Jesus uniquely combines millstone judgment imagery with radical forgiveness commands and servant humility, creating Luke's most paradoxical teaching on divine authority expressed through self-effacement.
Luke 17
Sin, Forgiveness, Faith, and Duty
1He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no occasions of stumbling should come, but woe to him through whom they come!
2It 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.
3Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him.
4If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”
5The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
6The 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.
7But 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’?
8Wouldn’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’?
9Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded? I think not.
10Even so you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.’”
The Cleansing of Ten Lepers
11As he was on his way to Jerusalem, he was passing along the borders of Samaria and Galilee.
12As he entered into a certain village, ten men who were lepers met him, who stood at a distance.
13They lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” As they went, they were cleansed.
15One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice.
16He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan.
17Jesus answered, “Weren’t the ten cleansed? But where are the nine?
18Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?”
19Then he said to him, “Get up, and go your way. Your faith has healed you.”
The Coming of the Kingdom
20Being asked by the Pharisees when God’s Kingdom would come, he answered them, “God’s Kingdom doesn’t come with observation;
21neither will they say, ‘Look, here!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ for behold, God’s Kingdom is within you.”
22He 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.
23They will tell you, ‘Look, here!’ or ‘Look, there!’ Don’t go away or follow after them,
24for 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.
25But first, he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
26As it was in the days of Noah, even so it will also be in the days of the Son of Man.
27They 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.
28Likewise, even as it was in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;
29but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from the sky and destroyed them all.
30It will be the same way in the day that the Son of Man is revealed.
31In 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.
32Remember Lot’s wife!
33Whoever seeks to save his life loses it, but whoever loses his life preserves it.
34I tell you, in that night there will be two people in one bed. One will be taken and the other will be left.
35There will be two grinding grain together. One will be taken and the other will be left.”
37They, answering, asked him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the body is, there the vultures will also be gathered together.”
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Theme
Luke 17 presents Jesus teaching on discipleship responsibilities and kingdom realities as he journeys toward Jerusalem. The chapter addresses the serious nature of causing others to stumble, the demands of unlimited forgiveness, and the humble attitude required of faithful servants. Through the healing of ten lepers and teachings about the kingdom's coming, Jesus emphasizes that true faith produces both gratitude and readiness for his unexpected return.
Context
This chapter continues Jesus' journey to Jerusalem begun in Luke 9:51, intensifying his teachings on discipleship as the cross approaches.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-4 Warning Against Causing Stumbling and Call to Forgive Jesus warns against leading others astray and commands unlimited forgiveness of repentant brothers.
- 5-10 Faith and Humble Service Jesus teaches that even small faith can accomplish great things, but disciples must maintain the attitude of unworthy servants.
- 11-19 The Cleansing of Ten Lepers Jesus heals ten lepers, but only one Samaritan returns to give thanks, highlighting the importance of gratitude.
- 20-37 The Coming of God's Kingdom Jesus explains that God's kingdom is already present but warns of his sudden, unmistakable return like lightning or the days of Noah.
Sin, Forgiveness, Faith, and Duty
17:1–17:10 gospel instruction solemn
Jesus teaches his disciples about avoiding causing others to sin, the necessity of forgiveness, the power of faith, and the attitude of humble service. He emphasizes that faithful obedience is simply doing one's duty.
person_contrast
Jesus uniquely combines millstone judgment imagery with radical forgiveness commands and servant humility, creating Luke's most paradoxical teaching on divine authority expressed through self-effacement.
The Cleansing of Ten Lepers
17:11–17:19 narrative narration contemplative
Jesus heals ten lepers but only one, a Samaritan, returns to give thanks. This story emphasizes the importance of gratitude and faith in response to God's mercy.
person_contrast
Only the Samaritan leper returns to thank Jesus, creating Luke's sharpest irony where the religious outsider demonstrates proper faith while nine presumably Jewish recipients ignore their healer.
The Coming of the Kingdom
17:20–17:37 gospel instruction warning
Jesus teaches about the coming of God's Kingdom and the sudden nature of the Son of Man's return. He warns of judgment using examples from Noah's flood and Lot's escape from Sodom.
person_contrast
Jesus uniquely shifts from describing the kingdom's hidden, internal presence to warning of its sudden, visible manifestation through apocalyptic judgment imagery.
Insights
Only the Samaritan leper returns to thank Jesus, creating Luke's sharpest irony where the religious outsider demonstrates proper faith while nine presumably Jewish recipients ignore their healer.
Jesus uniquely shifts from describing the kingdom's hidden, internal presence to warning of its sudden, visible manifestation through apocalyptic judgment imagery.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Luke 17:2 2 references
Luke 17:3 3 references
Lexicals 3
Matthew 18:21 Lexical
Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?…
Matthew 18:15 Lexical
“If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gain…
1 John 5:16 Lexical
If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for those who si…
Luke 17:6 4 references
Lexicals 4
Matthew 17:20 Lexical
He said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed,…
Matthew 13:31 Lexical
He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took, and…
Luke 13:19 Lexical
It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and put in his own garden. It grew and became a large tree, and the…
Matthew 15:13 Lexical
But he answered, “Every plant which my heavenly Father didn’t plant will be uprooted.
Luke 17:7 1 reference
Luke 17:8 5 references
Lexicals 5
Luke 12:19 Lexical
I will tell my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.”’
Matthew 6:25 Lexical
Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body,…
Acts 23:21 Lexical
Therefore don’t yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse to n…
Acts 23:12 Lexical
When it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat…
Luke 12:37 Lexical
Blessed are those servants whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most certainly I tell you that he will dress…
Luke 17:10 1 reference
Luke 17:14 1 reference
Luke 17:15 2 references
Lexicals 2
Luke 17:16 1 reference
Luke 17:19 2 references
Luke 17:20 1 reference
Luke 17:21 3 references
Lexicals 3
James 2:3 Lexical
and you pay special attention to him who wears the fine clothing and say, “Sit here in a good place;” and you tell the p…
Matthew 7:4 Lexical
Or how will you tell your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye,’ and behold, the beam is in your own eye?
Matthew 24:23 Lexical
“Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There!’ don’t believe it.
Luke 17:22 1 reference
Luke 17:23 3 references
Lexicals 3
James 2:3 Lexical
and you pay special attention to him who wears the fine clothing and say, “Sit here in a good place;” and you tell the p…
Matthew 7:4 Lexical
Or how will you tell your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye,’ and behold, the beam is in your own eye?
Matthew 24:23 Lexical
“Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There!’ don’t believe it.
Luke 17:24 5 references
Lexicals 5
Matthew 24:27 Lexical
For as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Matthew 24:37 Lexical
As the days of Noah were, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Matthew 12:40 Lexical
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the huge fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and thr…
Matthew 5:16 Lexical
Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
John 5:21 Lexical
For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires.
Luke 17:25 4 references
Lexicals 4
Luke 9:22 Lexical
saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be kille…
Mark 8:31 Lexical
He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, an…
Matthew 16:21 Lexical
From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, c…
Mark 9:12 Lexical
He said to them, “Elijah indeed comes first, and restores all things. How is it written about the Son of Man, that he sh…
Luke 17:26 1 reference
Luke 17:27 5 references
Lexicals 5
Matthew 24:38 Lexical
For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until t…
1 Peter 3:20 Lexical
who before were disobedient when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ship was being built. In it, few, th…
1 Corinthians 11:26 Lexical
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
2 Peter 2:5 Lexical
and didn’t spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a…
Hebrews 11:7 Lexical
By faith Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared a ship for the saving of his hous…
Luke 17:28 1 reference
Luke 17:29 2 references
Luke 17:31 5 references
Lexicals 5
Mark 13:16 Lexical
Let him who is in the field not return back to take his cloak.
Matthew 24:18 Lexical
Let him who is in the field not return back to get his clothes.
Mark 13:15 Lexical
and let him who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter in, to take anything out of his house.
Matthew 24:17 Lexical
Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out the things that are in his house.
Luke 9:23 Lexical
He said to all, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
Luke 17:33 1 reference
Luke 17:34 5 references
Lexicals 5
Matthew 24:41 Lexical
Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and one will be left.
Matthew 24:40 Lexical
Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left.
Matthew 18:16 Lexical
But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be e…
Luke 16:13 Lexical
No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to one and de…
Luke 18:10 Lexical
“Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.
Luke 17:35 5 references
Lexicals 5
Matthew 24:41 Lexical
Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and one will be left.
Matthew 24:40 Lexical
Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left.
Matthew 18:16 Lexical
But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be e…
Luke 18:10 Lexical
“Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.
Matthew 6:24 Lexical
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and…
Interlinear
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Lemma
Morphology
Semantic Range
Theological Significance
Translation Notes
Key Passages
Historical Context
Places and events in this chapter
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Timeline
Flood
c. 2348 BCGod's global judgment through a worldwide flood, saving only Noah's family and the animals in the ark. This event demonstrates divine justice while preserving a righteous remnant for humanity's continuation.
Jesus references Noah's flood as an example of sudden judgment before his return.
The Coming of the Kingdom