‏ Luke 17

* To avoid offences, To pray for increase of faith, Humility

taught.11-19. Ten lepers cleansed. (1-10) Christ's kingdom.

(20-37)

1-10 It is no abatement of their guilt by whom an offence

comes, nor will it lessen their punishment that offences will

come. Faith in God's pardoning mercy, will enable us to get over

the greatest difficulties in the way of forgiving our brethren.

As with God nothing is impossible, so all things are possible to

him that can believe. Our Lord showed his disciples their need

of deep humility. The Lord has such a property in every

creature, as no man can have in another; he cannot be in debt to

them for their services, nor do they deserve any return from

him. 11-19 A sense of our spiritual leprosy should make us very

humble whenever we draw near to Christ. It is enough to refer

ourselves to the compassions of Christ, for they fail not. We

may look for God to meet us with mercy, when we are found in the

way of obedience. Only one of those who were healed returned to

give thanks. It becomes us, like him, to be very humble in

thanksgivings, as well as in prayers. Christ noticed the one who

thus distinguished himself, he was a Samaritan. The others only

got the outward cure, he alone got the spiritual blessing. 20-37 The kingdom of God was among the Jews, or rather within

some of them. It was a spiritual kingdom, set up in the heart by

the power of Divine grace. Observe how it had been with sinners

formerly, and in what state the judgments of God, which they had

been warned of, found them. Here is shown what a dreadful

surprise this destruction will be to the secure and sensual.

Thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

When Christ came to destroy the Jewish nation by the Roman

armies, that nation was found in such a state of false security

as is here spoken of. In like manner, when Jesus Christ shall

come to judge the world, sinners will be found altogether

regardless; for in like manner the sinners of every age go on

securely in their evil ways, and remember not their latter end.

But wherever the wicked are, who are marked for eternal ruin,

they shall be found by the judgments of God.