Luke 17 Jesus teaches about faith and obedience

1 Sin, Faith, Duty
Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come.

2 It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.

3 So watch yourselves.
“If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.

4 If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”

5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

6 He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

7 “Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’?

8 Would he not rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’?

9 Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do?

10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

11 Ten Healed of Leprosy
Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.

12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance

13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.

16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?

18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”

19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

20 The Coming of the Kingdom of God
Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation,

21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.”

22 Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.

23 Men will tell you, ‘There he is!’ or ‘Here he is!’ Do not go running off after them.

24 For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other.

25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

26 “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man.

27 People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.

28 “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building.

29 But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.

30 “It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed.

31 On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything.

32 Remember Lot’s wife!

33 Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.

34 I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left.

35 Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.”

37 “Where, Lord?” they asked.
He replied, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.”

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Analysis of Luke Chapter 17

Introduction: Luke Chapter 17 contains teachings and actions of Jesus that are rich in lessons about faith, duty, gratitude, and the kingdom of God. The chapter traverses multiple themes, including forgiveness, faith, humility, thankfulness, and the eschatological warnings of Jesus. This chapter can be divided into several sections for a more granular analysis:

Instruction on Causing Sin and Forgiveness (Luke 17:1-4)
Teaching about Faith (Luke 17:5-6)
The Role of the Unworthy Servant (Luke 17:7-10)
The Healing of the Ten Lepers (Luke 17:11-19)
The Coming of the Kingdom (Luke 17:20-37)

Instruction on Causing Sin and Forgiveness (Luke 17:1-4)

In the opening verses, Jesus addresses the inevitability of stumbling blocks in the world but condemns those through whom these stumbling blocks come. The specific Greek word used here is skandala, implying a trap or a snare that causes one to fall. Jesus emphasizes the gravity of leading others, especially “little ones” (a term that can signify children or younger believers), into sin, stating:

“It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.” (Luke 17:2, ESV)

This strong imagery underscores the seriousness of being a stumbling block to others. Jesus advances this by instructing His disciples on the importance of rebuking those who sin and forgiving those who repent. The emphasis here is on mutual accountability and the importance of fostering an environment where repentance is met with forgiveness, illustrating that the community of believers must embody these principles for spiritual health and growth.

Teaching about Faith (Luke 17:5-6)

In response to Jesus’ challenging command regarding forgiveness, the apostles ask, “Increase our faith!” (Luke 17:5). This request is telling as it bridges the disciples’ need for a greater capacity to follow Jesus’ demanding teachings. Jesus’ reply emphasizes that it is not the amount of faith that matters, but the presence of genuine faith:

“If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” (Luke 17:6, ESV)

The mustard seed, known for its minuscule size, contrasts with the great potential and power that even a small amount of true faith can unleash. The reference to the mulberry tree, known for its extensive root system, reinforces the idea that genuine faith can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

The Role of the Unworthy Servant (Luke 17:7-10)

Jesus continues with a parable about the unworthy servant to teach about humility and the proper attitude towards service in God’s kingdom. He depicts a servant who, after laboring in the field, still has duties to fulfill inside the household. Jesus points out that the master does not thank the servant because the servant had only done what was commanded.

“So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” (Luke 17:10, ESV)

This parable highlights the importance of serving God with humility and recognizing that our service is a duty rather than a basis for boasting or expecting special treatment. It refocuses the believer’s attitude towards service, establishing that it is out of love and obedience to God rather than for the sake of reward or recognition.

The Healing of the Ten Lepers (Luke 17:11-19)

As Jesus travels along the border between Samaria and Galilee, he encounters ten lepers who cry out for mercy. He instructs them to show themselves to the priests, adhering to the Levitical laws for cleansing (Leviticus 14). As they obey and begin their journey, they are healed. However, only one of the ten, a Samaritan, returns to thank Jesus:

“Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.” (Luke 17:15-16, ESV)

This narrative illustrates a stark contrast between the nine who do not return and the one who does. The Samaritan’s thankfulness underscores an essential aspect of the believer’s life: gratitude. Jesus’ rhetorical question about the other nine (“Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?”) not only highlights their ingratitude but also emphasizes the inclusivity of God’s grace, extending even to a Samaritan, who culturally would have been considered an outcast.

The Coming of the Kingdom (Luke 17:20-37)

The final section of the chapter deals with the eschatological teaching on the coming of the Kingdom of God. The Pharisees ask Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come, and He replies:

“The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:20-21, ESV)

Jesus’ response emphasizes the Kingdom’s present, yet often unobserved reality. It is not a political or territorial kingdom but a spiritual one that transcends physical boundaries. The Kingdom’s presence in the person of Jesus and among His disciples is a call to recognize the reign of God as already operative in their midst.

In verses 22-37, Jesus shifts to discussing the future full manifestation of the Kingdom, warning the disciples about the days of the Son of Man, a term that signifies both His present mission and future return. He details the unexpected and sudden nature of His second coming by comparing it to the days of Noah and Lot, where people were living ordinary lives when sudden destruction arrived:

“Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man…Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all.” (Luke 17:26-29, ESV)

The comparison to Noah and Lot serves as a caution against complacency. Jesus urges readiness and watchfulness, portraying His return as both imminent and unexpected. He uses additional imagery to emphasize this urgency, such as the plight of Lot’s wife, who looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt, symbolizing the peril of attachment to worldly things when called to move forward with God.

Finally, Jesus expands this eschatological emphasis by reiterating that, on that day, people will be taken by surprise, separating individuals even within close relationships:

“I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.” (Luke 17:34-35, ESV)

The vivid imagery of one being taken and the other left reveals the personal aspect of God’s judgment and the necessity of individual preparedness. This section concludes with the enigmatic statement, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather” (Luke 17:37), which cements the idea that just as vultures indicate death, certain signs will unmistakably herald the coming judgment.

Conclusion

Luke Chapter 17 is a profound chapter that addresses the multifaceted aspects of faith, duty, and the Kingdom of God. Through His teachings, Jesus underscores the grave responsibility of not leading others into sin, the power of even small faith, the humble attitude required in service, the importance of gratitude, and the urgent call to live in readiness for the coming kingdom.

The chapter seamlessly integrates practical lessons for daily living with eschatological warnings, aligning the present conduct of believers with the anticipation of future fulfillment in God’s kingdom. It challenges and encourages readers to live lives marked by repentance, forgiveness, faith, humility, gratitude, and readiness for Christ’s return. Through these teachings, Jesus provides a comprehensive guide for faithful living in light of the present and coming Kingdom of God.

Understanding the Key Messages in Luke 17: Insights and Explanation

In this chapter, Jesus teaches his disciples about the importance of faith and obedience. He uses the parable of the unprofitable servant to illustrate that following him requires complete obedience. Jesus also heals ten men with leprosy, but only one returns to thank him. Through this, he emphasizes the importance of gratitude and faith. Finally, Jesus answers questions about the coming kingdom of God, explaining that it will not be limited to a specific location but will be within the hearts of believers.

Notes

This chapter contains valuable lessons on faith, obedience, gratitude, and the nature of God's kingdom. It reminds us to be faithful servants, express gratitude to God for his blessings, and have faith in his promises.