Luke 17

He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no occasions of stumbling should come, but woe to him through whom they come!

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.

Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him.

If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”

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.

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’?

Wouldn’t he rather tell him, ‘Prepare my supper, clothe yourself properly, and serve me while I eat and drink. Afterward you shall eat and drink’?

Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded? I think not.

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.’”

As he was on his way to Jerusalem, he was passing along the borders of Samaria and Galilee.

As he entered into a certain village, ten men who were lepers met him, who stood at a distance.

They lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” As they went, they were cleansed.

One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice.

He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus answered, “Weren’t the ten cleansed? But where are the nine?

Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?”

Then he said to him, “Get up, and go your way. Your faith has healed you.”

Being asked by the Pharisees when God’s Kingdom would come, he answered them, “God’s Kingdom doesn’t come with observation;

neither will they say, ‘Look, here!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ for behold, God’s Kingdom is within you.”

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.

They will tell you, ‘Look, here!’ or ‘Look, there!’ Don’t go away or follow after them,

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.

But first, he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

As it was in the days of Noah, even so it will also be in the days of the Son of Man.

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.

Likewise, even as it was in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;

but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from the sky and destroyed them all.

It will be the same way in the day that the Son of Man is revealed.

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.

Remember Lot’s wife!

Whoever seeks to save his life loses it, but whoever loses his life preserves it.

I tell you, in that night there will be two people in one bed. One will be taken and the other will be left.

There will be two grinding grain together. One will be taken and the other will be left.”

They, answering, asked him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the body is, there the vultures will also be gathered together.”

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview.
Luke 17 continues Jesus’ teaching to His disciples during His journey toward Jerusalem, focusing on the seriousness of sin, the necessity of forgiveness, the humility of faithful service, and the certainty of His coming Kingdom and future judgment. The chapter weaves together ethical instruction, parabolic teaching, and eschatological warning, preparing the disciples for life in the present age and the coming of the Son of Man.

Flow.

Jesus warns against causing others to sin and calls for vigilant personal holiness and readiness to forgive offenses, even repeatedly.
The disciples ask for increased faith, to which Jesus responds that even a small measure of genuine faith can accomplish great things, but true discipleship is marked not by extraordinary power but by humble obedience.
Ten lepers are healed, but only one—a Samaritan—returns to give thanks; Jesus commends his faith, highlighting that salvation reaches beyond Israel.
Jesus teaches about the nature of the Kingdom—not visible or localized, but inward and spiritual—and warns of a future day of sudden, decisive judgment when the Son of Man returns as lightning across the sky.

Connections.
Following chapter 16, which addressed the proper use of wealth and the dangers of hardness of heart, chapter 17 deepens the call to moral seriousness and watchfulness among disciples. It prepares the way for chapter 18, which further presses the need for persistent prayer and humble faith in view of the coming judgment, picking up on the themes of endurance and the unexpected nature of God’s intervention.

What it teaches.
The Christian life is defined by a sensitive conscience, a ready willingness to forgive, and a posture of humble service rather than entitlement (WCF 15.6; HC LD 51). Faith, though small, is powerful not in its size but in its object—Christ Himself—and final salvation depends on persevering faith, not outward privilege (WCF 11.2; HC LD 7). The Kingdom of God is spiritually present yet not fully revealed, and its final manifestation will come with sudden, decisive judgment, as in the days of Noah and Lot (WCF 3.7; Canons of Dort 2.9). Gratitude and faith mark the true recipient of grace, and only those who lose their life for Christ’s sake will preserve it unto eternal life (WCF 13.3; HC LD 32).

Apply.
When you have done all that is required, serve with the quiet assurance of duty fulfilled, not expectation of reward.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.