Luke 10:23

And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(23-24) Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see . . .—Another instance of repeated words, St. Matthew reporting them as spoken after the parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:16. See Note on that verse).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

10:17-24 All our victories over Satan, are obtained by power derived from Jesus Christ, and he must have all the praise. But let us beware of spiritual pride, which has been the destruction of many. Our Lord rejoiced at the prospect of the salvation of many souls. It was fit that particular notice should be taken of that hour of joy; there were few such, for He was a man of sorrows: in that hour in which he saw Satan fall, and heard of the good success of his ministers, in that hour he rejoiced. He has ever resisted the proud, and given grace to the humble. The more simply dependent we are on the teaching, help, and blessing of the Son of God, the more we shall know both of the Father and of the Son; the more blessed we shall be in seeing the glory, and hearing the words of the Divine Saviour; and the more useful we shall be made in promoting his cause.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See the notes at Matthew 13:16-17.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

23, 24. (See on [1630]Mt 13:16, 17).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Ver. 23,24. See Poole on "Matthew 13:16", and See Poole on "Matthew 13:17".

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And he turned him unto his disciples,.... Both to the twelve apostles, and seventy disciples;

and said privately; or to them apart: the phrase "privately" is wanting in the Vulgate Latin version:

blessed are the eyes that see the things that ye see; the person of the Messiah, his kingdom setting up in the world, miracles wrought by him, and Satan falling before him; See Gill on Matthew 13:16.

Geneva Study Bible

{7} And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:

(7) The difference between the Old Testament and the New consists in the measure of revelation.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

Luke 10:23-24. See on Matthew 13:16 f., where the historical connection is quite different. But the significant beatitude may have been spoken on different occasions, especially with a different reference of meaning (as here in particular βλέπειν has a different sense from what it has in Matthew).

καὶ στραφεὶς κ.τ.λ.] Here we have a further step in the narrative (comp. Luke 10:22), which is marked by κατʼ ἰδίαν, to be taken along with στραφείς. This turning, which excluded the others who were present (see Luke 10:25), is to be regarded as perceptible by the movement and gesture of the speaker. “Lucas accurate notare solet pausas et flexus sermonum Domini,” Bengel. Consequently the reproach of inappropriateness, occasioned by the omission of δεῦτε πρός με πάντες (in Matthew), does not touch Luke (Holtzmann, p. 147; Weiss).

καὶ βασιλεῖς] peculiar to Luke. Think of David, Solomon, Hezekiah, and others.

ἰδεῖν … ἀκούετε] The point of the contrast varies: to see what ye see … and to hear what ye (actually) hear. Comp. on 2 Corinthians 11:29.

Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 10:23. στραφεὶς: a second impressive gesture, if that in Luke 10:22 be retained, implying that Jesus now more directly addresses the disciples. But the first στραφεὶς is altogether doubtful.—εἶπε: the word, spoken κατʼ ἰδίαν to the disciples, is substantially = Matthew 13:16, there referring to the happiness conferred on the disciples in being privileged to hear their Master’s parabolic teaching.—βασιλεῖς: in place of Mt.’s δίκαιοι, which expresses an idea more intelligible to Jews than to Gentiles.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

23. Blessed are the eyes] Comp. Matthew 13:16.

Bengel's Gnomen

Luke 10:23. Καὶ στραφεὶς, and having turned) Luke is wont accurately to note the pauses and turns in the Lord’s discourses. Jesus had prayed to the Father: after that, He had spoken concerning the Father: now He directs His discourse to the disciples apart.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 23, 24. - And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: for I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see. Alluding, especially, to such prophets and their words as Balaam (in Numbers 24:17) and Jacob (in Genesis 49:18). Keble has a quaint verse here, striking, as is usual with him, the central truth -

"Save that each little voice in turn
Some glorious truth proclaims;
What sages would have died to learn
Now taught by cottage dames." These last words, the evangelist expressly says, were spoken privately. In fact, such a statement could only have been addressed to the inner circle - to those men (not exclusively the twelve) who had been much under the immediate influence of the Lord's teaching about himself. Gradually their sense as to who and what he was was becoming more acute. Glimpses of his Divinity ever and anon flashed before their eyes. But, to the last, their faith was very weak and wavering. Such words as these, after what had gone before, must have sunk deep into many of the listeners' hearts. Luke 10:23