Book of Luke

Luke Chapter 17

• Luke 17:1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 
• 2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. 

I don't think this only refers to offending children but any true believer or potential believer in Jesus Christ. If we as Christian believers purposely treated someone in a way that caused them to turn away from the message of the gospel, then we would be guilty of offense.

I'm not speaking of telling of the truth in love. Sometimes the truth will offend, the gospel will offend and the mention of Jesus Christ will offend. We can expect that and we are not to back down from truth even though it may offend. But when we are cruel to others while claiming to be servants of the Lord, we bring shame and reproach upon His name.

When I read about things like some Jewish people associating Christianity with gas chambers and the holocaust, it makes me cringe. That is not true Christianity. A true bible believing Christian would know the word of God concerning the Jews. They would know to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

They would know that the Jews will indeed by grafted into the vine who is Jesus our Christ, in the future. They would know that God has not cast away His people the Jews. They would know the word of God which says, "I will bless them that bless you, and curse them that curses you."

Some have applied these things to the church but they apply to Israel. We do not take their place but are adopted into the vine by having faith in Him (Jesus) for salvation. We do not replace the Jews but join them. We are to pray for the day and rejoice in the day that is coming according to bible prophecy; that day being the day the Jewish people will discover their true Messiah was the one that came over 2000 years ago and that is Jesus the Christ. 

I believe Jesus is warning all to take heed that they do not offend the Jews or any believer in Jesus Christ. Somehow in light of history, I think this may refer to the Jewish people for they have been hated and persecuted for centuries. We as believers in Jesus Christ are never to be a part of the persecution of Jews or anyone else. We are to spread the gospel, not bring physical harm or verbal abuse to anyone. We are just to tell the truth. If the truth causes offense that is different. 

• Luke 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 
• 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. 

Forgiveness is necessary for living a life for Christ. If we do not forgive, God is under no obligation to forgive us of sin. Holding a grudge can cause us to become unfruitful in the things of the Lord. Its like a fruit on the vine that begins to dry up and not be worth eating.  

• Luke 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. 
• 6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. 

We try to make faith some big thing that we have to work hard to get. It is as simple as a small child who believes he can go to his mother for help if he is in trouble. He expects his mother to heal his hurts and bind up his wounds. We should come to God with simple childlike faith, just believing that He will take care of us. 

• Luke 17:7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? 
• 8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? 
• 9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. 
• 10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. 

A servant is a good example of what we should be as Christians. A servant in days past would serve his master and not ever expect a reward or even thanks. He served because it was his duty. They were probably glad to have employment because in those days there was no social security or welfare. If you didn't have a job or didn't have well to do relatives that were willing to help, one would starve to death very shortly. I'm not advocating slavery, cruelty or any forced service here but the rich hiring servants was one way to help keep people alive. They didn't just give away their money. One had to work for it. 

When we work for our Lord as servants for the cause of Christ, we should work, not expecting any praise, reward or thanks. True, a faithful servant will be rewarded but we are to do all with the attitude that it was my duty, not expecting praise. 

I use to know a guy at the church I once attended that fixed things around the church building that needed fixed, mowed the lawn and did anything that needed to be done without being asked, without expecting thanks, and he didn't accept pay for it. He did it to serve the Lord.

• Luke 17:11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 
• 12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 
• 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 
• 14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 
• 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 
• 16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 
• 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 
• 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 

A person who has never been around religion, churches or believers; when he first comes to Jesus Christ and finds salvation, he is so thankful and zealous in his newfound faith that he is thankful.

We who have been raised around the bible, the word of God etc. sometimes may take it for granted. Let us not forget to be thankful for what God does for us. We could have been among the ones that didn't hear, didn't understand and we could be out there lost without God. We were privileged to have heard, to have understood and to have been in a place where we heard the gospel and accepted Jesus Christ. I'm thankful today to have had relatives that also believed.

I had a Dad that taught me that the bible was indeed the word of God. I was raised in church. I don't want to take that lightly but be thankful.

• Luke 17:19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. 

This man was more likely to be as one who received seed on good ground and will endure because of his thankful heart. 

• Luke 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 
• 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. 

This is the beautiful "new birth" that comes by faith in Jesus Christ. When we come to Christ by turning away from sin and believing In Him by faith, we are then born again by the spirit of God. We are born by the spirit and washed in His blood. We become a new creature in Christ Jesus. The kingdom of God comes within us.

It is something invisible and not observed by one looking at us. God sees what is happening and that is what counts. We don't have to wait for the literal visible coming of Christ for us to have the kingdom. It is within us now. There will be a literal coming but we don't have to wait for that day to experience the kingdom of God. 

• Luke 17:22 And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. 

This is the day we are living in now. We sometimes want to see Jesus but we don't see Him with the natural eye. We see Him by faith. 

• Luke 17:23 And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. 

The closer we get to the end times, the more we will hear of false teachers, false messiahs and false prophets. We are not to follow after them. That is why God provided us with the written word of God in one volume. We are to use it to keep us from being deceived. Some will come in the name of Christ or claiming to be Christ to deceive. Here is the sign of His coming:

• Luke 17:24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. 

When Jesus returns, we will know who He is. He will not come and be born among us like He did the first time. No natural man living among us today or in the future will be the Messiah. 

• Luke 17:25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. 

His first coming was when He was born as a babe and lived among men to suffer, be rejected and die for sins. The second coming will be visible and every eye shall see Him. There will be no doubt of who He is. If He doesn't come that way, it will not be Him. 

• Luke 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 
• 27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 

The ark was like the future rapture of the believers before the great tribulation. First God saved Noah and his family by having him build an ark of safety. Meanwhile Noah did preach and warn the others that God's judgment was coming. They didn't listen. Only Noah and His family were saved.

Likewise today we warn that Jesus is coming to deliver His people who believe and then bring wrath upon those that persecuted and harmed His people whether they be the believers in Christ or the nation of Israel. Although those in Israel that have not received Christ as their Messiah will not escape by way of rapture, God's promise to Abraham still stands. Any that persecute them will be destroyed. The wise will begin to understand these things as this day draws closer. We must keep seeking Him.

• Luke 17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 
• 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 
• 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. 
• 31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. 
• 32 Remember Lot's wife. 
• 33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. 

This is why we are told in the book of 1st John not to love the world and the things that are in the world but look forward to the kingdom that is coming which can be within us now through our faith in Jesus Christ.

• Luke 17:34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. 
• 35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 
• 36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 
• 37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together. 

When I was a young child, I use to hope that Jesus would not come before I opened by presents on Christmas morning. I know I was only a child but we need to let loose of this world and be willing to forsake all to follow Christ. If we choose to remain with our belongings we will lose it anyway. There is no comparison with the things in this life and the things of God. 

The passage above about two shall be in a field, one is taken and the other left is disagreed on. Some say this is the rapture, others say this is judgment that happens after the rapture and applies to the time of the tribulation when some are killed and some go through the tribulation without dying. No matter which is true, we can be ready and safe in Christ no matter which meaning verses 34-37 is true. 

The days of Noah was like a mini rapture. Those that listened to God and forsook their life here on earth were saved. Those that ignored God, cleaved to their sin, their belongings and unbelief were destroyed by the flood. 

In the days of Lot, those that left Sodom and did not look back were spared. He says to remember Lot's wife. Lot's wife looked back with regret. Her heart was still in Sodom. When we give our lives to Jesus, we must leave our old ways behind. All things become new. We may not have to leave home or our belongings but we must be willing to if that day should come. We would lose it anyway. When Christ appears we will not be able to take anything with us and we shouldn't want to. 

If we are right with God, we should love His coming. If we are not right with God, we will fear His coming.  

DC