11 While He was on the way to Jerusalem , He was passing between e Samaria and Galilee . 12 As He entered a village , ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; 13 and they raised 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 were going , they were cleansed . 15 Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed , turned back , glorifying God with a loud voice , 16 and he fell on his face at His feet , giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan . 17 Then Jesus answered and said , "Were there not ten cleansed ? But the nine -where are they? 18 "Was no one found who returned to give glory to God , except this foreigner ?" 19 And He said to him, "Stand up and go ; your faith has made you well ."
20 Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming , He answered them and said , "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed ; 21 nor will they say , 'Look , here it is!' or , 'There it is!' For behold , the kingdom of God is in your midst ." 22 And He said to the disciples , " The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man , and you will not see it. 23 " They will say to you, 'Look there ! Look here !' Do not go away , and do not run after them. 24 " For just like the lightning , when it flashes out of one part of the sky , shines to the other part of the sky , so will the Son of Man be in His day . 25 " But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation . 26 " And just as it happened in the days of Noah , so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man : 27 they were eating , they were drinking , they were marrying , they were being given in marriage , until the day that Noah entered the ark , and the flood came and destroyed them all . 28 "It was the same as happened in the days of Lot : they were eating , they were drinking , they were buying , they were selling , they were planting , they were building ; 29 but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all . 30 "It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed . 31 "On that day , the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back e . 32 " Remember Lot's wife . 33 " Whoever e seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever e loses his life will preserve it. 34 "I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed ; one will be taken and the other will be left . 35 " There will be two women grinding at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left . 36 [" Two men will be in the field ; one will be taken and the other will be left ."] 37 And answering they said to Him, "Where , Lord ?" And He said to them, " Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered ."
181 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart , 2 saying , "In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man . 3 "There was a widow in that city , and she kept coming to him, saying , 'Give me legal protection from my opponent .' 4 "For a while he was unwilling e ; but afterward e he said to himself , 'Even though I do not fear God nor respect man , 5 yet because this widow bothers e me, I will give her legal protection , otherwise e by continually e coming she will wear me out.' " 6 And the Lord said , "Hear what the unrighteous judge said ; 7 now , will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night , and will He delay long over them? 8 "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly . However , when the Son of Man comes , will He find faith on the earth ?"
9 And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous , and viewed others with contempt : 10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray , one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector . 11 "The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself : 'God , I thank You that I am not like other people : swindlers , unjust , adulterers , or even like this tax collector . 12 'I fast twice a week ; I pay tithes of all that I get .' 13 "But the tax collector , standing some distance away , was even unwilling e to lift up his eyes to heaven , but was beating his breast , saying , 'God , be merciful to me, the sinner !' 14 "I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other ; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled , but he who humbles himself will be exalted ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 1:0
Complete ConciseChapter Contents
The Preface. (1-4) Zacharias and Elisabeth. (5-25) Christ's birth announced. (26-38) Interview of Mary and Elisabeth. (39-56) The birth of John the Baptist. (57-66) The song of Zacharias. (67-80)
Commentary on Luke 1:1-4
(Read Luke 1:1-4)
Luke will not write of things about which Christians may safely differ from one another, and hesitate within themselves; but the things which are, and ought to be surely believed. The doctrine of Christ is what the wisest and best of men have ventured their souls upon with confidence and satisfaction. And the great events whereon our hopes depend, have been recorded by those who were from the beginning eye-witnesses and ministers of the word, and who were perfected in their understanding of them through Divine inspiration.
Commentary on Luke 1:5-25
(Read Luke 1:5-25)
The father and mother of John the Baptist were sinners as all are, and were justified and saved in the same way as others; but they were eminent for piety and integrity. They had no children, and it could not be expected that Elisabeth should have any in her old age. While Zacharias was burning incense in the temple, the whole multitude of the people were praying without. All the prayers we offer up to God, are acceptable and successful only by Christ's intercession in the temple of God above. We cannot expect an interest therein if we do not pray, and pray with our spirits, and are not earnest in prayer. Nor can we expect that the best of our prayers should gain acceptance, and bring an answer of peace, but through the mediation of Christ, who ever lives, making intercession. The prayers Zacharias often made, received an answer of peace. Prayers of faith are filed in heaven, and are not forgotten. Prayers made when we were young and entering into the world, may be answered when we are old and going out of the world. Mercies are doubly sweet that are given in answer to prayer. Zacharias shall have a son in his old age, who shall be instrumental in the conversion of many souls to God, and preparing them to receive the gospel of Christ. He shall go before Him with courage, zeal, holiness, and a mind dead to earthly interests and pleasures. The disobedient and rebellious would be brought back to the wisdom of their righteous forefathers, or rather, brought to attend to the wisdom of that Just One who was coming among them. Zacharias heard all that the angel said; but his unbelief spake. In striking him dumb, God dealt justly with him, because he had objected against God's word. We may admire the patience of God towards us. God dealt kindly with him, for thus he prevented his speaking any more distrustful, unbelieving words. Thus also God confirmed his faith. If by the rebukes we are under for our sin, we are brought to give the more credit to the word of God, we have no reason to complain. Even real believers are apt to dishonour God by unbelief; and their mouths are stopped in silence and confusion, when otherwise they would have been praising God with joy and gratitude. In God's gracious dealings with us we ought to observe his gracious regards to us. He has looked on us with compassion and favour, and therefore has thus dealt with us.
Commentary on Luke 1:26-38
(Read Luke 1:26-38)
We have here an account of the mother of our Lord; though we are not to pray to her, yet we ought to praise God for her. Christ must be born miraculously. The angel's address means only, Hail, thou that art the especially chosen and favoured of the Most High, to attain the honour Jewish mothers have so long desired. This wondrous salutation and appearance troubled Mary. The angel then assured her that she had found favour with God, and would become the mother of a son whose name she should call Jesus, the Son of the Highest, one in a nature and perfection with the Lord God. JESUS! the name that refreshes the fainting spirits of humbled sinners; sweet to speak and sweet to hear, Jesus, a Saviour! We know not his riches and our own poverty, therefore we run not to him; we perceive not that we are lost and perishing, therefore a Saviour is a word of little relish. Were we convinced of the huge mass of guilt that lies upon us, and the wrath that hangs over us for it, ready to fall upon us, it would be our continual thought, Is the Saviour mine? And that we might find him so, we should trample on all that hinders our way to him. Mary's reply to the angel was the language of faith and humble admiration, and she asked no sign for the confirming her faith. Without controversy, great was the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh, 1 Timothy 3:16. Christ's human nature must be produced so, as it was fit that should be which was to be taken into union with the Divine nature. And we must, as Mary here, guide our desires by the word of God. In all conflicts, let us remember that with God nothing is impossible; and as we read and hear his promises, let us turn them into prayers, Behold the willing servant of the Lord; let it be unto me according to thy word.
Commentary on Luke 1:39-56
(Read Luke 1:39-56)
It is very good for those who have the work of grace begun in their souls, to communicate one to another. On Mary's arrival, Elisabeth was conscious of the approach of her who was to be the mother of the great Redeemer. At the same time she was filled with the Holy Ghost, and under his influence declared that Mary and her expected child were most blessed and happy, as peculiarly honoured of and dear to the Most High God. Mary, animated by Elisabeth's address, and being also under the influence of the Holy Ghost, broke out into joy, admiration, and gratitude. She knew herself to be a sinner who needed a Saviour, and that she could no otherwise rejoice in God than as interested in his salvation through the promised Messiah. Those who see their need of Christ, and are desirous of righteousness and life in him, he fills with good things, with the best things; and they are abundantly satisfied with the blessings he gives. He will satisfy the desires of the poor in spirit who long for spiritual blessings, while the self-sufficient shall be sent empty away.
Commentary on Luke 1:57-66
(Read Luke 1:57-66)
In these verses we have an account of the birth of John the Baptist, and the great joy among all the relations of the family. He shall be called Johanan, or "Gracious," because he shall bring in the gospel of Christ, wherein God's grace shines most bright. Zacharias recovered his speech. Unbelief closed his mouth, and believing opened it again: he believers, therefore he speaks. When God opens our lips, our mouths must show forth his praise; and better be without speech, than not use it in praising God. It is said, The hand of the Lord was working with John. God has ways of working on children in their infancy, which we cannot account for. We should observe the dealings of God, and wait the event.
Commentary on Luke 1:67-80
(Read Luke 1:67-80)
Zacharias uttered a prophecy concerning the kingdom and salvation of the Messiah. The gospel brings light with it; in it the day dawns. In John the Baptist it began to break, and increased apace to the perfect day. The gospel is discovering; it shows that about which we were utterly in the dark; it is to give light to those that sit in darkness, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. It is reviving; it brings light to those that sit in the shadow of death, as condemned prisoners in the dungeon. It is directing; it is to guide our feet in the way of peace, into that way which will bring us to peace at last, Romans 3:17. John gave proofs of strong faith, vigorous and holy affections, and of being above the fear and love of the world. Thus he ripened for usefulness; but he lived a retired life, till he came forward openly as the forerunner of the Messiah. Let us follow peace with all men, as well as seek peace with God and our own consciences. And if it be the will of God that we live unknown to the world, still let us diligently seek to grow strong in the grace of Jesus Christ.