 7:1.
757 Forgive: Though this forgiveness will generally include a true forgetting of the offense, whether the offense can ever be forgotten or not, the offended person should never continue the story with others as gossip or slander. One who forgives never repeats the offense to others. Such gossip or slander proves no forgiveness has really taken place.

Luke 17:5-10 – Slaves with More Faith

|| Matthew 17:20; 21:21; 758 Mark 11:23 759
758 Matthew 17:20; 21:21: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.
759 Mark 11:23: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.

LK17:5 Then the apostles said to the Master: “Give us more faith!” LK17:6 So the Master said: “If you [apostles] have faith like a mustard seed, you could tell this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea!’ And it would obey you. LK17:7 Which one of you if you had a slave plowing or tending sheep and then came in from the field would tell him, ‘Quickly enter and recline at the table.’ LK17:8 Instead, will he not tell him, ‘Prepare dinner for me and then put on your apron and serve me, and afterward you may eat and drink.’ LK17:9 You do not expect him to be grateful to his servant for doing what he is told? 760
760 For doing what he is told: The point of the parable may be in relation to the request for more faith – faith is demonstrated by obedience. The more obedient, the more faith. Faith may also be understood to be “trustworthy.”
LK17:10 Also, in a similar manner, after you have done everything you were assigned, 761 say, ‘We are useless slaves. 762 We have only done what we were obligated to do.’”
761 After you have done everything you were assigned: Jesus speaks to his personal apostles or representatives. The Nazarene gave over 60 individual commandments his disciples were to observe. Only then would they be his true friends, or demonstrate their genuine love. [John 14:15; 15:14]
762 We are useless slaves: Or, KJV: we are unprofitable slaves; WMS: worthless slaves; GDS: good-for-nothing slaves; WEY: there is no merit in our service. The humble character of the true Nazarene disciple.

Luke 17:11-19 – Ten Lepers

LK17:11 Now it happened while Jesus went to Jerusalem he was traveling between Samaria and Galilee. LK17:12 When he entered into a certain village ten men with leprosy met him though they kept their distance. LK17:13 They shouted, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” LK17:14 When Jesus saw this he told them: “Leave now and show yourselves to the priests.” Now while on their way they were cleansed. LK17:15 When one of them realized he was healed he returned to Jesus, glorifying The God in a loud voice. LK17:16 And he fell on his face at the feet of Jesus, thanking him. (Now he was a Samaritan.) 763
763 Now he was a Samaritan: This single Samaritan – evidently inferring the other nine were Jews – was the only one who expressed his gratefulness. The need to say “Thank you” and give credit to God cannot be emphasized enough.
LK17:17 Then Jesus responded and said: “Were there not ten who were cleansed? Where are the other nine? LK17:18 Were they not discovered to have also returned to give The God glory except for this foreigner?” LK17:19 So Jesus told the man: “Rise and go. Your faith has saved you!”

Luke 17:20-25 – The Coming of the Kingdom

|| Matthew 24:23-28, 37-39; 764 Mark 13:14-21 765
764 Matthew 24:23-28, 37-39: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.
765 Mark 13:14-21: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.

LK17:20 Now the Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of The God was coming, 766 so Jesus responded and said: “God’s Realm 767 is not coming observably, 768
766 Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of The God was coming: The Pharisees ask “when” the kingdom is coming. Jesus cannot answer this. [Matthew 24:36] But he goes on to answer “how” God’s Realm is already present. Then the Nazarene continues to comment on “the days of the Son of Humankind.” These are two different subjects. We cannot expect the Pharisees to ask an accurate question. What did they suppose the Kingdom to be? What do they mean by, “When?” Christ’s own disciples ask a similar question at Matthew 24:3. [Compare also Mark 13 and Luke 21.] This question is brought up at Luke 19:11. The answer Jesus gives here in Luke 17 occurs before those answers given in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. Here Christ does not deal with Jerusalem.
767 God’s Realm: There is a difficulty when someone with a wrong view asks a question based on that perspective. In the Nazarene’s teachings there are several “kingdoms.” There is Satan’s ‘Kingdom.” [Matthew 12:26] There is the Son’s kingdom – God’s Realm in Luke – which is his territory, realm or domain over which he rules. [Daniel 7:14; Matthew 13:41; Ephesians 1:19-22; Colossians 1:13] There is the Father’s Kingdom. [Matthew 13:43] There is the time when – after reigning alone for two thousand years or more – the Christ is joined by his Church; and, then his kingdom absorbs also the “kingdom of the world” formerly ruled over by Satan. [Revelation 11:15-17; 2 Corinthians 4:4] Here it is possibly Jesus has in mind the opportunity of gaining membership in his own Kingdom – that is, God’s Realm – the realm of profession, his Church.
768 Is not coming observably: Or, KJV: cometh not with observation; TCN: in a way that admits of observation; TAY: not ushered in with visible signs; WEY: does not so come that you can watch closely for it; WEY: watch closely for it; WMS: with visible display; RSV: with signs to be observed. Here Jesus has in mind that opportunity which is before the Jews at the moment – to gain membership within Messiah’s realm or domain by faithful obedience.
LK17:21 neither will people say, ‘Look, here!’ or, ‘There!’ For God’s Realm is already among you.” 769
769 God’s Realm is already among you: Or, KJV: the kingdom of God is within you; MOF: the Reign of God is now in your midst; ALF: is among you. Jesus means the opportunity of becoming a subject of Messiah’s realm or domain is right there in front of them. Those disciples of the Nazarene have already become citizens within that realm of profession.
LK17:22 Then Jesus spoke to his disciples: 770 “Days will come when you [disciples] will desire to experience one of the days 771 of the Son of Humankind [Daniel 7:13] but you [disciples] will not experience it.
770 Then Jesus spoke to his disciples: Jesus changes the direction and focus of his speech. He now speaks to his disciples and so the subject changes somewhat – to the Parousia of the Son of Humankind. In Matthew the Greek PAROUSIA is used in this same context, whereas here Jesus calls it “the Day(s) of the Son of Humankind.”
771 Will desire to experience one of the days: Or, KJV: to see one of the days of the Son of man; KNX: to enjoy, but for a day, the Son of man’s presence; PME: to see again a single day of; RIE: for one glimpse of the Son of Man. Here the Nazarene makes it clear his 1^st Century disciples will not experience, or “see” his Parousia or Return. This is in harmony with later parables of Jesus [Matthew 25:14; Luke 19:11-15] and Paul. [2 Thessalonians 2:1-3] Disciples throughout the Gospel Age have desired the same thing – wishing Christ would return during their lifetimes. Jesus is not here discussing what has elsewhere been called “God’s Realm” which is the Church.

LK17:23 And some will tell you, 772 ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not chase after them or pursue them! 773
772 Some will tell you: An example of this is 2 Thessalonians 2:2. It is unfortunate that throughout the Church Age millions have been misled by false prophets and pseudo anointed who have set dates for the Return of Christ, or proclaimed, “Christ is here!”
773 Do not chase after them or pursue them: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew 24:4, 23 and Luke 21:8. The Nazarene Master cautions about following or joining those who proclaim “the time is at hand.”
LK17:24 For just as the lightning flashes 774 from under one part of the sky to under another part of the sky, so will be the Son of Humankind 775 [Daniel 7:14] [during his Day]. 776
774 Lightning flashes: Something seen from horizon to horizon. Here Jesus does not use the word “kingdom” but “the Son of Humankind.” For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Acts 1:7-11. Also compare Matthew 24:27. Daniel 12:1 foretold that Messiah would “appear” at some future time. [JPS Tanakh; see notes in Nazarene Apocalypse 2000©.
775 So will be the Son of Humankind: The Son of Humankind will return visibly like lightning seen from horizon to horizon. For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew 24:30, 31.
776 During his Day: Some texts add this phrase.
LK17:25 However, it is first necessary for the Son of Humankind to suffer many things and be rejected by this generation [of Jews]. [Isaiah 53:1-6]

Luke 17:26-30 – The Son of Humankind Is Revealed

LK17:26 “And just as it was in Noah’s days, so it will be also in the Days of the Son of Humankind. 777 [Daniel 7:13]
777 In the Days of the Son of Humankind: That is at that time when the Son of Humankind visibly returns. Here Jesus refers to those days before the Parousia when many will be too busy with everyday matters of life just as it was in Noah’s day before the Flood. Matthew uses the phrase “the presence of the Son of Humankind.”
LK17:27 They were eating, drinking, marrying, and being given in marriage, until that day 778 Noah entered into the Ark. And then the Cataclysm 779 arrived and destroyed every one of them. [Genesis 6-8]
778 Day: It is on a single day when Christ returns in his foretold Parousia or Arrival. Christ uses the analogy of that “day” Noah entered the Ark – not during the decades he was building it – and that “day” Lot left Sodom.
779 Cataclysm: The Greek is CATACLYSMOS which literally means “wash down much” or a great deluge, the Flood. [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #2637, inundation, deluge; from 2626, overwhelm with water, to submerge] See Genesis 6:1ff in Nazarene Commentary 2000©.
LK17:28 Likewise, just as it was in Lot’s days – they were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building. 780
780 Eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building: Nothing wrong in these in themselves. It is the complete and total distraction from the warnings of Noah and Lot.
LK17:29 But, on that day when Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from the sky and destroyed every one of them. [Genesis 19] LK17:30 Just so it will be the same on the Day 781 of the revelation of the Son of Humankind. 782 [Isaiah 11:10; Daniel 7:13; 12:1]
781 Just so it will be the same on the Day: When Christ returns in his foretold Parousia it will occur on a single day with people working on one side of the earth, while others are asleep on the dark side. See notes below. For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark 13:35.
782 The revelation of the Son of Humankind: Or, KJV: in the day when the Son of man is revealed; WEY: the veil is lifted; GDS: appears; RIE: is brought into the light. The Greek is APOCALYPTETAI. The idea of the Appearing of the Messiah is foretold in Isaiah 11:10 and Daniel 12:1. For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Daniel 12:1.

Luke 17:31-37 – Those Received Home

|| Matthew 24:40, 41 783
783 Matthew 24:40, 41: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

LK17:31 “In that Day 784 whoever is upstairs, let such not come down 785 into the house to gather possessions. Also, the person in the field, let him not return to the things behind.
784 In that Day: When the Son of Humankind appears at his revelation.
785 Whoever is upstairs, let such not come down: The return, appearance, revelation, parousia of the Son of Humankind is so immediate that no end-time Saint need even go downstairs. Those working in the field need not return to their home. Judging from Mark 13:35 it will all occur within a twelve-hour period. For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-52. [Revelation 11:12, 13]
LK17:32 You [disciples] remember Lot’s wife! 786 [Genesis 19:26]
786 Remember Lot’s wife: Do not ever look back as if longing for those things to be left behind.
LK17:33 Whoever seeks to preserve their own soul, will lose it. But, whoever loses it will regenerate it alive. 787
787 Regenerate it alive: Or, KJV: shall preserve it; BER: shall revitalize it; RHM: shall give it a living birth; KIT: he will generate it alive. The Greek is ZOO-GONESEI [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #2225].
LK17:34 I tell you this: In that night 788 there will be two in one bed – one will be received home 789 and the other abandoned. 790
788 In that night: During the day of revelation some will be on the dark or nighttime of the earth.
789 One will be received home: Or, taken away. The Greek is PARALEMPHTHESETAI [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #3880, to receive near, associate intimately; from 2983 = to take, to get hold of, to seize or remove violently]. For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on related words and compare John 14:3 [PARALEMPSOMAI = LKV: receive unto myself; ABU: will take you to myself; BEC: take you home with me; NWT: receive you home to myself; NJB: take you to myself]; Acts 1:11 [ANALEMPHTHEIS = KJV: taken up from you into heaven (NAS). The word is a virtual synonym for “rapture” [caught away, snatch quickly] in HARPAGMON at 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17.
790 The other abandoned: Or, left behind. The end-time Saints will be judged in the flesh [sealed – Revelation 7:3, 4] with the faithful caught away to heaven. The unfaithful will be abandoned to experience the plagues upon Babylon the Great and their own extinction. [Revelation 11:12, 13; 14:14-16; 15:1-3; 18:4]
LK17:35 There will be two grinding in the same place 791 – one will be received home, but the other abandoned.
791 Two grinding in the same place: At work on the daytime side of the earth.
LK17:36 [[Two men will be in the field 792 – one will be received home and the other abandoned.”]]
792 Two men will be in the field: Some texts omit this verse.
LK17:37 And then his disciples asked Jesus, “Master, where 793 [will they be taken]?” But Jesus answered them: “Wherever the body, 794 there the eagles will be gathered together.” 795
793 Master, where: Or, TCN: where will it be, Master? The disciples are interested in the faithful end-time Saints and where they are “taken along.”
794 Wherever the body: Or, KJV: wheresoever the body is; WEY: where the dead body is; LAM: wherever the corpse is; WMS: wherever there is carrion. For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew 24:28 where PTOMA [corpse; fallen body] is used instead of Luke’s SOMA [body]. There is an echo here of Job 39:29-30, “An eagle ascends skyward… far into the distance its eyes search… and where the carcass is, there they are.” [NCMM] For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Revelation 11:8, 9. There may be two meanings: a] where the Body of Christ is the end-time Saints will gather in the air [1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17]; or, b] the end-time Saints will be taken away when as a body they become like a corpse. [Revelation 11:12, 13]
795 There the eagles will be gathered together: Or, WEY: there also the vultures flock together; MOF: vultures will gather. The words echo Isaiah 40:31. It is possible the Nazarene borrows the wording of Job 39:30 and Isaiah 40:31 in a conflate, or compound paraphrase, not so much as an interpretation of these verses, but using the phrasing for his own purpose

Review Questions on Chapter Seventeen

How often must one forgive a repentant sinner?
How does Jesus answer the request for more faith?
How should we view ourselves AFTER obeying every command?
How does Jesus answer he Pharisees’ question about the kingdom?
What truths does he tell his disciples about his revelation?

Mark Heber Miller