v1-4: Jesus spoke to the disciples. He laid down a standard of discipleship for all who would follow Him.

The disciple is to be strict with himself, avoid being the cause of stumbling (v1-2). See 1 Cor 8.1-13; be careful and thoughtful. The reality of the world is such that offences will come; but that does not provide the disciple with an excuse for being the cause of offence. The Lord Jesus uses the phrase "these little ones," but does not refer explicitly to children (contrast Matt 18.6); the reference here seems to be to any believer.

The disciple is to be gentle with others, forgiving their wrongs. Whilst a rebuke may be necessary, we are not to hold grudges, Gen 27.41.

This attitude is different from that of the Pharisees, who sought to avoid their own responsibilities, whilst making burdens for others.

v5-10: Faith and obedience; what God has joined, let no man separate. Faith and obedience are the only way we can please God, Heb 11.6. Obedience without faith is useless, 18.9-14, 18-23; some claim to obey, but in reality they are rejecting the claims of Christ.

The servant's responsibility is to obey. He cannot expect commendation for simply doing his duty; 1 Cor 9.16, "necessity is laid upon me." We have to say that so many Christians need great encouragement to obey even in the smallest things; this may indicate unbelief.

Our duty; the unspiritual will always do the minimum to get by. The spiritual person is captivated by Jesus Christ; he goes further, works harder, does more; nothing is too much for him, as long as Christ is honoured. The Lord's words imply that we should do more than we do. 'We acknowledge a dutiful necessity of doing well; but the meritorious dignity of doing well we utterly renounce.' (Richard Hooker)

v11-13: The ten lepers were outside the village, standing at a distance. This was what was required of them (Lev 13.46). They called out to Jesus for pity. Jesus saw those standing at a distance, just as the father does when he sees the returning prodigal, see 15.20.

Lepers were allowed into a synagogue but were required to be together in a special space, apart from other worshippers. Outside the synagogue, they would spend their whole lives together, yet apart from everyone else. This detail marks the incident out as utterly accurate of the time.

v14: Obedience and faith rewarded. As they obeyed Jesus' words, they were healed.

v15-16: Only one leper returned to give thanks to Jesus. Although all nine were cleansed, only one acknowledged God's hand upon him. Gratitude is also important.

v17-19: The one leper was commended for he gave glory to God. His nationality was irrelevant here. Indeed, it was a lesson to the Jewish people, that a Samaritan had honoured God more then the Jews. Luke continues his theme of non-Jews being accepted by God; "this foreigner." Thankfulness is commanded in scripture, see Phil 4.6; we must not neglect this aspect of prayer. We do have a tendency to ask before praising, to recall our needs and wants before acknowledging God's goodness to us.

v20-21: The kingdom of God, now here in Christ, and Christ in us. The Pharisees had a particular expectation of some earthly kingdom, which the Lord answers, since the kingdom does not come with "careful observation" (Mark 13.21). He insisted that the kingdom had arrived, in Him, "the kingdom of God is amongst you" (NIV margin). The marginal reading is more helpful.

'The kingdom of heaven is within, but we must also make it without (outside),' Florence Nightingale.

There will be signs of the end, which we read in ch 21, but these are not the signs 'demanded' by unbelieving Jews, but signs as promised by God.

Clearly the fullest demonstration of the kingdom of God has yet to be, Rev 11.15, when all things will be subject to Christ. The gospels do refer also to a present kingdom, which is to do with the believer's experience of Christ now.

v22-24: The day of the Son of Man does not come by observation, for these things are spiritually discerned, and the Lord gives those signs which will precede His day (v26-37). The Son of Man will come "in His day", in the time He decides (see Gal 4.4, about His birth; Rom 5.6, about His death).

v25: "But first", at His first coming, He must suffer many things at the hands of men; "it was fitting" (Heb 2.10); "Did not the Christ have to suffer these things" (24.26). Jesus commanded His disciples not to be taken up with speculation about the future, but rather to realise what was about to happen. The details of the future must encourage service and bring comfort, not encourage speculation and bring confusion.

v26-30: Life continuing as normal, in total ignorance of God; the warnings of God's people will be rejected, such that His return will be unexpected. On the day that Noah entered the ark, and on the day that Lot left Sodom, judgment fell on unbelievers; the same will be true of the day when the Son of Man is revealed; see 2 Thess 1.7-9; Rev 1.7. The description here is different from His coming for the church. In 1 John 3.2, the Son of Man is revealed to those who believe in Him, and who love His appearing.

Notice that in Sodom, people were not being given in marriage, due to their homosexuality. Such is the accuracy of Scripture. We note also that the Lord Jesus speaks of the events of Noah and the flood, and of Lot and Sodom, as real historic events.

v31-33: The events predicted here, their suddenness and certainty, give perspective and priority. Material things are of little importance. Those who cling to the things of this world will suffer loss.

v34-36: Some are delivered from judgment, others are left to face judgment; those who face judgment suffer from carrion birds - vultures.