1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe [unto him], through whom they come!
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.
3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
13 And they lifted up [their] voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
14 And when he saw [them], he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
16 And fell down on [his] face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where [are] the nine?
18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
22 And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see [it].
23 And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after [them], nor follow [them].
24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one [part] under heaven, shineth unto the other [part] under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.
25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.
26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed [them] all.
30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
32 Remember Lot’s wife.
33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two [men] in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
35 Two [women] shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
36 Two [men] shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body [is], thither will the eagles be gathered together.
Overview of Luke Chapter 17
Luke Chapter 17 presents a series of teachings and parables from Jesus, addressing various themes such as faith, forgiveness, humility, and the coming of the Kingdom of God. This chapter emphasizes the moral and spiritual responsibilities of believers while also highlighting the nature of God’s grace and the importance of a faithful response to His call.
Key Themes
- Forgiveness and Accountability: Jesus teaches the importance of forgiving others and the responsibilities that come with discipleship.
- Faith and Trust: The chapter emphasizes the necessity of faith, even when it seems small, and the power that it can wield.
- Humility and Service: Jesus illustrates the attitude of humility that should characterize His followers, focusing on servanthood.
- Awareness of the Kingdom: The chapter discusses the nature of the Kingdom of God and the signs of its coming.
Detailed Analysis
Verses 1-4: The Call to Forgiveness
In these verses, Jesus warns His disciples about causing others to sin and emphasizes the importance of forgiveness. He states that it is inevitable that offenses will come, but woe to those through whom they come.
- Responsibility of Believers: Followers of Christ are called to be mindful of their actions and their impact on others.
- Forgiveness as a Command: Jesus instructs that if a brother sins and repents, he must be forgiven even multiple times, highlighting the limitless nature of forgiveness.
Verses 5-10: The Power of Faith
Here, the apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith. Jesus responds with a profound teaching about the nature of faith, comparing it to a mustard seed.
- Small Faith, Great Power: Even faith as small as a mustard seed can accomplish great things, such as uprooting a mulberry tree.
- Servanthood and Humility: Jesus uses the parable of the servant to illustrate that disciples should not expect reward for merely fulfilling their duties.
Verses 11-19: The Healing of the Ten Lepers
This passage narrates the story of ten lepers who are healed by Jesus, but only one returns to give thanks.
- Gratitude: The importance of acknowledging and thanking God for His blessings is emphasized through the actions of the grateful Samaritan.
- Faith and Healing: Jesus tells the Samaritan that his faith has made him well, linking faith with physical and spiritual healing.
Verses 20-37: The Coming of the Kingdom
In this section, Jesus discusses the nature of the Kingdom of God and the signs that will accompany its coming.
- Internal vs. External Kingdom: Jesus asserts that the Kingdom of God is not merely observable but is within the hearts of believers.
- Preparation for the Kingdom: He warns of the suddenness of the coming of the Son of Man and the need for readiness and vigilance.
- Historical References: Jesus draws parallels with the days of Noah and Lot, illustrating the unexpected nature of divine judgment.
Conclusion
Luke Chapter 17 encapsulates essential teachings of Jesus that challenge believers to reflect on their attitudes towards forgiveness, faith, and the nature of the Kingdom of God. The chapter serves as a reminder of the moral responsibilities of discipleship and the importance of living a life characterized by gratitude, humility, and readiness for God’s coming reign.
