The Dangers Ahead. (Luke 17:1-10)

Imagine you're driving down a road and suddenly you see a sign that says, "danger ahead." In such a situation, you'd likely have two questions: What is the danger, and how do I deal with it?

 It seems that Jesus did something similar on at more than one occasion. 

This passage does just that, it is as if he held up a sign to warn his disciples of impending danger, preparing them for what lay ahead.

In the passage at hand, there's no immediate context that provoked what Jesus says. Instead, it appears that he's anticipating something that will arise and is preparing his disciples for it. 

Among the various things he mentions, one we looked at yesterday was a spiritually unhealth attitude to the accumulation of money and wealth, but today he deals with the situation where someone sinning against you. 

This could involve being lied to, stolen from, betrayed, or even cheated out of money. 

Jesus here instructs his disciples on how to handle such situations in here in Luke chapter 17.

1: Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. 2: It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.

 3: So, watch yourselves. If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. :4 Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”

5: The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6: He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

7: “Suppose one of you has a servant ploughing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? 8: Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9: Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10: So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

So He begins by emphasising that these types of offenses are inevitable but warns of dire consequences for those who cause them. 

He advises rebuking a brother who sins against you but then forgiving them if they repent, even if they repeat the offense multiple times you forgive them.

This shows the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation in relationships.

Additionally, Jesus addresses the disciples' request to increase their faith. He uses the analogy of faith as small as a mustard seed, highlighting the power of even a tiny amount of faith to accomplish great things, such as uprooting a mulberry tree and planting it in the sea.

Further, Jesus discusses the concept of servanthood, illustrating that servants are expected to fulfil their duties without expecting special recognition or reward. He emphasizes humility and obedience in serving others, reminding his disciples that they have simply done their duty as servants.

While this passage may be challenging to interpret, most commentators argue that there is unity in its various parts, despite seeming disconnected at first glance. 

They point to Luke's desire to provide an orderly account and suggest that with careful consideration, connections between the different aspects of the passage can be found.

Overall, Jesus's teachings in this passage will emphasize the importance of forgiveness, reconciliation, humility, obedience, and the power of faith, all of which are essential for navigating the challenges and conflicts of life.

(Luke 17: 1-2)

So, Jesus begins this passage by warning his disciples about impending dangers and providing guidance on how to navigate them. 

To fully grasp the meaning of this passage, it's important to pay attention to details and also explore parallel passages in other gospels.

Starting with verse one, Jesus states that it's impossible to avoid offenses. Offenses, in this context, are actions that cause others to stumble or sin. In Matthew 18:7, it's clarified that these offenses come from the world, indicating they originate from unbelievers. So, in Luke 17:1, Jesus is likely referring to dangers arising from interactions with unbelievers.

Moving to verse three, Jesus addresses how to handle offenses from a brother, indicating a fellow believer. Here, the emphasis is on reconciliation and forgiveness within the community of believers.

Although Jesus doesn't provide specific examples of offenses, it's implied that they're serious enough to lead others into sin and will result in severe judgment for the offender.

In summary, Jesus is warning his disciples about dangers from interactions with unbelievers and instructing them on reconciliation within the community of believers. While the specifics of the offenses are not provided, the emphasis is on forgiveness, reconciliation, and avoiding actions that lead others into sin.

In this passage, Jesus warns his disciples about the inevitability of offenses and discusses the responsibility of those who cause others to sin. Offenses, in this context, refer to actions or influences that lead others astray or into sin. Jesus highlights the seriousness of causing others to sin and emphasizes the severe consequences for those who do so.

In Matthew 5:32, Jesus speaks about divorce and remarriage, stating that if a man divorces his wife for reasons other than sexual immorality, he causes her to commit adultery. This verse illustrates how one person's actions can influence another to sin. Similarly, in Luke 17 and Matthew 18, Jesus warns about offenses and the responsibility of those who cause them.

While others may influence us and contribute to our actions, ultimately, we are still held responsible for our choices. Jesus emphasizes the importance of avoiding actions that lead others into sin and the severe consequences for those who cause others to stumble.

In summary, Jesus teaches that offenses will inevitably come, but individuals must be careful not to cause others to sin. While others may influence us, we are ultimately accountable for our actions before God.

In this passage, Jesus warns his disciples about two potential dangers. First, he discusses the possibility of offenses coming from unbelievers that may cause believers to stumble. Second, he addresses how believers should respond when other believers sin against them.

In verse 1, Jesus emphasizes that it is inevitable for offenses to come from unbelievers. He vividly describes the severity of the consequences for those who cause such offenses, suggesting that it would be better for them to face a violent death than to endure the judgment they will receive from God for causing believers to stumble.

Moving to verse 3, Jesus instructs his disciples to take heed if a fellow believer sins against them. He warns them against allowing anger, bitterness, and the desire for revenge to take root in their hearts. Instead, he encourages them to address the issue promptly and not let unresolved conflicts fester and develop into bitterness.

Jesus highlights the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation among believers. He urges them to prioritize humility, forgiveness, and reconciliation in their relationships, even in the face of wrongdoing by fellow believers.

In summary, Jesus teaches his disciples to be vigilant and prepared for potential conflicts and offenses, both from unbelievers and fellow believers. He emphasizes the importance of responding with humility, forgiveness, and reconciliation, rather than allowing anger, bitterness, and desire for revenge to take hold in their hearts.

Jesus instructs his disciples to take action when someone sins against them. First, they are to confront the person who has wronged them. The term "rebuke" suggests admonishing or confronting the individual about their behaviour. While this can be challenging, it is crucial for resolving conflicts and maintaining healthy relationships within the community.

Confrontation is often avoided, but Jesus emphasizes its importance. Rather than gossiping or discussing the issue behind the person's back, believers are encouraged to address the problem directly with the individual involved. This approach aligns with biblical principles and can prevent further escalation of conflicts.

If the person repents and seeks forgiveness, believers are instructed to forgive them. Repentance involves acknowledging wrongdoing and expressing remorse. In such cases, forgiveness is essential for reconciliation and restoration of relationships.

However, if the person continues to sin against them repeatedly, Jesus advises his disciples to extend forgiveness each time, even if it happens seven times. This demonstrates the importance of maintaining a spirit of forgiveness and grace, even in the face of ongoing offenses.

Ultimately, Jesus's teachings emphasize the importance of addressing conflicts directly, extending forgiveness, and maintaining a spirit of reconciliation within the community of believers. These principles promote unity, peace, and mutual respect among believers, fostering a healthy and vibrant Christian community.

Jesus responds to the disciples' request for increased faith by emphasizing the power of even a small amount of faith. He uses the analogy of a mustard seed, which is tiny but grows into a large tree, to illustrate this concept. Essentially, Jesus tells them that even a small amount of faith can accomplish great things.

The disciples' request for increased faith likely stemmed from the challenge of forgiving someone who sins against them repeatedly. They may have felt inadequate to handle such situations and believed they needed more faith to do so effectively.

In response, Jesus reassures them that they don't need a large amount of faith to address these challenges. Even the smallest amount of genuine faith can move mountains metaphorically, symbolized here by the Mulberry tree being uprooted and planted in the sea.

Jesus's message is clear: Faith, no matter how small, is powerful. It's not the size of their faith that matters but the genuineness and trust they place in God. With even a mustard seed-sized faith, they can confront challenges, including forgiving those who wrong them, and accomplish remarkable feats in God's strength.

In essence, Jesus is teaching that handling the challenges presented by those who offend us or lead us astray requires trust in God's grace and power. He uses the analogy of a mustard seed, emphasizing that even a small amount of faith can accomplish seemingly impossible tasks, such as uprooting a Mulberry tree. The key is to trust in God's ability to empower us to forgive and confront those who wrong us.

So, to summarize, Jesus provides three directives:

·         Recognize that unbelievers who cause you to stumble will face judgment.

·         Forgive believers who sin against you, regardless of how many times they offend you.

·         Trust in the Lord to grant you the grace and strength needed to forgive and confront.

In verse 7, Jesus continues his teaching, using a simple story about a servant to convey a deeper message. The servant's duty is to work in the field during the day and then come home to serve his master's dinner in the evening. Jesus highlights that the servant doesn't receive special praise or recognition for simply fulfilling his duty; rather, it's expected of him.

Likewise, Jesus parallels this concept with the commands he has given earlier in the passage: taking heed to oneself, rebuking those who sin against you, and forgiving them. These commands are likened to the servant's duties. When you fulfill these commands, you're simply doing what is expected of you as a follower of Christ.

Jesus emphasizes that fulfilling these commands doesn't earn you extra rewards or special recognition; it's simply your duty as a disciple. The term "unprofitable servants" implies that you haven't gone above and beyond your duty; you've just done what is required of you.

In Ephesians 4, Paul echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of putting away bitterness, anger, and malice, and instead showing kindness and forgiveness to one another. Just as the servant's duty is to serve his master, our duty as believers is to forgive others as God forgave us.

The point Jesus is making in this open section of Luke Ch 17 is you are to forgive that's your duty.

Alright, let’s try to sum it up.

When unbelievers offend you the danger is that you get hurt and angry and bitter and that's a danger. 

The danger because that's going to affect you, but remember it is God’s job to take care of the offender hopefully by bring them to a point of realising what they have done and repenting of it. (Happy Days). Or He will take care of it otherwise.

But if you don’t leave it with the Lord then what happens is you end up tormented. Some of the most tormented people I've ever talked to where people that hung on to a grudge. 

They would hang onto that hurt for years. But be careful friends fo it is not going to the one who offended you is going to hurt, they probably don’t even know or care that they have offended you. It is you, my friend, is going to continue to hurt.

In the process of studying this passage and passages parallel to it, I There is a passage in Matthew chapter 18, we covered it a few months back.  Peter came to Jesus and said,

'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Therefore, the Kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who went to settle accounts with his servant. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But he was not able to pay his master, and so the master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that they had, that the payment may be made”.

Which was the way they handled it in those days.

The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. But the servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' So the servant fell down at his feet and begged, saying, 'Have mercy on me, and I will pay you all.'

If you look at the text carefully, what the first servant said to the master is verbatim, word for word, what the fellow servant said to him:

'Have patience with me; I will pay all.' But he would not. Instead, he went and threw him into prison until he paid the debt. When his fellow servants saw what he had done, they were very grieved and came and told the master all that had been done.

Then the master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' And his master was angry and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.

This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”