Luke 17

King James Version

Full text for Luke Chapter 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.›

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.›

5And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

6And 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.›

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.›

11¶ And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

12And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

13And they lifted up [their] voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

14And 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.

15And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

16And fell down on [his] face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

17And 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.›

19And he said unto him, ‹Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.›

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.›

22And 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].›

23‹And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after [them], nor follow [them].›

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.›

25‹But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.›

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.›

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.›

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.›

37And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, ‹Wheresoever the body [is], thither will the eagles be gathered together.›

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jesus teaches about the inevitability of offences, the importance of forgiving repeatedly, and the power of even small faith. He then heals ten lepers, but only one, a Samaritan, returns to give thanks, highlighting gratitude. Finally, Jesus speaks of the Kingdom of God not coming with observation, but being 'within you.' He describes the sudden, unexpected return of the Son of Man, likening it to the days of Noah and Lot, urging readiness.

Medium Summary

Jesus begins by warning against causing offences, stating it is better to suffer severe punishment than to harm a 'little one.' He then instructs his disciples on the necessity of forgiving a brother who repents, even if it occurs seven times in a day. When asked to increase their faith, Jesus illustrates that faith as small as a mustard seed can accomplish extraordinary feats. He follows this with a parable of the 'unprofitable servant,' emphasizing that fulfilling one's duty is not grounds for special commendation. Later, while traveling, Jesus cleanses ten lepers, yet only a Samaritan among them returns to express gratitude, prompting Jesus to observe the absence of the others and affirm the Samaritan's faith. Concluding, Jesus addresses the Pharisees about the Kingdom of God, stating it is not outwardly observable but 'within you,' and then describes to his disciples the sudden and decisive coming of the Son of Man, comparing it to the days of Noah and Lot, urging preparedness and warning against looking back.

Long Summary

The chapter opens with Jesus instructing his disciples on the gravity of causing offences, declaring that it would be better for one to be drowned with a millstone than to lead a 'little one' astray. He then emphasizes the critical importance of personal accountability and forgiveness, commanding that if a brother trespasses and repents, he must be forgiven, even if this occurs seven times within a single day. When the apostles requested an increase in their faith, Jesus responded by illustrating that even a minute amount of faith, like a mustard seed, possesses the power to command a sycamine tree to be uprooted and planted in the sea. Following this, he presents a parable about a servant who, after completing his work, is expected to serve his master before resting. Jesus concludes this teaching by stating that when disciples have performed all their commanded duties, they should consider themselves 'unprofitable servants,' having merely done what was their duty. As Jesus journeyed towards Jerusalem, passing through Samaria and Galilee, he encountered ten lepers who stood afar off, crying for mercy. He instructed them to show themselves to the priests, and as they went, they were miraculously cleansed. However, only one of them, a Samaritan, returned to glorify God and give thanks to Jesus, falling at his feet. Jesus questioned the whereabouts of the other nine, noting that only this 'stranger' had returned, and declared that the Samaritan's faith had made him whole. Subsequently, when questioned by the Pharisees about the timing of the Kingdom of God, Jesus explained that it does not come with observable signs, but rather, 'the kingdom of God is within you.' To his disciples, he further elaborated on the future coming of the Son of Man, which will be sudden and unmistakable, like lightning, but will first require him to suffer and be rejected. He likened this coming to the days of Noah and Lot, where people were engrossed in their daily lives until sudden destruction befell them. Jesus warned against turning back for possessions in that day, admonishing them to 'Remember Lot's wife,' and taught the paradox that those who seek to save their lives will lose them, while those who lose their lives will preserve them. He described a sudden separation, with one being taken and another left, and when asked where this would occur, he cryptically replied, 'Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.'

Core Concepts

  • Offences and ForgivenessJesus warns against causing others to stumble, especially 'little ones,' and stresses the absolute necessity of forgiving a repentant brother, even repeatedly, up to seven times in a day.
  • Faith's PowerThe apostles' request for more faith leads Jesus to teach that even a small amount of faith, like a mustard seed, can accomplish seemingly impossible tasks, such as moving a sycamine tree.
  • Duty and HumilityThrough the parable of the unprofitable servant, Jesus instructs that fulfilling one's commanded duties is simply expected, and one should maintain humility, acknowledging they have only done their duty.
  • Gratitude and HealingJesus cleanses ten lepers, but only the Samaritan returns to give thanks and glorify God, highlighting the importance of gratitude and connecting the Samaritan's faith to his complete wholeness.
  • The Kingdom of GodJesus explains that the Kingdom of God is not an external, observable event that can be pointed to, but rather an internal reality, stating, 'the kingdom of God is within you.'
  • The Son of Man's ReturnJesus describes his future coming as sudden and unmistakable, like lightning, comparing it to the days of Noah and Lot, and warns against preoccupation with worldly possessions or looking back.
  • Preserving LifeA paradox is presented: those who try to save their earthly life will lose it, but those who are willing to lose their life for Christ's sake will preserve it eternally.