Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Luke 17
Luke 17:6And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.
Jesus explains that even a tiny amount of faith can do the impossible because the power comes from God, not the size of our belief.Luke 17:21nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”
Jesus clarifies that God's kingdom is not only a future political event but a present reality wherever He works among people.Luke 17:33Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.
This paradox reminds us that trying to control our lives leads to spiritual loss, while surrendering to God leads to true life.
Historical & Cultural Context
The High Stakes of Discipleship
Following his teachings on money and the heart in Luke 16, Jesus turns his attention back to his closest followers. He begins with a stern warning about the influence we have on others, especially those who are new or 'little' in their faith. The setting is the road to Jerusalem, a journey where Jesus is preparing his disciples for the reality of the cross and the high standards of the kingdom life.
Mercy on the Borderlands
As the group travels through the borderlands of Samaria and Galilee, they encounter a group of ten men suffering from leprosy. This interaction highlights the social and religious barriers of the day, as lepers were forced to live outside of society. The scene shifts from a physical healing to a spiritual lesson when only one man, a foreigner, returns to give thanks.
Living the Kingdom Life
In Luke 17:1-37, Jesus moves from practical instructions on community life to deep prophetic warnings about the future. He addresses the disciples' questions about faith and the Pharisees' questions about the end of time.
Stumbling Blocks and Forgiveness (Luke 17:1-4)
1 And he said to his disciples, "Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come!
2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.
3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him,
4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him."
Commentary:
Jesus warns against leading others into sin and commands us to forgive others as often as they repent.
Faith and Humble Duty (Luke 17:5-10)
5 The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"
6 And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.
7 "Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and recline at table'?"
8 Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink'?
9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded?
10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'"
Commentary:
Faith is about God's power, not our own, and our service to Him is a humble duty, not a way to earn rewards.
The Ten Lepers (Luke 17:11-19)
11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee.
12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance
13 and 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." And as they went they were cleansed.
15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice;
16 He fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.
17 Then Jesus answered, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?
18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”
19 And he said to him, "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well."
Commentary:
Ten are healed of leprosy, but only the grateful Samaritan receives the spiritual blessing of being made well through faith.
The Coming of the Kingdom (Luke 17:20-37)
20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed,
21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”
22 And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.
23 And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them.
24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.
25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.
27 They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot - they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building,
29 but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all -
30 so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
31 On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back.
32 Remember Lot's wife.
33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.
34 I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left.
35 There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left."
36 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left."
37 And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”
Commentary:
The Kingdom of God is a present reality that will one day be revealed suddenly, requiring us to be spiritually ready.
Related Verse Analysis
Spiritual Truths for the Journey
The Power of Small Faith
Jesus teaches that faith is not a substance we need to accumulate in large amounts. Instead, faith is like a seed. Its power lies in the life within it and the God who makes it grow. Even a tiny spark of trust in a great God can accomplish what seems impossible to us.
Gratitude as a Sign of Faith
The story of the ten lepers shows that it is possible to receive God's blessings without actually knowing God. True, saving faith is marked by a heart that turns back to worship and thank the Giver, rather than only enjoying the gift.
Living in Readiness
Jesus emphasizes that the end of the age will catch many people by surprise because they are consumed by the mundane details of life. He calls his followers to a state of constant readiness, where their primary loyalty is to Him rather than their possessions or social status.
Applying Luke 17 to Your Daily Walk
According to Luke 17:3-4, your responsibility is to keep your heart soft and ready to forgive. If they turn to you and say they are sorry, Jesus instructs you to forgive them, even if it happens multiple times in the same day. This prevents bitterness from taking root in your own life.
In verses 7-10, Jesus reminds us that we are 'unworthy servants' who are doing our duty. This means we should serve in our churches and communities because we love God, not because we are looking for applause or special treatment. Our reward is the privilege of being in His service.
Jesus uses the example of Lot's wife in verse 32 to warn us against being too attached to our current life and possessions. To apply this, you can practice 'letting go' of material worries and keeping your eyes fixed on Jesus, trusting that what He has for you in His kingdom is far better than anything you leave behind.
Humble Faith and Constant Readiness
Luke 17 reveals that the life of a disciple is one of deep responsibility toward others and total dependence on God. Jesus shows us that faith isn't a tool for our own greatness, but a humble trust that allows God to work through us. The message is clear: we are called to forgive without limits, serve without seeking praise, and live with a heart of gratitude. As we do this, we remain ready for the sudden arrival of His kingdom, keeping our eyes on the Savior rather than the world.
What This Means for Us Today
Jesus invites us into a way of living that is completely different from the world's 'me-first' attitude. He calls us to be people of the 'second look' - turning back to give thanks and looking forward to His return. By embracing humble service and radical forgiveness, we experience the reality of His kingdom here and now.
- Is there someone you need to forgive today, even if they've asked for it many times before?
- In what areas of your life are you acting like a 'servant' looking for a 'thank you' rather than serving out of love?
- If Jesus returned today, would He find you 'looking back' at your possessions or looking forward to Him?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
Connections Across Scripture
A parallel teaching where Jesus tells Peter to forgive 'seventy times seven' times.
The story of Lot and his wife, which Jesus references to warn about the danger of looking back.
Another account of Jesus describing the suddenness of the Son of Man's return.
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think Jesus used such a violent image as a millstone to describe the consequences of leading others into sin?
- In the story of the ten lepers, why do you think the other nine didn't return to say thank you? What 'distractions' keep us from being grateful today?
- What does it mean for the Kingdom of God to be 'in the midst of you' in your everyday life right now?