Luke Chapter Jesus has been talking to the multitudes to the disciples alone and to the Pharisees directly and indirectly at different times.

Transcription

1 Luke Chapter 17 1 Then He said to the disciples, It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! - Jesus has been talking to the multitudes to the disciples alone and to the Pharisees directly and indirectly at different times. o He now goes back to addressing his disciples. - He has just warned the Pharisees about their love of money, their covetousness, their self-righteousness and pride. o He now seems to turn.. to sins that could be an occasion for stumbling in the lives of his disciples. - He says that It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! o The word used here.. for offences is not specific and covers many different actions. For instance. the problem created by eating food sacrificed to idols in Romans 14:13 and following 13 Then let us no more pass judgment on one another, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. RSV Or by hating a brother 1John 2: He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in the darkness still. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and in it there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But he who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. RSV - The idea is that these things will come because there is sin in the world but they should not come from his disciples. 1

2 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. - The 1901 ASV Reads 2 It were well for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble. - The NIV reads 2 It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. o In other words. a disciple would be better off drowned by a millstone (a very large and heavy stone used for grinding grain and the term here refers to the heavier kind of millstone turned by a donkey, rather than the lighter kind a woman would use) tied around his neck, than to bring spiritual harm (skandalise, to cause to sin ) to these little ones (believers in Christ who, like little children, are helpless before God.) Enhanced Strong s Lexicon 4624 skandalizo { skan-dal-id -zo} ( ö scandalizeô ) from 4625; TDNT - 7:339,1036; v AV - offend 28, make to offend 2; 30 GK { skandalivzw } 1) to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another may trip and fall, metaph. to offend 1a) to entice to sin 1b) to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey 1b1) to cause to fall away 1b2) to be offended in one, i.e. to see in another what I disapprove of and what hinders me from acknowledging his authority 1b3) to cause one to judge unfavourably or unjustly of another 1c) since one who stumbles or whose foot gets entangled feels annoyed 1c1) to cause one displeasure at a thing 1c2) to make indignant 1c3) to be displeased, indignant 2

3 o Little ones (children) Mark 10: And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. RSV Many believe. that the sinning referred to is lack of faith in the Messiah. Jesus had already said.. that the Pharisees were not only refusing to enter the kingdom but were also keeping others from entering (Luke 11:52). o Those who caused others to stumble or to sin as the NIV renders it are just as doomed as the rich man of the preceding parable. Instead.disciples are to look out for one another s good. 3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. - Believers are responsible. for helping each other to be faithful disciples. o To hinder another disciple.. should be unthinkable. - However. disciples must do more than refrain from causing others to sin. o Jesus says If your brother sins, rebuke him. In other words. Christians must never cause each other to sin and they must also keep each other from sinning. A private loving rebuke. should be the normal rule. Eph. 4: but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head Christ. NKJV 3

4 It s important to keep in mind that. sin is to be rebuked. We are not to promote a passive forgiveness that promotes being victimized. We are to be compassionate but not weak. We should not be indifferent to evil. nor should we hold a grudge. Take heed to yourselves is the key element here. Lovingly watch out for each other.. not a self-righteous judgmental attitude. o No plank in your own eye. Our aim should never be to embarrass or hurt the offender but instead to encourage him or her to repent. o Gal. 6: Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. NKJV When others are involved. It would seem that not all have the ability to do this work equally well. (?) This is never an easy task It is uncomfortable, and it very much violates our culture today that says mind your own business (I m OK you re OK). o Never- the- less it s still God s will. 4

5 o Christians have a responsibility to help each other avoid sinful behavior. o 3b and if he repents, forgive him. If the offenders repents the believer forgive him. It s not an option. must We must cultivate an attitude of forgiveness. Eph. 4:15 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. NKJV But If another person is unwilling to acknowledge his fault, he will not receive our forgiveness. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, I repent, you shall forgive him. - Some believe the seven times seven to be a hyperbolic expression (exaggerated to get our attention). o It is hard for us to imagine.. as it was for the Jews, that anyone would commit the same sin seven times in one day and sincerely repent of it each time. (If a Jew forgave someone 3 times in a day he was considered a perfect man according to the Tulmud.) o Wiersbe says It is not likely that a believer would commit the same sin seven times in one day, but we must be ready to forgive that often. Forgiveness should be a habit, not a battle. Wiersbe's expository outlines on the New Testament o Tyndale makes this interesting statement. From the worlds point of view a sevenfold repetition of an offense in one day must cast doubt on the genuineness of the sinner s repentance. But that is not the believer s business. His business is forgiveness. - Boles says Seven is a term that must be taken indefinitely; it means very frequently, very often. Seven is often used to denote a complete number; it is called a sacred number and is closely connected in the 5

6 scriptures with forgiveness and retribution. The meaning is that as often as one sins and repents and asks forgiveness, so often shall forgiveness be extended. - The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant Matthew 18:21ff is an example of how God looks at forgiveness. o It s easy for us to see our need for forgiveness. but many times it s hard to extend it to others. o George Herbert (poet) wrote.. He who cannot forgive breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass. 1Cor. 13:4-6 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not selfseeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. NIV 1Peter 4:8. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins. NKJV 5 And the apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith. - As a group the need for more faith than they presently have is perceived. 6 So the Lord said, If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea, and it would obey you. - He does not answer directly only by giving an example. o They re responsibility is to have faith. Less or more is not the point trusting in God s ability to do the impossible is what s required. Someone has said It is not so much great faith that is required as faith in a great God. (Abraham/Isaac) o The mustard seed is proverbial for its small size. 6

7 o The syamine tree (thought to be the black mulberry it lives up to 600 years) was firmly rooted. Removing it would be very difficult. His concern is with the difficulty. Miller said He is saying that nothing is impossible to faith: genuine faith can accomplish what experience, reason, and probability would deny, if it is exercised within God s will. o The point is this We need to do God s will.. even when it seems impossible. Just a very small amount of faith. can do great things when we put our trust in doing what the Lord wants us to do. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, I repent, you shall forgive him. o With just a little faith.. they (the apostles) and we can easily do this. It s the Lord s will! o Our obedience in forgiving. shows our trust in God to take care of all the consequences.. for our good and His glory. 7 And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, Come at once and sit down to eat? 8 But will he not rather say to him, Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink? 9 Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. 10 So likewise you, when 7

8 you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do. - This parable is clearly designed to teach humility, obedience, and a sense of lacking any merit in the sight of God. o A disciple s first responsibility is to have faith in the Lord. o His second responsibility.. is humble and obedient service. - No special praise should be expected.. for doing the things we re expected to do. o The apostle Paul recognized this 1Cor. 9:16-17: 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. NKJV o The servant. doesn t get special praise from his master for doing his job. - Unprofitable does not mean useless, but having rendered no service beyond what was due. o The main point is this We can never put God in our debt. We re saved by grace.. you can t earn heaven. But..there is an attitude that must prevail to be acceptable to God. Ps. 40:8 8 I delight to do thy will, O my God; thy law is within my heart. RSV This is unlike the service of the elder brother.. who was miserably obedient. 8

9 o Barclay summarizes verses 7 to 10 by quoting this stanza from When I Survey the Wondrous Cross: Were the whole realm of Nature mine, That were an offering far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all. I believe that pretty much says it all! 11 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us! 14 So when He saw them, He said to them, Go, show yourselves to the priests. And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, 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 So Jesus answered and said, Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner? 19 And He said to him, Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well. - We remember the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke chapter 10. o Luke 10:30 A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. NKJV o The priest and the Levite..both passed by on the other side giving no help. They were supposedly Religious --- but they did nothing. 9

10 o The Samaritan s were held in contempt by the Jews False religion. But he loves his neighbor. He gives help. Plus! Expecting nothing in return! (with a capital P. ) - The other Good Samaritan is the subject of this text. o Josephus says. that lepers were treated as if they were already dead. They stayed at a distance at least 50yds. away was preferred by the Jews although not specified exactly by the law. Lev. 13: When a man or woman has white spots on the skin, 39 the priest is to examine them, and if the spots are dull white, it is a harmless rash that has broken out on the skin; that person is clean. 40 When a man has lost his hair and is bald, he is clean. 41 If he has lost his hair from the front of his scalp and has a bald forehead, he is clean. 42 But if he has a reddish-white sore on his bald head or forehead, it is an infectious disease breaking out on his head or forehead. 43 The priest is to examine him, and if the swollen sore on his head or forehead is reddish-white like an infectious skin disease, 44 the man is diseased and is unclean. The priest shall pronounce him unclean because of the sore on his head. 45 The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, Unclean! Unclean! 46 As long as he has the infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp. NIV o The psalmist cries out to God.. Ps. 22: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? 2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. NKJV Jesus knew how they felt. Abandoned. 10

11 o Jesus says 14b Go, show yourselves to the priests. They went in faith they believed. but they were not yet healed! And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. They were cleansed. made whole. raised from the dead. o And then it says. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. o Only one of the leper s returns to give thanks And he was a Samaritan. (Key point!) Jews considered them pagans. (No association) False teachers. (Mt. Gerizim is the place to worship) Half breeds. (Jewish/Gentile) Only a common lot (disease) brought these together. (Misery loves company and all ten were outcasts) o 17 So Jesus answered and said, Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner? God s chosen people Ungrateful! Why? We still don t know. o Earlier the apostles had said.. increase our faith. True saving faith is thankful. 11

12 Gratitude! All believed that Jesus could heal them. But only one was grateful.???? o Some, even today, respond to God s grace by saying we don t have to do anything. But.. They fail to realize that the purpose of our good works is to say thank you to God. We can t earn God s grace. Eph. 2: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. NIV But we can be thankful.. and we can show our gratitude. We need to remember We don t show much gratitude when we respond with such remarks as.. I have done more than my share, or I have served my time, or it s time for someone else to work now, etc. o The first Samaritan shows us how to give to those who need help. Wanting nothing in return. o The second Samaritan shows us how to receive: We need to be thankful for our salvation. We need to show our gratitude for Jesus. who cleansed us of our sins and made us whole. We need to say thank you in every way we can! 20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, The kingdom of 12

13 God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, See here! or See there! For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you. - Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come. o Both John the Baptist and Jesus had preached that the kingdom of God was at hand. The Pharisees were the custodians of the Law (Matt. 23:2-3) consequently it does not seem illogical for them to ask Jesus when the kingdom was coming. o The Pharisees expected the Messiah to rule over an earthly kingdom. So.. if Jesus was the Messiah.. they would expect Him to suddenly assert power and to take control as an earthly monarch. (Military coup) (Accompanied with great pomp and ceremony and the crowning of a new king, etc.) But He says 20b The kingdom of God does not come with observation in other words, it would not come with great outward show. Their views of the kingdom were political. not spiritual. Jewish not universal. o Their question about the kingdom was legitimate.. but tragic. Jesus had been among them for nearly three years and they were still in spiritual darkness. 13

14 - Views on the meaning of this verse are myriad. o The statement the kingdom of God is within you.. has challenged Bible translators and interpreters for centuries and many explanations have been given. Enhanced Strong s Lexicon 1787 entos { en-tos } from 1722;; prep AV - within 2; 2 GK { ejntov" } 1) within, inside 1a) within you i.e. in the midst of you 1b) within you i.e. your soul o The Greek preposition can mean within, among, or in the midst of. o Some feel that the force of the expression is within your possession or within your reach. Jesus point was. that He was standing right in their midst. Luke 11:20 20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. RSV These Pharisees could not see what was happening at the time. because they were so preoccupied with what they thought would happen in the future. o Luke 12: He also said to the multitudes, When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, A shower is coming ; and so it happens. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, There will be scorching heat ; and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky; but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? RSV 14

15 - Many commentators seem to agree on one thing Jesus is not telling the Pharisees that they had the kingdom of God in their hearts! o The translation within you is an unfortunate one.. indicating to many that the kingdom is a matter of the heart. Jesus nowhere else spoke of the kingdom as an inward, spiritual experience. Jesus speaks everywhere of men entering the kingdom, not of the kingdom entering men!" While the kingdom very much involves the heart. the better translation is among you or in the midst of you. o The RSV reads like this 20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, he answered them, The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; 21 nor will they say, Lo, here it is! or There! for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you. A majority of commentators seem to agree that this is the best way to translate the verse. The kingdom is among you, i.e. it is present in the Person and ministry of Jesus. The kingdom was already at work in the midst of Jesus hearers it was there for them to grasp. The kingdom had arrived in Himself God had acted and the kingdom has begun which will eventually be acknowledged by all. Jesus both spoke of the kingdom as being present as well as future. (He that hath ears to hear, let him hear) 15

16 - This understanding, to me, seems to fit the context best.. both here and other places where the kingdom of God is talked about. 22 Then 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. - Jesus now turns from talking to the Pharisees. and speaks to His disciples. o He now turns to the future. Concerning the second coming of Christ there will come a time when the disciples will earnestly yearn for Christ s return but they will have to wait. Many difficult and trying times are in the future of these first century Christians (persecutions, etc. - many times in Revelation we hear Lord come quickly) Many popular phrases. such as this one expressed in 1Cor. 16:22 became a popular outcry in the early decades of the church.. If anyone does not love the Lord a curse be on him. Come, O Lord! NIV Or Rev. 6: When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth? NKJV But he says and you will not see it. That is you will not see the coming of the Son of Man. In other words. he might well be saying, that It won t happen in your lifetime. At the very least. He is saying that know one knows when the Lord will return again in final judgment. 16

17 23 And they will say to you, Look here! or Look there! Do not go after them or follow them. 24 For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day. 25 But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. - We are told many times to be faithful, watchful and humbly prepared for His coming. o We are never told.. to engage in idle speculation, rumors and gossip. Look here! or Look there! o Nor.. should we take heed to false prophets and false predictions. Do not go after them or follow them. - His coming is certain and sure but when is unknown. - But this we know. His coming will be obvious to all! o For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day. - Before this can happen He says: o 25 But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. With this statement, in essence, Jesus predicts -- His persecution, suffering, crucifixion, burial, resurrection and ascension. The Second Advent.. must come after the cross. And His suffering and rejection will be at the hand of this generation. 17

18 26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. - By examples of old.. Jesus assures the disciples that people will be doing the ordinary things of life when the Son of Man comes again. o In the days of Noah the people were warned of the coming judgment and impending flood but they did not heed his warnings. He says 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. In like manner, during the days of Lot. the people of Sodom were engaged in everyday affairs and completely unaware of their future disaster until.it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. - In like manner His second coming will be with the same type of power and suddenness. 31 In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. - It will be useless.. to worry about saving household goods when sudden destruction is upon you. 18

19 And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. - The time for preparation has pasted. 32 Remember Lot s wife. 33 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. - Looking back and being attached to their material things will bring about a like judgment as that of Lot s wife. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. 35 Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. 36 Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left. - The illustrations are of people with a close association to each other. o The judgment of God is an individual judgment. By proxy and shirttail associations will not work. 37 And they answered and said to Him, Where, Lord? So He said to them, Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together. 1 - The time will come.. when God, and God alone, deems it the right time for Christ to return. - When that time comes.. it will be evident that God has brought this about in His own good time and at the right time. o We need to heed God s warnings and be prepared! 1The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.)