Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 17:2
It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
2. It were better for him, &c.] The literal rendering of the verse is “It is for his advantage if a millstone is hanging round his neck, and he has been flung into the sea, rather than that, &c.” In other words, the fate of a man who is lying drowned at the bottom of the sea is better than if his continuance in life would have led to causing “one of these little ones” to stumble. The general thought is like that of Queen Blanche, who used to say of her son St Louis when he was a boy, that she would rather see him dead at her feet than know that he had fallen into a deadly sin.
a millstone ] The true reading here is lithos mulikos, not mulos onikos, a millstone so large as to require an ass to work it. This is introduced from Mat 18:6.
one of these little ones ] St Mark adds “that believe in me” (Luk 9:42). The reference is not to children, or the young, though of course the warning applies no less to their case; but primarily to publicans and weak believers. Christ calls even the Apostles ‘children, Joh 13:33 (cf. 1Jn 2:12-13).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 2. A mill-stone] That drowning a person with a stone tied about the neck was an ancient mode of punishment, see proved in the note on Mt 18:6; Mt 18:7, to which let the following be added. To have a mill-stone hanged about the neck, was a common proverb. “Samuel saith, A man may marry, and after that addict himself to the study of the law. Rab. Jochanan saith, No: shall he addict himself to the study of the law with a mill-stone about his neck?”
The place in Aristophanes, to which the reader is referred in the note on Mt 18:6, is the following: –
,
“Lifting him up into the air, I will plunge him into the deep: a great stone being hung about his neck.” Aristoph. in Equit. ver. 1359.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
It were better for him that a millstone,….
[See comments on Mt 18:6] and
[See comments on Mr 9:42].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
It were well for him ( ). An old word, but only here in the N.T., from and this from , to pay, and , the taxes. So it pays the taxes, it returns expenses, it is profitable. Literally here, “It is profitable for him” (dative case, ). Matthew has (it is advantageous, bears together for).
If a millstone were hanged ( ). Literally, “if a millstone is hanged.” Present passive indicative from (to lie or be placed around). It is used as a perfect passive of . So it is a first-class condition, determined as fulfilled, not second-class as the English translations imply. is simply a stone (), belonging to a mill. Here only in the text of Westcott and Hort, not in Mr 9:42 which is like Mt 18:6 where the upper millstone is turned by an ass, which see.
Were thrown (). Perfect passive indicative from , old verb. Literally, is thrown or has been thrown or cast or hurled. Mark has and Matthew , which see, all three verbs vivid and expressive. Rather than (). The comparative is not here expressed before as one would expect. It is implied in . See the same idiom in Lu 15:7.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
It were better [] . Only here in New Testament. The verb means to pay what is due, and is equivalent to our phrase, it pays.
Millstone. Compare Mt 18:6. The correct reading here is liqov mulikov, a millstone; not a great millstone as Matthew.
Thrown [] . Hurled : with an underlying sense of violence, called out by so great an outrage.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “It were better for him,” (lusitelei auto) “it profits or would profit him,” be more profitable to him, Mar 9:42.
2) “That a millstone were hanged about his neck,” (ei lithos mulikos perikeitai peri ton trachelon autou) “If a millstone is or should be put around his neck,” for purposes of taking him to death in the bottom of the sea, or were already put around his neck.
3) “And he cast into the sea,” (kai erriptai eis ten thalassan) “And he were thrown into the sea,” to rise no more, to be drowned, to die, than to injure or obstruct one of my workers.
4) “Than that he should offend one of these little ones.” (he hina skandalise ton mikron touton hena) “Than that he should offend (or cause to stumble) one of these little ones,” one of these young, tender, immature disciples of my church company; Gal 6:1; Mat 18:6.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(2) It were batter for him . . .See Note on Mat. 18:6, where the order of the two sayings is inverted. Assuming the words to have been repeated where we find them here, the little ones must mean the disciples of Christ who are, in both senses of the word offended by the worldliness of those who profess to be religious. They are made to stumble by the temptation to follow the bad example, or their faith in the reality of godliness is shaken by seeing that the form exists without the power.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. A millstone See our note on Mat 18:7.
These little ones Publicans and sinners, and others lately converted to Jesus. Our Lord, as we understand it, uttered these words in Matthew as a general truth; he utters them here in application to a particular class. They were little ones as being but babes in Christ.
2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
Ver. 2. See Trapp on “ Mat 18:6 “ See Trapp on “ Mat 18:7 “
2. ] See Mat 18:6-7 , and notes.
. ., perhaps the publicans and sinners of ch. Luk 15:1 ; perhaps also, repeated with reference to what took place, Matt. l. c.
Luk 17:2 . ( , ), it profits or pays; here only in N.T. = in Mat 18:6 . , a millstone, not a great millstone, one driven by an ass ( , T.R.), as in Mt.: the vehement emphasis of Christ’s words is toned down in Lk. here as often elsewhere. The realistic expression of Mt. is doubtless truer to the actual utterance of Jesus, who would speak of the offences created by ambition with passionate abhorrence. = perf. pass. of in sense = has been placed; with , another perfect, suggesting the idea of an action already complete the miscreant with a stone round his neck thrown into the sea. : here again a subdued expression compared with Mt. , than to scandalise; the subj. with = the infinitive. Vide Winer, 44, 8.
better = well. Greek. lusiteleo. Occurs only here.
that = if. App-118.
millstone. See note on Mat 18:6.
about = round. Greek. peri. App-104.
cast = hurled (with violence).
into. Greek. eis. App-104.
offend = be a cause of stumbling to. This was spoken with reference to the traditions of the Pharisees in Luk 16:15-30.
2.] See Mat 18:6-7, and notes.
. ., perhaps the publicans and sinners of ch. Luk 15:1;-perhaps also, repeated with reference to what took place, Matt. l. c.
Luk 17:2. , of these) By this pronoun, Luke shows evidently that the little ones were present in the midst of them.
better: Mat 18:6, Mat 26:24, Mar 9:42, 1Co 9:15, 2Pe 2:1-3
one: Isa 40:11, Zec 13:7, Mat 18:3-5, Mat 18:10, Mat 18:14, Joh 21:15, 1Co 8:11, 1Co 8:12, 1Co 9:22
Reciprocal: Mat 5:30 – offend Mat 10:42 – one Mat 18:5 – receive Rom 14:1 – weak Rom 14:13 – put Rom 14:21 – whereby 1Co 8:9 – take 1Jo 2:10 – occasion of stumbling
2
The foregoing paragraph does not excuse any particular man who causes another to stumble. Being drowned will not exempt a guilty man from the punishment that will otherwise be due him after the judgment. The statement is used only as a contrast, to give an idea of the severity of that punishment. Little children, in the ordinary sense of that word, are not responsible and hence cannot stumble over wrong doing. Therefore the little ones are those described at Mat 18:5; Mat 18:10.
It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
[That a millstone were hanged about his neck.] There is mention among the Talmudic authors, concerning an ass-mill; and it is distinguished from a hand-mill. “Whoso hireth a house of his neighbour, he may build an ass-mill, but not a hand-mill.”
To have a millstone hanged about his neck was a common proverb. “Samuel saith, It is a tradition, that a man may marry, and after that apply himself to the study of the law. But R. Jochanan saith, No. Shall he addict himself to the study of the law with a millstone about his neck?”
Suidas tells us, When they drowned any in the sea, they hung stones about their necks. And quotes that of Aristophanes:
Lifting him up, I’ll plunge him to the deep,
A stone hung at his neck.
Luk 17:2. Gain. Peculiar to Luke. The reference to the effect of the behavior of the Pharisees is sustained by the mention of little ones.
Verse 2
Offend one of these little ones; lead any one of the humble disciples of Christ away into sin.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Fuente: Lightfoot Commentary Gospels
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament