Luke 17

• Woe!: This is a strong warning or expression of sorrow. In the Bible, it often introduces a message of judgment. See study notes on 6:24–26; 11:42–52.

• the one through whom they come: Leaders have more responsibility because they have to give an account for themselves and those they lead (see James 3:1).

A millstone is a large, round stone with a hole in its center. People used it to grind grain in a mill. A millstone could weigh hundreds of pounds.

Even if he sins against you seven times in a day: The number seven here does not mean an exact number, but rather “many times” (see Psalm 119:164). See Matthew 18:21–22.

• A mustard seed was a common example of something very small (see 13:19).

• you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted': Black mulberry trees can live for hundreds of years and have wide and deep roots, making them very hard to pull out of the ground.

• it will obey you: This does not mean people should use faith to perform random miracles. God has unlimited power, and those who trust him will see him act according to his will.

In Greco-Roman culture, servants were expected to serve their masters faithfully. Faith (17:5–6) includes obeying Christ and submitting to his commands.

While Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem: see study note on 9:51–19:44.

This healing reveals the compassion and power of Jesus. In Luke, the blessings of salvation are joyfully received by many outside Israel.

They stood at a distance: See study note on 5:12. People with leprosy had to stay away from others and shout, “Unclean, unclean!” (Leviticus 13:45–46).

• “Go, show yourselves to the priests.”: Leviticus 14:2–32 guides priests on how to determine what is leprosy and declare a leper ceremonially clean (see study notes on Luke 5:12, 14).

• as they were in their way: To leave without yet being healed required faith, which Jesus was testing (compare 2 Kings 5:9–14).

The one man who returned to thank Jesus was a Samaritan, a hated foreigner in the eyes of most Jews (see study note on 10:33).

your faith has made you well! (or your faith has saved you): The Greek verb can refer to either physical or spiritual healing. The physical healings of Jesus show the salvation that his kingdom brings.

• When the kingdom of God would come: Many Jews believed that the Messiah (Christ) would establish God's kingdom in Jerusalem. They expected him to defeat Israel's enemies and bring peace, prosperity, justice, and righteousness (see 3:15; compare Acts 1:6).

  The Pharisees were likely questioning the claim that Jesus was the Messiah (God’s chosen king). He was not defeating the Romans or setting up a visible kingdom on earth, as they expected. Jesus did not deny this future aspect of the kingdom (see Luke 21:27; Matthew 24:30–31). But he explained that the kingdom of God was being revealed through his ministry, though they were missing it.

• The kingdom of God will not come with observable signs: Jewish writings in the time of Jesus expected visible signs in the sky to announce the Messiah's kingdom. Jesus confirmed that such signs would appear (see Luke 17:24; 21:25; Acts 2:19–20). But the Pharisees were missing how God’s kingdom was already being shown in the ministry of Jesus at that time (compare Luke 7:22).

• the kingdom of God is in your midst (or is within you, or is in your grasp): The kingdom of God was already being shown through the words and actions of Jesus. It is unlikely that Jesus would say, “the kingdom of God is in your midst,” to those rejecting his message.

This is the first of two teachings in the Gospel of Luke about the coming of the kingdom of God and the return of the Son of Man (a title Jesus uses for himself). The second teaching appears later in chapter 21.

you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man: This may refer to his time on earth with his disciples or to the time of his second coming.

• People will tell you, ‘Look, there He is!: False messiahs have appeared throughout history. In the first century, many people claimed to be God's agents of salvation (see Acts 5:36–37; 21:38). Jesus warned his disciples not to follow these false leaders.

• just as lightning flashes: Lightning lights up the whole sky and is visible to everyone in the area. Similarly, when Jesus suddenly returns, it will be evident to everyone.

suffer many things: Jesus would soon die by crucifixion (see study note on 9:22). Crucifixion was a form of execution used by the Romans. The victim was nailed or tied to a wooden cross and left to die.

in the days of Noah … in the days of Lot: See Genesis 6–9 for Noah and Genesis 18:16–19:29 for Lot. Both stories describe God's severe judgment against human evil.

Lot’s wife turned into a pillar of salt when she looked longingly back at Sodom (Genesis 19:26). She is an example of those who hold on to their old way of life instead of trusting God.

one will be taken and the other left: The comparisons to God's judgment in the great flood and against Sodom (17:26–29), and the reference to vultures and a dead body (17:37), suggest that this separation happens at the final judgment. This is when the wicked are taken away in judgment and the righteous are left (see Malachi 3:18; Matthew 25:32).

so these signs indicate that the end is near: This clause, which does not appear explicitly in the Greek, explains the significance of the cryptic saying about the vulture.