Read or listen The Gospel of Luke, chapter 17 online (ESV, Bible Gateway)

Instructions and examples for the life of faith – Luke 17 - 18

It is not known whether Luke wrote this set of teachings by compiling speeches that Jesus gave on different occasions, or whether it is a longer speech that Jesus gave on many topics.

However, it must be taken into account that Jesus most likely taught the same things several times, so Luke may be quoting Jesus' long, unified speech here, while Matthew has taken his own passages from speeches given in other contexts.

Temptations, forgiveness and faith - Luke 17:1-6

Jesus was not an unrealistic dreamer, but he knew that there is much evil in the world. There are many things that would tempt his followers away from the path he prepared. The one who caused such a temptation would deserve a painful and shameful death by having a millstone hung around his neck. The worst punishment in this time is not comparable to eternal punishment.

Nor must the freedom of "strong" Christians (Romans 14:1-5, 1 Corinthians 8:7-13) become a stumbling block for the "weak." Nothing should push away the interests of God's kingdom!

The brother who sins seven times and is forgiven seven times (in Matthew seventy-seven, Matt 18:22) is an example of how a Christian should not tire of forgiving his brother. An individual Christian should forgive again and again.

But Jesus established this order of church discipline: first private rebuke, then rebuke in the presence of witnesses, after which rebuke before the congregation, and finally excommunication from the congregation if there is no repentance (Matthew 18:15-18). It is also important to remember Luther's distinction: "To err in life is human, to err in doctrine is devilish!"

Mulberry tree was known for its deep roots. It was considered a tree with stronger roots than others (Matthew, correspondingly, "faith that moves mountains", Matt 17:20). It is impossible for such a tree to rise and take root in the sea. It is therefore a picture of the fact that nothing is impossible for faith. Even a small faith contains everything, because it is the faith given to us by God. It is based on God's possibilities, and nothing is impossible for God.

Some have thought that Jesus was referring here to a special gift of faith (1 Cor 12:9); that is, that there are those who are able to do deeds that express God's limitless possibilities. However, this is not necessarily the case. The Reformer Martin Luther said that the greatest miracle in this world is the salvation of a sinner. Yes, even "everyday faith" involves many miracles.

Unworthy servants - Luke 17:7-10

This story should not be understood as Jesus' statement on work and servant's rights. Jesus simply took an example from the life lived at that time. The amount of work is not the main point of the story, but rather Jesus used this story to prevent spiritual pride, which is always lurking in everyone's mind.

A Christian always remains indebted to God. The debt of love is never fully paid. We can never say, "Now I have done my part, now I can rest." The gospel must be preached to everyone until Jesus himself comes to finish the work. The text reminds us that the kingdom of God cannot be earned, it is received by grace.

Faith tested - Luke 17:11-19

Leprosy isolated the sick person from society. This time, the disease also seemed to unite nine otherwise hostile Jews and one Samaritan.

Jesus’ command to go and show himself to the priests required the men to believe in Jesus' promise, for Luke tells us that they were only healed on the way. When they left, they were just as sick as before they met Jesus. But if they had not left, they would not have been healed (compare also John 9:6-7, the blind man washing in the pool of Siloam).

This also describes the Christian journey. If we wait for perfect sinlessness before we can believe we are saved Christians, we can never begin the Christian journey. We must take the road believing that along the way God will do His work in us. Only when we arrive in Heaven will we be perfect.

In the society of that time, priests also acted as a kind of doctors and "health inspectors". They had the right to declare that healing had taken place and to allow the healed person back into society (Leviticus 13-14). Leprosy was considered an incurable disease. Healing from it was even considered a miracle comparable to rising from the dead.

Only the Samaritan came back to thank Jesus. The Jews had gone toward Jerusalem, the Samaritan had gone toward his own priests. Only the Samaritan felt genuine gratitude. Perhaps the nine Jews took their healing for granted, a privilege belonging to the Jews. But the Samaritan received more than just health, he was also saved (compare also the healing of Naaman the Syrian from leprosy in 2 Kings 5:1-19).

The surprising return of the Son of Man - Luke 17:20-37

The Pharisees were eager to speculate on the time and place of the end of the world. Therefore, the question was natural: they wanted to find out what Jesus thought about this interesting question.

Since the Church Fathers, there have been two different interpretations of the expression in verse 21, either "the kingdom of God is within you, through faith" or "the kingdom of God is in the midst of you". Then latter fits well with the context of the text: Jesus is telling his opponents that they no longer need to wait for the kingdom of God to come, but that it is right before their eyes: it has come into the world in Jesus.

On the other hand, the kingdom of God will also come, namely as the fulfillment of the promises. This is yet to come. But that fulfillment will not come in a predictable way; "so that its coming can be observed". Since it cannot be predicted, one must be constantly ready for its coming. This is especially the emphasis of the Gospel of Matthew in Jesus' teachings about the coming of the end of the world:

"Therefore, stay awake,
for you do not know on what day
your Lord is coming."
(Matthew 24:42).

A man who thinks he knows the time of the end is in danger of ceasing to be awake. As the Jewish proverb says: "He who knows how to calculate the end will be left out of the world to come."

Before the end, Christ’s followers will have great tribulations, so they will eagerly await the beginning of a new era (verse 22). But at the same time, difficulties can lead to a false pursuit of security and comfort (verse 23). When Christ comes, it will be as clear as a flash of lightning. Then there will be no need to ask or seek advice from anyone.

Even though we have expected and seen many signs, Jesus' return will still be a surprise to us. Only those who have put all their hope in Jesus will be saved. Man cannot take anything out of the world with him, only Jesus can take us to salvation. What belongs to this world also stays here.

The World Council of Churches declared at its Evanston meeting in 1954: "We do not know what the future holds. But we know who is coming: Jesus Christ."

It is also good to remember Luther's teaching about the three surprises in heaven:
1. There are many people there whom we did not expect to see there
2. There are a lot of people missing who we expected to see there
3. The biggest surprise is that you yourself are there.

So we have no right to “separate the wheat from the chaff.” God does that (compare the parable of the wheat and the weeds in Matt 13:24-30, 36-43) in a way and moment that surprises us.