Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent, [1886], at sacred-texts.com
Luke Chapter 17
Impossible (ἀνένδεκτον)
Inadmissible. Only here in New Testament. See on it cannot be, Luk 13:33.
Offences
See on offend, Mat 5:29; and compare on Mat 16:23.
It were better (λυσιτελεῖ)
Only here in New Testament. The verb means to pay what is due, and is equivalent to our phrase, it pays.
Millstone
Compare Mat 18:6. The correct reading here is λίθος μυλικός, a millstone; not a great millstone as Matthew
Thrown (ἔῤῥιπται)
Hurled: with an underlying sense of violence, called out by so great an outrage.
Rebuke
See on straitly charged, Luk 9:21.
Sycamine
Or mulberry. Luke distinguishes between this and συκομορέα, the fig-mulberry (Luk 19:4). The names were sometimes confused, but a physician would readily make the distinction, as both were used medicinally.
I trow not
Omitted by the best texts.
Unprofitable (ἀχρεῖοι)
From χρεία, requirement; something which the master must pay. Not useless, but having rendered no service beyond what was due. "The profit does not begin until the servant goes beyond his obligation" (Meyer). "A servant owes all things" (Bengel).
Through the midst of
It may also mean between or on the borders of. The Am. Rev. insists on the latter.
Lepers
See on Luk 5:12.
With observation (μετὰ παρατηρήσεως)
Only here in New Testament. The progress of the kingdom cannot be defined by visible marks like that of an earthly kingdom. Its growth in the world is a process of pervasion, like the working of the leaven through the lump.
Within
Better, in the midst of. Meyer acutely remarks that "you refers to the Pharisees, in whose hearts nothing certainly found a place less than did the ethical kingdom of God." Moreover, Jesus is not speaking of the inwardness of the kingdom, but of its presence. "The whole language of the kingdom of heaven being within men, rather than men being within the kingdom, is modern" (Trench, after Meyer).
Lighteneth (ἀστράπτουσα)
Only here and Luk 24:4.
Rejected
See on disallowed, Pe1 2:4; and tried, Pe1 1:7.
Goods
See on Mat 12:29.
On the house-top
See on Mat 24:17.
Shall preserve (ζωογονήσει)
Only here and Act 7:19. Originally to engender; thence to produce alive or endue with life, and so to preserve alive. Wyc., shall quicken it.
Eagles
See on Mat 24:28.