Jesus warns that stumbling blocks are serious and that judgment is severe for those who cause vulnerable disciples to fall.
Luke 17:1-10
1 He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no occasions of stumbling should come, but woe to him through whom they come!
2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.
Disciples must watch themselves, confront sin, and forgive repeatedly when repentance is expressed.
3 Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him.
4 If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”
The apostles ask for increased faith, and Jesus teaches that even small faith in the powerful God is effectual.
5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
6 The Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, ‘Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
Jesus teaches that obedience is the disciple’s duty, not a ground for self-importance.
7 But who is there among you, having a servant plowing or keeping sheep, that will say when he comes in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down at the table,’
8 and will not rather tell him, ‘Prepare my supper, clothe yourself properly, and serve me, while I eat and drink. Afterward you shall eat and drink’?
9 Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded? I think not.
10 Even so you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.’ ”
Ten lepers are cleansed, but only one Samaritan returns to glorify God and thank Jesus, revealing the nature of saving gratitude.
11 As he was on his way to Jerusalem, he was passing along the borders of Samaria and Galilee.
12 As he entered into a certain village, ten men who were lepers met him, who stood at a distance.
13 They lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14 When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” As they went, they were cleansed.
15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice.
16 He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus answered, “Weren’t the ten cleansed? But where are the nine?
18 Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?”
19 Then he said to him, “Get up, and go your way. Your faith has healed you.”
Jesus answers the Pharisees by declaring that the kingdom is not recognized by their expected calculations but is already present among them.
Luke 17:20-37
20 Being asked by the Pharisees when God’s Kingdom would come, he answered them, “God’s Kingdom doesn’t come with observation;
21 neither will they say, ‘Look, here!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ for behold, God’s Kingdom is within you.”
Jesus warns disciples against false eschatological claims and declares that the Son of Man must first suffer and be rejected.
22 He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.
23 They will tell you, ‘Look, here!’ or ‘Look, there!’ Don’t go away or follow after them,
24 for as the lightning, when it flashes out of one part under the sky, shines to another part under the sky; so will the Son of Man be in his day.
25 But first, he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
Ordinary life will continue until sudden judgment comes, just as in the days before the flood and the destruction of Sodom.
26 As it was in the days of Noah, even so will it be also in the days of the Son of Man.
27 They ate, they drank, they married, and they were given in marriage until the day that Noah entered into the ship, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
28 Likewise, even as it was in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;
29 but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from the sky and destroyed them all.
30 It will be the same way in the day that the Son of Man is revealed.
Jesus warns against clinging to life, possessions, and the old world when the day of judgment comes.
31 In that day, he who will be on the housetop and his goods in the house, let him not go down to take them away. Let him who is in the field likewise not turn back.
32 Remember Lot’s wife!
33 Whoever seeks to save his life loses it, but whoever loses his life preserves it.
The coming judgment will bring decisive separation and visible consequence.
34 I tell you, in that night there will be two people in one bed. One will be taken and the other will be left.
35 There will be two grinding grain together. One will be taken and the other will be left.”
37 They, answering, asked him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the body is, there the vultures will also be gathered together.”