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Luk_17:1-4. The Pharisees (Luk_16:14) are despatched and dismissed (Luk_16:15-31), and Jesus now again turns Himself, as at Luk_16:1, to His disciples, and that with an instruction and admonition in reference to σκάνδαλα , a subject which He approached the more naturally that it was precisely the conduct of the Pharisees which had occasioned the entire set of discourses (Luk_15:2), and especially had introduced the last portion (Luk_16:14), that was of a very offensive nature to the disciples of Jesus, and might become injurious to their moral judgment and behaviour. Comp. already Theophylact. The course of the previous discourse therefore still goes on, and it is unfair to Luke to deny to the formula εἶπε δὲ κ . τ . λ . the attestation of the point of time, and to maintain that there is no connection with the entire section, Luk_17:1-10 (de Wette, Holtzmann; comp. Michaelis, Paulus, Kuinoel).
The contents of Luk_17:1-4 are of such a kind that these sayings, especially in a dissimilar form, might be used several times on various occasions (comp. Mat_18:7; Mat_18:6; Mat_18:15; Mat_18:21 f.). In the form in which Luke gives them, he found them in his original source of the journey.[213]
ἀνένδεκτόν ἐστι ] equivalent to οὐκ ἐνδέχεται , Luk_13:33, not preserved elsewhere than in Gregor. Cor. and Artem. Oneir. ii. 70. The expression ἔνδεκτόν ἐστι occurs in Apollonius, de Constr. p. 181, 10, de Adv. p. 544, 1.
τοῦ μὴ ἐλθεῖν ] the genitive dependent on the neuter adjective used as a substantive (Kühner, II. p. 122): the impossible (impossibility) of their not coming occurs. Winer views it otherwise, p. 293 [E. T. 412].
λυσιτελεῖ αὐτῷ , εἰ ] it is profitable for him, if. In what follows observe the perfects, cast around, and he is thrown, by which the matter is declared as completed, and in its completion is made present.
ἤ ] as Luk_15:7.
ἵνα ] than to deceive, i.e. than if he remained alive to deceive. The being drowned is here conceived of as before the completion of the deceiving. Matthew has it otherwise, Luk_18:6.
τῶν μικρῶν τούτων ] pointing to those present, not, however, children (Bengel and others), but disciples, who were still feeble, and therefore easily led astray,—little ones among the disciples, beginners and simple ones. According to Luk_15:1-2, it is to be supposed that some of them at least were converted publicans and sinners. To explain the expression from Mat_18:6 or Luk_10:42 is not allowable, since there it has in its connection a reason for its insertion, which does not occur here.
Luk_17:3. “Considering that offences against the weak are thus inevitable and punishable, I warn you: Be on guard for yourselves, take care of yourselves lest offences occur in your own circle.” In what way especially such offences are to be avoided, the following exhortation then declares, to wit, by indefatigable forgiving love, by that disposition therefore which was, in fact, so greatly wanting to the Pharisees, that they could murmur, as at Luk_15:2.
ἁμάρτῃ ] shall have committed a fault, namely, against thee, which the context proves by ἄφες αὐτῷ and Luk_17:4.
ἐπιτίμ . αὐτῷ ] censure him, ἐπίπληξον ἀδελφικῶς τε καὶ διορθωτικῶς , Euthymius Zigabenus. Comp. 2Ti_4:2.
ἐπιστρώψῃ ] a graphic touch, shall have turned round, i.e. shall have come back to thee ( πρός σε belongs to this). He has previously turned away from him, and departed.
The representation by means of ἑπτάκις κ . τ . λ . (comp. Psa_119:164) finds its justification in its purpose, to wit, to lay stress upon forgiveness as incapable of being wearied out; hence we are not to think of the possible want of principle of such an offender, nor to regard the expression either as a misunderstanding (Michaelis) or as a transformation from Mat_18:21 f. (de Wette, Weiss). Whether Luk_17:4 stood in the Logia after Mat_18:15 is an open question, at least it does not form the necessary presupposition of Mat_18:21.
[213] According to Holtzmann (comp. Weisse), Luke attempts the return to Mar_9:42 (Mat_18:6), but finds the assertions of Mar_9:43-47 “too glaring and paradoxical.” But these assertions were already from the Logia too widely known and current for this; and how wanting in motive would be that return, which still would not be carried out! Comp. Weiss in the Jahrb. f. D. Theol. 1864, p. 101.