Luke 17
Summary. In this chapter, the Lord Jesus teaches all humans regarding, do not look with the physical eye but use the heart of a believer when you are seeing things. The beloved Son of God has given simple guidelines on how to enter the kingdom of God and have eternal life in heaven with Him. Luke 17:1-4. Teaching about sin and forgiveness. The Lord gives a woe against those that bring temptation to sin and teaches us that we must forgive those that sin against us because He forgave us, and He forgave those that sin against Him. Luke 17:5-6. Teaching about increasing faith. The Lord gives the parable of the grain of mustard to compare our faith. Luke 17:7-10. Duty of the Lord's servants. When reading this passage everyone will notice the servant of man and the servant of God have different duties; the servant of God should not emphasize on the earthly things, the reward is not here to look for, but in heaven. Luke 17:11-19. Jesus cleanses ten lepers. This part relates to the love and the mercy of the beloved Son of God towards all humans and shows His power and authority over sickness. Luke 17:20-37. Teaching about the coming of the Kingdom of God. Before the Lord's return, many disasters will happen on the earth and people will wish that time will end and the Lord will come, but all things must occur until completion. For this section see also Comments Matthew 24:1-44.
1
And He said to His disciples, It is impossible for stumbling blocks not to come; but woe to him, by whom they come!
Comments Luke 17:1
For this verse, see Comments Matthew 18:7.
2
It is better for him if a millstone is hung around his neck, and he is thrown into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.
Comments Luke 17:2
For this verse, see Comments Matthew 18:6 and Comments Mark 9:42.
3
Take heed to yourselves; if your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
Comments Luke 17:3
This verse says, "if he repents, forgive him". So, if the Lord of Heaven has forgiven your sins when you repented, who are you to hold sins against someone else? All Christians should remember this as well, the Lord has forgiven you, if you call yourself a Christian follow and obey the Lord's teachings and forgive all. See also Comments Matthew 18:15.
4
And if he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times turns again to you, saying, I repent; you shall forgive him.
Comments Luke 17:4
For humans this verse may seem hard to do, if a person repeatedly sins against you, the Lord still wants you to forgive, forgive not only by mouth, but forgive from your heart as well even it happens in the same day, because this sin is against you, he has not sinned against the Holy Spirit. Any sin against humans is forgiven, the beloved Son of God Himself, those who did sin against Him, He also has forgiven them as well, but if that sin is against the Holy Spirit it will never be forgiven, on this earth or the earth to come, that sin will always remain on that soul forever.
5
And the apostles said to the Lord , Increase our faith.
Comments Luke 17:5
In this verse, it tells clearly, these are the apostles that have been with the Lord, have seen miracles, have heard the Living Word, and they are still asking the Lord of Life to increase their faith. For all that come after, which have not seen the Lord, it will be harder to have faith, but still remember, go at the foot of the cross and ask for faith, as the apostles have done in the past.
6
And the Lord said, If you had faith like a grain of mustard, you would have said to this mulberry tree, Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea; and it would have obeyed you.
Comments Luke 17:6
"If you had faith like a grain of mustard". As a human, if the Lord has told in this verse, if your faith is small as a seed of a plant, how small do you think your faith is like? Think about your faith first before you go to judge someone's faith, those people, their faith might be bigger than yours as well.
"you would have said ...". As the verse says, small faith can work a great thing as well, even to send another seed or another plant to be planted into the sea. And that thing had obeyed your word, because you have said it with faith and you did not test the Lord when you said it, but you said it with faith in the Lord that what you said would happen, in order to prove to people that you serve the Living God. This kind of action looks like you are testing God, but it is not testing, it is proof to the unbelievers, that you have faith in your God that this thing can happen, to let them see the result. The Lord teaches us figuratively that great things can happen even when you have little faith.
See also, Comments Matthew 17:20.
"you would have said ...". As the verse says, small faith can work a great thing as well, even to send another seed or another plant to be planted into the sea. And that thing had obeyed your word, because you have said it with faith and you did not test the Lord when you said it, but you said it with faith in the Lord that what you said would happen, in order to prove to people that you serve the Living God. This kind of action looks like you are testing God, but it is not testing, it is proof to the unbelievers, that you have faith in your God that this thing can happen, to let them see the result. The Lord teaches us figuratively that great things can happen even when you have little faith.
See also, Comments Matthew 17:20.
7
But which of you, having a servant plowing or keeping sheep, having come in from the field will say to him, Come straightaway and recline;
8
but will not he say to him, Make ready what I may eat, and gird yourself, and serve me, until I eat and drink; and afterward you shall eat and drink?
Comments Luke 17:7-8
In these verses, the Lord wants to teach all readers that everyone should know their own position. Also, everyone should put who is important in their life. Everyone must put the Lord their God first and, after that, their parents, which the Lord has used in creating you to be alive. Then you also must think of your duties. Your first duty is always to serve the Lord your God, then after that, serve other responsibilities that God has given you.
9
Does he thank the servant because he did the things that were commanded?
Comments Luke 17:9
Let the reader understand, when the Lord has put something in your heart, do it accordingly and give thanks to the Lord that He has given you that duty. Even if that duty is very, very small, if you do it, it becomes big in the eyes of the Lord Himself.
10
So you also, when you may have done all the things having been commanded you, say, We are unworthy servants; we have done that which it was our duty to do.
Comments Luke 17:10
"So you also, when you may have done all the things having been commanded you". The first thing the Lord wants to see is, are you listening and obeying His commandments, not just a portion of them but all of them? Regardless of what the commandment is, consider it as a duty that you must fulfill, because that is what the Lord expects you to do.
"say, We are unworthy servants; we have done that which it was our duty to do". According to the verse itself, the Lord wants all readers to realize, to be a servant of the Lord, you must humble yourself, do not think that you are better than others, do your duty as a good servant of the Lord and all the rewards will be waiting. In this verse, the person just wishes to do but did not do, that is why we use the term "you must humble yourself". The desires and ability are different, and here you do as the Lord gives you the ability to do. This servant thought he did not have enough worth. That is why he does only what he was ordered to do, but if you think that you are not worthy of doing the work, then you have put the Lord on the wrong side for giving you a duty that you are not able to do, the Lord knows your ability as well. To do work for the Lord and not gain benefit for themselves, this also makes the servants not want to work more than they think is their duty. When you are serving the Lord, you must do all the work that the Lord has given you the ability for, even if you do more work than what you have received, but you also have received the ability to do it. If you seek to do all the work the Lord has given you, the Lord will also give you joy and the ability to do it. Sometimes you may do more than you think you should, but that is to glorify the Lord.
"We are unworthy servants". Q: When the servants say, "we are unworthy", are they referring to the fact that they are unworthy to their master or unworthy to themselves? A: The meaning here is that the servants say that they are unworthy to themselves, they will not gain anything for doing what they are commanded to do. They think that if they just follow orders that will not bring worth for themselves. To understand this parable, the mind of the servant in the parable coming from the field needs to be related to the mind of a Christian serving the Lord. The Lord wants us to humble ourselves and do all His commandments first from our hearts, not just do the commandments mechanically as a duty and think that there is no worth to serving the Lord because we do not have any earthly benefits.
"say, We are unworthy servants; we have done that which it was our duty to do". According to the verse itself, the Lord wants all readers to realize, to be a servant of the Lord, you must humble yourself, do not think that you are better than others, do your duty as a good servant of the Lord and all the rewards will be waiting. In this verse, the person just wishes to do but did not do, that is why we use the term "you must humble yourself". The desires and ability are different, and here you do as the Lord gives you the ability to do. This servant thought he did not have enough worth. That is why he does only what he was ordered to do, but if you think that you are not worthy of doing the work, then you have put the Lord on the wrong side for giving you a duty that you are not able to do, the Lord knows your ability as well. To do work for the Lord and not gain benefit for themselves, this also makes the servants not want to work more than they think is their duty. When you are serving the Lord, you must do all the work that the Lord has given you the ability for, even if you do more work than what you have received, but you also have received the ability to do it. If you seek to do all the work the Lord has given you, the Lord will also give you joy and the ability to do it. Sometimes you may do more than you think you should, but that is to glorify the Lord.
"We are unworthy servants". Q: When the servants say, "we are unworthy", are they referring to the fact that they are unworthy to their master or unworthy to themselves? A: The meaning here is that the servants say that they are unworthy to themselves, they will not gain anything for doing what they are commanded to do. They think that if they just follow orders that will not bring worth for themselves. To understand this parable, the mind of the servant in the parable coming from the field needs to be related to the mind of a Christian serving the Lord. The Lord wants us to humble ourselves and do all His commandments first from our hearts, not just do the commandments mechanically as a duty and think that there is no worth to serving the Lord because we do not have any earthly benefits.
11
And it came to pass, in His going on to Jerusalem, that He was passing along the borders between Samaria and Galilee.
Comments Luke 17:11
In this verse, we can see that the beloved Son of God is traveling all the time, because His duty is to spread out the mercy of God to all people, not only to His own people and not just in one spot for one group of people, but to all.
12
And as He entered into a certain village, there met Him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off,
13
and they lifted up their voices, saying, Jesus , Master , have mercy on us.
Comments Luke 17:12-13
This is not an accidental meeting, the Lord has a purpose in meeting these leprous people, these lepers have known the name of the Lord, they may not receive human mercy, but in their hearts they hope only that the Lord Himself will have mercy on them.
"who stood afar off". Many places in the Bible have said that people with leprosy are cut off from other people. This group has also been cut off. From this verse we can notice they have been cut off, but still they have heard about the Lord Jesus. The purpose of the hearing is shown here. They know the direction of the Lord's travels, and they come to meet Him, but they keep the rule by staying afar away; that is the rule for these leprous people.
"who stood afar off". Many places in the Bible have said that people with leprosy are cut off from other people. This group has also been cut off. From this verse we can notice they have been cut off, but still they have heard about the Lord Jesus. The purpose of the hearing is shown here. They know the direction of the Lord's travels, and they come to meet Him, but they keep the rule by staying afar away; that is the rule for these leprous people.
14
And when He saw them, He said to them, Go and show yourselves to the priests. And it came to pass, as they went, they were cleansed.
Comments Luke 17:14
"... He said to them, Go and show yourselves to the priests". All humans can see clearly, even the beloved Son of God Himself obeyed the rule that the Father has set; for if they have leprosy, they need to have the priest witness their sickness and healing as well; this is the place of showing "abide by the rule". (See Leviticus 14:1-32).
"And it came to pass, as they went, they were cleansed". Also, these leprous people, everyone should notice, by obeying the Word of the beloved Son of God, they all have been healed. They were all healed by His Word alone. There was no need to touch them, but His Word itself has the power to cleanse them.
"And it came to pass, as they went, they were cleansed". Also, these leprous people, everyone should notice, by obeying the Word of the beloved Son of God, they all have been healed. They were all healed by His Word alone. There was no need to touch them, but His Word itself has the power to cleanse them.
15
And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, with a loud voice glorifying God ;
16
and he fell on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks; and he was a Samaritan.
Comments Luke 17:15-16
We can notice plainly as well here, the beloved Son of God came to show mercy, not only to His people but to the outsiders as well. He knows their hearts before He heals them; with their actions they have glorified God. All have been begging for mercy, even just one that returned, but all have given their hearts to trusting the Lord to heal them. But this is the point everyone should take as an example: when you receive mercy, come back and give thanks to the Lord. This has been given as an example to all, in all things glorify and give thanks to the Lord God Almighty, regardless of who you are.
17
And Jesus answering said, Were not the ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
Comments Luke 17:17
In this verse we all can see, it looks like a common question, the purpose the Lord has asked "where are the rest that were healed" is for the one that has come back, the question will hit his heart, why he alone only came back to glorify the Lord.
18
Was there none found that returned to give glory to God , except this foreigner?
Comments Luke 17:18
Give attention to the last part of the verse, "except this foreigner". The healing did not touch His people's hearts, but the foreigner was the one who came back to give glory to God. Everyone that reads this part think twice, not His people that came back to glorify Him but the foreigner. This also tells us clearly, in the future, the foreigners that will read the Holy Word will be the ones that give glory to God, the Holy Word has been with His people already but few that come to Him, same as this verse has told.
19
And He said to him, Arise, and go your way; your faith has made you well.
Comments Luke 17:19
The verse is clear, this foreigner has been healed because of his faith, the faith he has we call blind faith, and here is the reward for that faith, he has been healed. The verse did not tell us further about the other nine, so no one knows the end of their lives, but this foreigner is healed completely as the verse tells.
20
And being asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God is coming, He answered them and said, The kingdom of God comes not with observation,
21
neither shall they say, Behold, here! or, There! for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.
Comments Luke 17:20-21
Here the most important part is "the kingdom of God is in the midst you". When you have accepted the authority of the beloved Son of God, you have invited God into your heart already, and He has come right away with His Spirit, but not yet the Holy Spirit; after the death of the beloved Son of God on the cross, the Holy Spirit has come. Before the beloved Son of God's resurrection, the Father gives the Spirit. After the beloved Son of God rose from the grave, He sends the Holy Spirit from the Father.
One would ask, what is the kingdom of God? Everywhere is His kingdom, but when the verse has told "in the midst of you", that also means some have embraced the kingdom of God already, since in that time some already had faith in the beloved Son of God.
"the kingdom of God is in the midst you" means the kingdom of God is among the true believers, so even these days we can say that the kingdom of God is in the midst of us, since there are many true believers on earth.
One would ask, what is the kingdom of God? Everywhere is His kingdom, but when the verse has told "in the midst of you", that also means some have embraced the kingdom of God already, since in that time some already had faith in the beloved Son of God.
"the kingdom of God is in the midst you" means the kingdom of God is among the true believers, so even these days we can say that the kingdom of God is in the midst of us, since there are many true believers on earth.
22
And He said to the disciples, The days will come, when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of M an , and you will not see it.
Comments Luke 17:22
Here in the Gospel of Luke, we have fewer details than in the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 24. For more comments for verses 22 to 37 see also Comments Matthew 24:1-44.
Because of the disasters coming to the earth, all people will wish that that time is ending, and the Lord will return, but all things must occur until completion; the day of the Lord's return will happen in those days.
Because of the disasters coming to the earth, all people will wish that that time is ending, and the Lord will return, but all things must occur until completion; the day of the Lord's return will happen in those days.
23
And they will say to you, Behold, there! or, Behold, here! go not out, nor follow;
24
for as the lightning, when it flashes and shines from one end of the sky to the other end of the sky; so will the Son of M an be in His day.
Comments Luke 17:24
See also Comments Matthew 24:27.
25
But first it behooves Him to suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
Comments Luke 17:25
Here we concentrate on the term "this generation". "This generation" does not mean now or the generation at that time, but that the suffering and rejection will be for all humans, even those who did not know the Lord yet, because the beloved Son of God has come already to earth and has been rejected from that time on, the generation will end when He comes back. In that time, there was one generation, the generation who is reading now is a generation included in "this generation" as well.
"But first must He suffer many things". The feeling of pain and rejection for the Lord had already happened for the people that have not yet been born, because His time has covered it all, all "this generation" that rejected Him, that pain and suffering He has taken it on that moment when the nails pierced Him.
"But first must He suffer many things". The feeling of pain and rejection for the Lord had already happened for the people that have not yet been born, because His time has covered it all, all "this generation" that rejected Him, that pain and suffering He has taken it on that moment when the nails pierced Him.
26
And as it came to pass in the days of Noah, thus will it be also in the days of the Son of M an .
27
They were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed all.
Comments Luke 17:26-27
When the flood came in the days of Noah, no one knew that the water would flood the earth; the day the Son of Man returns no one will know as well, but suddenly all eyes will see Him at the same time. People will live their lives the way they want, not the way the Lord wants them to and that is the same thing they do in both these times (See also Comments Matthew 25:6).
28
Likewise as it came to pass in the days of Lot; they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building;
29
and on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed all.
30
After the same manner will it be in the day that the Son of M an is revealed.
Comments Luke 17:28-30
We can understand what these verses have told us. Humans have spent their lives as the days go by without thinking of the Lord of life or thanking the Lord of life, and when disasters come, they all will be wiped out; no repentance at that time can help, that is clear here.
31
In that day, the one that will be on the housetop, and his goods in the house, let him not go down to take them away; and the one in the field, likewise, let him not turn backward.
Comments Luke 17:31
When the day of turmoil arrives, forget all the treasure you have, remember what is important in life, treasure comes, treasure goes, just take yourself away from trouble.
32
Remember the wife of Lot!
33
Whoever may seek to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life will preserve it.
Comments Luke 17:33
According to what the verse says, when you try finding a way to save your own life, you will not find it, but for those who are willing to lose their lives for the faith, they will save it, because they will have eternal life with the Lord. This applies only to those that want to keep faith by believing in the true living God, not in all those stories that humans have made to represent God, but only to the true God through the beloved Son of God, those will be the ones that will be saved.
"and whoever will lose his life will preserve it" really means "and whoever will lose his life for the kingdom of God will preserve it".
"and whoever will lose his life will preserve it" really means "and whoever will lose his life for the kingdom of God will preserve it".
34
I say to you, In that night there will be two on one bed; the one will be taken, and the other will be left.
35
There will be two grinding together; the one will be taken, and the other will be left.
36
There will be two in the field; the one will be taken, and the other will be left.
Comments Luke 17:34-36
See also Comments Matthew 24:40-41.
Humans use these verses in accusing God, they say, He is unfair in choosing people, it is wrong for God to select one, and to leave another behind; but those who say this, have forgotten whom they are talking about, does the Creator have the right to choose and the right to leave some out of this? The Lord of Life will select whoever He sees fit and whoever pleases Him, regardless of what humans think, God will use His standards to choose and that is final.
Humans use these verses in accusing God, they say, He is unfair in choosing people, it is wrong for God to select one, and to leave another behind; but those who say this, have forgotten whom they are talking about, does the Creator have the right to choose and the right to leave some out of this? The Lord of Life will select whoever He sees fit and whoever pleases Him, regardless of what humans think, God will use His standards to choose and that is final.
37
And answering they say to H im , Where, Lord ? And He said to them, Where the body is, there, will the vultures also be gathered together.
Comments Luke 17:37
For this verse see Comments Matthew 24:28.
Q: If the reader reads verses, 22 to 37 in this chapter and verses Matthew 24:1-44, they will see a few differences in words and the order of the passage. If these events in these Gospels are the same, how should we understand these differences? A: In each saying there are gaps of time, but if the reader compares all written words, the reader will notice that the Lord has given all of them the same meaning, it is a different order, but there is no difference in meaning. Each order has its own purpose, every reader needs to meditate and understand. That is the purpose of the dictation of the Bible, different order, some may look misplaced, but the overall meaning is the same, and only the dictation from the Holy Spirit can do this.
Q: If the reader reads verses, 22 to 37 in this chapter and verses Matthew 24:1-44, they will see a few differences in words and the order of the passage. If these events in these Gospels are the same, how should we understand these differences? A: In each saying there are gaps of time, but if the reader compares all written words, the reader will notice that the Lord has given all of them the same meaning, it is a different order, but there is no difference in meaning. Each order has its own purpose, every reader needs to meditate and understand. That is the purpose of the dictation of the Bible, different order, some may look misplaced, but the overall meaning is the same, and only the dictation from the Holy Spirit can do this.
Life and Faith Applications. 1) If you call yourself a Christian, follow and obey the Lord's teachings and forgive all. 2) When serving the Lord, you must do all the work that the Lord has given you the ability to do. 3) In all things, glorify and give thanks to the Lord God Almighty, regardless of who you are. 4) No one knows the day of the Lord's return, but you must always be ready for His return.