Luke17

Jesus teaches about the inevitability of offences, the importance of forgiving repeatedly, and the power of even small faith. He then heals ten lepers, but only one, a Samaritan, returns to give thanks, highlighting gratitude. Finally, Jesus speaks of the Kingdom of God not coming with observation, but being 'within you.' He describes the sudden, unexpected return of the Son of Man, likening it to the days of Noah and Lot, urging readiness.
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Warnings on Stumbling and Forgiveness

1
Jesus said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks will come, but woe to the one through whom they come! ​
2
It would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. ​
3
Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. ​
4
Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” ​
5
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” ​
6
And the Lord answered, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you. ​

Duty of the Servant

7
Which of you whose servant comes in from plowing or shepherding in the field will say to him, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? ​
8
Instead, won’t he tell him, ‘Prepare my meal and dress yourself to serve me while I eat and drink; and afterward you may eat and drink’?
9
Does he thank the servant because he did what he was told?
10
So you also, when you have done everything commanded of you, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’” ​

The Ten Lepers and the Grateful Samaritan

11
While Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. ​
12
As He entered one of the villages, He was met by ten lepers. They stood at a distance
13
and raised their voices, shouting, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14
When Jesus saw them, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were on their way, they were cleansed. ​
15
When one of them saw that he was healed, he came back, praising God in a loud voice.
16
He fell facedown at Jesus’ feet in thanksgiving to Him—and he was a Samaritan. ​
17
“Were not all ten cleansed?” Jesus asked. “Where then are the other nine?
18
Was no one found except this foreigner to return and give glory to God?”
19
Then Jesus said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well!” ​

The Coming of the Kingdom of God

20
When asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God will not come with observable signs. ​
21
Nor will people say, ‘Look, here it is,’ or ‘There it is.’ For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” ​

Signs of the Son of Man's Return

22
Then He said to the 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
People will tell you, ‘Look, there He is!’ or ‘Look, here He is!’ Do not go out or chase after them.
24
For just as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so will be the Son of Man in His day. ​
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 and 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 on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.
30
It will be just like that on the day the Son of Man is revealed.
31
On that day, let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve his possessions. Likewise, let no one in the field return for anything he has left behind. ​
32
Remember Lot’s wife! ​
33
Whoever tries to save his life will lose it, but 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.”
36
Not present in the manuscripts this translation follows.
37
“Where, Lord?” they asked. Jesus answered, “Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.” ​

Study Notes for Luke 17

Verse 1

The term “offences” (Gk. *skandala*) refers to traps or causes of moral stumbling. Jesus emphasizes that while sin is inevitable, those who cause others to sin face severe judgment.

Verse 2

A millstone (*mulos onikos*) was typically turned by a donkey, indicating a very large, heavy stone, emphasizing the extreme nature of the punishment for harming a vulnerable believer ('little ones').

Verse 3

This instruction balances the serious warning against causing sin (Vv. 1-2) with the responsibility of personal accountability and reconciliation within the community.

Verse 4

The instruction to forgive 'seven times' goes beyond the rabbinic standard (often three times) and signifies complete, limitless forgiveness, reflecting God’s own boundless mercy.

Verse 5

The apostles' request shows they recognized the difficulty of the standard Jesus set regarding limitless forgiveness and sought divine enablement.

Verse 6

The sycamine (mulberry) tree has deep roots, making it difficult to uproot. Jesus uses hyperbole to illustrate that true faith, even if small ('mustard seed'), can accomplish the seemingly impossible.

Verse 7

This parable shifts the focus from the power of faith to the proper attitude toward obedience, emphasizing humility.

Verse 10

The phrase 'unprofitable servants' (or 'worthless servants') does not mean useless, but rather that they have not earned merit or special reward; they have simply fulfilled their basic obligation (*opheilomenon*).

Verse 11

Luke often notes Jesus passing through the borderlands (Samaria and Galilee), highlighting his ministry crossing ethnic and religious boundaries on the way to Jerusalem.

Verse 14

Jesus tests their obedience before the healing occurs. Showing themselves to the priests was required by Mosaic Law (Lev. 14) to confirm cleansing and allow re-entry into society.

Verse 16

The fact that the one who returned was a Samaritan is highly significant in Luke, emphasizing that God’s grace extends beyond the Jewish community and often finds a more appreciative response among those considered outsiders.

Verse 19

The distinction is often made: the nine were 'cleansed' (V. 14, physical healing), but the Samaritan was 'made whole' (*sesōken*), implying spiritual salvation or complete restoration.

Verse 20

The Pharisees expected the Kingdom to arrive as a visible, political event. Jesus refutes this, introducing the idea of the Kingdom's spiritual presence.

Verse 21

The Greek phrase *entos hymōn* can mean 'among you' (referring to Jesus' presence) or 'within you' (referring to the spiritual reality in the hearts of believers). Both interpretations emphasize that the Kingdom is not dependent on external signs.

Verse 22

Jesus shifts from discussing the present reality of the Kingdom to its future, visible manifestation (eschatology), warning the disciples against false messianic claims after his departure.

Verse 24

The Second Coming will not be secret or localized but sudden, undeniable, and universally visible, like a flash of lightning across the sky.

Verse 25

This verse serves as a crucial theological anchor, stressing that the glory of the Son of Man (V. 24) is preceded necessarily by his suffering and rejection.

Verse 26

The comparison to the days of Noah and Lot emphasizes that the judgment will fall upon a world engrossed in normal, everyday activities, unprepared for the suddenness of God's intervention.

Verse 31

This graphic image emphasizes the necessity of immediate, decisive action when the final judgment arrives, prioritizing preservation over material possessions.

Verse 32

Remember Lot's wife (Gen. 19:26) is a warning against looking back or prioritizing attachment to the world being judged over immediate obedience to divine command.

Verse 33

This paradox is a central teaching of Jesus, emphasizing that true life (spiritual and eternal) is found only through self-denial and willingness to surrender earthly security.

Verse 34

This illustrates the selective and decisive nature of the final judgment, separating individuals even when they are in closest physical proximity.

Verse 37

Jesus responds to the disciples' question about the location ('Where?') with a proverb. The judgment will take place universally, wherever spiritual decay and rebellion (the 'body') are found.

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