Luke 17:1-4
You have to know that Jesus was speaking to His disciples but that the Pharisees and the multitude were always near and overhearing. The word 'offenses' in verse one and 'offend' in verse 2 are two forms of the same word, 'skandalon' and 'skandalise'. They create a word play lost in translation. The offenses, or scandals, will come – they are unavoidable. But woe to the scandalizer! Scandals don't just happen; they originate in the human heart and mind. This speaks of the worst kind, an offense that offends one of the little ones. Who were the little ones? I can imagine Jesus, the Shepherd, making a sweeping gesture toward His sheep. These new believers were like little lambs trying to get their spiritual legs under them. They were the tax collectors, sinners, women, the irreligious; people of all walks of life. Their lives were being shaken up as they saw miracles and heard amazing things. They were learning of the kingdom of God. How overwhelming these things must have been, but then add on to the fact their Master was speaking of dying in Jerusalem.
This passage seems to be wrapping up the answer Jesus gave to the complaint of the Pharisees in Luke 15:12. They could not believe that He received sinners and even at with them. As He wraps up His answer, He issues a warner to any that would cause these to fall to sin. We can see how serious Jesus takes this offense. A millstone was very large and heavy, used to grind grain. What's Jesus response to offending one of His own, it would be better to die this gruesome death of millstone dragging you to the bottom of the sea and drowning. See also 1 Corinthians 8:9-13 where we see our liberty in Christ is not permission to stumble a less mature believer. Your liberty becomes a sin against your brother. Jesus said we would be like lambs among wolves, it's just not acceptable that the wolves are of the same flock. Note to self – don't mess with God's kids. Jesus advised the disciple to take heed to themselves. This to be guarded about this, error on the safe side. This is not a place to be messing around.
Instead of 'if your brother sins' He could have easily said 'when'. Offenses will come. When your brother sins, you are to rebuke or admonish him. This is to go to your brother only and let him know that he sinned against you. If this person repents you are commanded to forgive them. You are not allowed to bear a grudge, extract vengeance, either physically or socially.
???????"He who cannot forgive breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass."George Herbert, Anglican Pastor, Poet)
God does not remember your sins after you've repented, we shouldn't file away memories of those who sin against us. If our brother turns right around and does it again, we are to forgive him again, and again, and again.
17 'You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. 18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. (Lev 19:17)
Forgiveness is part of the mutual relationship of believers: since all are dependent upon God's forgiveness, all are required to forgive one another.[1]
Luke records that we are to forgive 7 times a day. Seven is symbolic, the number of completions, perfection. We are to forgive as many times as we need to. Matthew records this in Jesus' answer to Peter about forgiveness in Matt 18:22 when he said up to seventy times seven. This is figurative language, again, to say we forgive as many times as it takes. Btu think about this for a moment.
70 x 7 = 490
There are 24 hours in a day, we sleep 8, leaving 16 for forgiveness.
16 hours each have 60 minutes = 960 minutes
To forgive 70 x 7 – someone would have to sin against you every 2 minutes. Since sin can happen in just a few seconds, we are left with nearly 2 full minutes to forgive. This is crazy thought, that we would spend nearly every minute of ever day forgiving. Who among us feels up to the task of displaying unending grace? We'll see in a moment the apostles didn't feel up to it either.
What happens if brother doesn't repent when rebuked? Jesus doesn't deal with that here. He doesn't allow it as an option and it really shouldn't be. Matthew gives us that information. While we may hold our forgiveness, this isn't permission to be vindictive, bear a grudge and institute a punishment. Don't let your brother's failure to repent to lead you to sin.
15 "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. (Matthew 18:15-17)
Forgiveness is key in the Christian fellowship. It's horrible when someone sins against you. This is a great opportunity to display Christ, but that's also usually the furthest from our mind. We are commanded to initiate forgiveness and restoration. Should we choose to gossip, start a whisper campaign, or react in another way, the offense done to us might become our sin. The destructive power of sin blooms.
Can we just say it's no big deal and ignore the offense? Can we just get over it and go on? Is that loving? On the surface it seems that way. But the sin isn't dealt with and that seems to be the point. We are to take heed not to stumble another; if they stumble and we leave them in sin, is that not a kind of stumbling when we could fix it? If one part of the body suffers, does it not all suffer? If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you (Matthew 18:8, 9). See also 1 John 5:16.
Luke 17:5
What an interesting line. At the command to take heed and offer forgiveness as much as is required, the apostles request a deeper faith. I think I can relate to that. We can be unforgiving at the drop of a hat. To have not just a pattern of forgiving, but to be characterized as forgiving requires a work of the Lord. It's as if the apostles said we understand the command but we know its not in us to do this. Lord, come change us.
We make forgiveness harder than it need be. There myths of forgiveness we should consider:
- Myth #1 - It condones sin. If I forgive them easily, they'll think its okay to do again. However, if the penalty of sin is death, and you don't forgive as commanded, aren't you drinking of the same poison.
- Myth #2 – When forgiveness is given there won't be repercussions. First, it depends on the sin. There may still be physical and emotional damage. Those things don't go away quickly. There may be legal ramifications. Forgiveness doesn't negate justice. We were never in charge of justice anyway. We seem to be more in charge of grace. Forgiveness is the intentional process of changing your attitude toward someone who offended you and not holding the offense against them.
- Myth #3 - To be authentic, you have to feel it. Forgiveness is not a feeling, it's an act of love. It's an acknowledgment that someone else is fallen just like you.
- Myth #4 - They don't deserve it. You are not judge, nor are you capable of determining what anyone deserves since you also do not deserve forgiveness. You should identify with the offender since you also have offended. You each have much in common.
What does forgiveness look like?
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
14 For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust. (Psalm 103:11-14)
"We must choose what we look at; and we must choose what we look beyond. But if our focus is on what is ugly and evil and dark, we will strangely strengthen the ugly and evil and dark."
°°.Eric Metaxes
I'm pretty sure if I speak to a mulberry tree it wouldn't relocate to the sea. Is it my lack of faith? Do I just need more? Then I can command anything? The tiniest amount of faith can bring us into the alignment of the Lord's will. This thing that is so impossible for us, suddenly becomes possible. With faith that aligns with Gods will, suddenly, that which seemed ridiculously impossible is done for His Glory. It seems impossible for us to forgive, yet we know it is the Lord's will because He commanded it. The smallest amount of faith moves us to believe what He says and do it. We tend to step right to the front of the line if the Lord wants us to relocate a Mulberry bush to the sea. But where are we when it comes to the daily, mundane, routine tasks of the Christian life, like forgiving others. With a little faith, we might even be able to forgive someone 7 times a day!
Luke 17:7-10
Jesus points to the things of the culture to teach the disciples. The understanding of a servant's actions and expectations serve as the backdrop. Many of these men had probably been servants. No one would serve themselves before serving the master. It was unheard of. The servant understood his humble status and responsibility. He was to work his responsibilities and serve the master before serving himself. No servant doing so would expect accolades or recognition. They were just doing their duty. This is what a servant does.
Imagine those apostles. This is the epitome of humility and meekness. They were standing with Jesus who had all power. They had seen him heal repeatedly. He brought food to thousands from virtually nothing. To follow Him was a call to be as a servant. This stands in contrast to the Pharisees who saw themselves as masters over men rather than servants of God. If a humble servant was faithful to his responsibilities without reward, how much more should the servants of God be faithful when we've been promised great reward.
Luke 17:11-19
The ten lepers stood far off in obedience to the law and the demands of culture. These men were walking dead. Leprously is a gruesome disease. These men had been cast out and written off by people of their town. It wasn't unusual for lepers to call to someone passing through. However, they were usually begging for alms. The call to Jesus was specific. They knew of Him and called to him asking for healing. They did not call Him Lord, but master. The word means superior.
Jesus told them to go and show themselves to the priest. The law commanded them to go to the priest to be examined. He could declare them clean. They were only supposed to do that if their condition improved, as they stood before Jesus they were still leprous. Yet, they went. The 'going' was the small act of faith. As they were going they were cleansed.
Ten were healed and one of the returned. He glorified God. Notice he did it with a loud voice. Of the ten there was a loud voice from one and silence from the others. There is no middle road. It's not clear if the one who returned made it all the way to the priest. He fell on his face at the feet of Jesus. This is where the healed and forgiven belong.
Then Luke gives us the punch line. This one thankful man was a Samaritan. The Jews and Samaritans hated each other. These 10 were united in their common disease. The other men, Jews, were not excited to return and give thanks to Jesus, especially with a Samaritan. The Samaritan, the foreigner, came back to give thanks. The declaration that his faith made him well is to say he was saved. The others were only cleansed. This mans faith brought him to Jesus where he was forgiven his sins.
- Take heed not to stumble another.
- For the one who stumbles you, forgive; again, and again and again.
- Faith looks like doing what is commanded. Even small faith and small things.
- The forgiven forgive; failure to forgive indicates repentance of your own sin wasn't real.
- Be as quick to give thanks as we are to expect praise for doing what is good.
Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." (Luke 6:37-38)
Our Father who art in heaven°..
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Luke 17:20-21
Daniel saw a vision of four beasts, which are the great kingdoms of the world. He was watching a type of documentary showing mans failure to rule himself. Every kingdom of man is corrupt because it is instituted and performed by sinful men. Pride, deceit and the struggle for power enter in. Covetousness and rebellion toward God poison it. Daniel watched as the thrones were set and the Ancient of Days was seated. The books were opened. This came about in conjunction with the pompous words of the little horn; or, maybe shown as a contrast – one of true justice, power and authority versus the phony usurper.
13 "I was watching in the night visions,
And behold, One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
And they brought Him near before Him.
14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
Which shall not pass away,
And His kingdom the one
Which shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14)
The Pharisees asked a question prompting a short discussion around the end of days. The terms 'Son of Man' and 'Kingdom of God' are terms which the Pharisees and the Jews would understand. Jesus uses these terms to link Himself to the prophecy of Daniel.
There are none so blind as those who will not see.
This describes the Pharisees; they were blinded by their sin and pride. They had all heard Jesus speak of His kingdom. They asked when this kingdom was coming, not to learn, or, because they were curious. They asked to bring fault and accusation against Him. The question wasn't to be answered, it was to mock Him. They assumed He could not sufficiently answer them because He was nothing like what they assumed their messiah would be. They mocked the one they had been waiting for, except they had stopped waiting. They had grown comfortable in this world and the power they possessed over religion and people.
The sad part of this is there is really no indication the Pharisees were interested in their Messiah. They had their understanding of what He would be like and how He would come. They were not open to learning or listening. They thought they were the only ones who could see clearly when, in fact, they were as blind as any of the gentiles they despised.
The kingdom of God doesn't come in a way that you can watch for it, where you can point and say, "Here it comes." In fact, there was no reason to wait at all. The kingdom was right in their midst. The language speaks in the present tense, it was in that moment among them. I can imagine the Pharisees trying to remain cool and not look around for it. The NIV, ESV and NASB got it right in translating the end of verse 21 to 'in your midst'. Jesus would not have told these hostile Pharisees that the kingdom of God was inside them. The kingdom was in their midst or within grasp by way of Jesus. They were just too blind to see it.
Luke 17:22-23
Jesus then turned to speak to the disciples, people who were citizens of this new kingdom. The days will come when these disciples will desire to see Jesus in all His glory! But they won't see Him. Their desire would not be fulfilled in their lifetime. Now some of those disciples would be present when the resurrected Jesus appeared to them. But this isn't the time Jesus was speaking about. His reference was of the end of days when He would come in power and take us home. With the desire to see one of those days, there would come the temptation when others would say, "Look here" or "Look there." It still won't come with observation so don't follow these people.
Luke 17:24-25
The kingdom of God would not come like they anticipated. It would not come as many of the Rabbis taught. It would not come like the Pharisees envisioned. The Day of Jesus will come like a lightning strike from one side of the sky to the next. Sudden, epic, all encompassing, dramatic and apparent to everyone. There would be no time to think or consider, He would be upon them. Matthew said 'as the lighting comes from the east and flashes to the west' in his account. This has become tradition to expect Jesus' return from the east coming west. This is why many graveyards are laid out in a east-west orientation. Headstones faced east, so if one were to sit up in the grave they would be facing east to their returning savior.
This coming of Christ wouldn't be a good thing for most people there. He would come in wrath, to judge the nations. He would come upon them like a flood, like a rain of fire and brimstone. Before they went too far into this thought of the coming kingdom, Jesus cut them off to remind them. Other things needed to happen first, there was work that must be done. Jesus had to suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. What a strange thought this must have been. While the Pharisees were hostile, they were a small group. Most people were neutral, not embracing Him but accepting His presence. He had much to offer them, even though most would not be obedient and follow Him. He healed many and lots of folks thought He was going to boot Rome out of Israel.
Luke 17:26-27
How was it in the days of Noah? People were eating, drinking, getting married and just living life as they saw fit, right up to the time of judgment. What did the culture look like though? You have to look back at Genesis 6 to see.
- There were Nephilim in the land – the offspring of fallen angels who took human wives.
- These Nephilim were associated with the 'gibborim'. These were the mighty men, the might warriors. Nimrod was the first of such mighty men named. He was an evil tyrant without conscious.
- The wickedness of man was great on the earth, 'that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.' Note the words 'every thought' and 'evil continually'. We seem to be creeping ever closer to understanding just what this means.
- God's grace was present and at work. Noah found grace in the eyes of God.
- The earth was corrupt and full of violence (11).
- Noah was a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5). God provided a means of salvation.
- God provided the ark for the righteous to escape judgment. They entered in and He closed the door.
As it was in the days of Noah so it will be when the Son of Man returns.
Luke 17:28-29
The 'days of Lot' are not talked about near as much as the days of Noah. They also are a model for the day when Jesus will return. They ate, drank, bought, sold, planted and built right up to the day that fire and brimstone began to rain down on them. How will the days when Jesus return be like those days.
- Righteous Lot was in the middle of the unrighteous city.
- There weren't ten righteous in Sodom. It became apparent to Abraham that judgment was coming, Lot needed to leave.
- The Righteous were removed before judgment could begin.
- There were no moral or ethical boundaries. Unrestrained wickedness and violence.
- Love had grown cold. Lot offered his daughters to the mob and it seemed perfectly normal to him. No one offered
Luke 17:30
I think its safe to say that on the day when the Son of Man is revealed, people will be mostly clueless as to what is about to happen. People will be working, stressed and fretting. The lines will be long at Chick Filet (unless it's a Sunday). People will be getting married and having kids. What will the culture look like?
- God's grace will be at work in spite of appearance.
- The righteous will know what's coming and be gone.
- There will be unrestrained wickedness, where the intent of every thought is only evil continually.
- Mighty men will be in power. Tyrants promoting lawlessness and without conscious manipulating and intimidating to retain their power.
- Love will grow cold.
It seems as if we could check off each of these items right now. While it feels as though it can't get any worse, I think it will get much worse. The good news is that these things are accelerating which means it won't be long before the Lord removes us (the righteous, I hope that's you) from this earth before He comes in judgment.
Luke 17:31-33
On this day of Jesus, one should realize that there nothing in your house among your goods, nothing in your bank account or among any of your possession that will make a difference. Judgment will have arrived. It will be the same realization when the people of Noah's day saw the last of dry land, when the water began to lap at their chins. It will be the same awareness that fell on Sodom with the fire and brimstone. Lot's wife looked longingly back at her life in Sodom.
In seeking to preserve our life, we lose it because we are incapable of sustaining our own life. Giving our life to the one who gave life preserves our life in His hands.
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Jim Elliot
Note: there are some fascinating traditions and teachings from the Rabbis regarding Lot's wife.
Luke 17:34-37
There will be a sudden separation of loved ones from each other. People working together will be separated. All over the world, one will be taken, another left. For some it will be at night while others during the day. This shows it will be a worldwide event. This passage is widely debated. Do we still use the reference of Noah and Lot's day? If so, the 'some' who are taken are the righteous while those left are judged. Does the suddenness and surprise mean this is a rapture reference? Some think possibly, others not so much.
The Lord is not trying to convey and order of events. He said the Son of Man would suffer first. Then these things would come…. 2000+ years later. It's not ridiculous to think this speaks of rapture of the righteousness leaving the others for judgment.
Where will this be? Where will it happen? Buzzards circle a dead corpse; the two go together. This may have been a proverb of the day everyone knew of. The idea is there will be discernible signs of the times to those looking.
©2020 Doug Ford
[1] Houston, J. M. (1988). Forgiveness. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 1, p. 811). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.
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