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.

Listen to this chapter

Warnings on Stumbling and Forgiveness

¶ Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

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.

Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

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.

And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

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.

Duty of the Servant

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?

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?

Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.

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.

The Ten Lepers and the Grateful Samaritan

¶ And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

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.

And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

The Coming of the Kingdom of God

¶ 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:

Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Signs of the Son of Man's Return

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.

And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.

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.

But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.

And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

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.

Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

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.

Remember Lot's wife.

Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

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.

Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

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.

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.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate

Luke17

Warnings on Stumbling and Forgiveness

Duty of the Servant

The Ten Lepers and the Grateful Samaritan

The Coming of the Kingdom of God

Signs of the Son of Man's Return

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Options