Luke 17

Luke 17:1-10

In this chapter, 1. Christ teaches his disciples to take heed of giving offence, and to forgive the injuries done them, ver. 1—9. To pray for the increase of their faith, ver. 5, 6. And then teacheth them humility, wherence service they had done for God, ver. 7—10. 2. He cleanly ten lepers, one of whom only thanks him, and be a Samaritan, ver. 11—19. 3. He dislovers with his disciples upon creation of an enquiry of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should appear, ver. 20—37.

1. THEN said he unto the disciples, ‘It is impossible but that offences will come: ‘but we 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. 5. And the apostles said unto the Lord, Incresce our faith. 6. And the Lord said, ‘If ye had faith as a grain of mustard-feed, ye might say unto this lycamine-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 say, 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 now 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.

This discourse is particularly addressed to the disciples, and contains,

1. A warning against giving offence. It must needs be, considering the corruption of our nature, the craft of Satan, and the temptations of the world, that offences come; but we to persecutors, who discourage and oppose the work of God; we to seducers, who corrupt the truth, and deceive the souls of men with pernicious brethren; we to jumbly propellers, which cereal lives stumble the weak and harden the wicked: better were it for them to die with the vilest of malefactors than live to increase their everlasting misery.

2. A command to forgive all injuries. Take heed to yourselves, as not to give offence, to also not to take it. When others are provoking, hold in your own spirit, and in patience possess your souls; let no angry thought, no passionate word nor will, no violence break forth. Mildly endeavour to convince an offending brother, and, the moment he expresses his repentance, let the arms of forgiveness and reconciliation be open to him; yea, if he, through carelessness or forgetfulness, seven times in a day repeat the offence, and turns again, professing his sorrow, and

6 P yroa. Jakavii. 3. a. xxx. v. Mat. xxx. 3a. Rom. 3b. 18. St. LÜKE. b Lev. xii. 2. Chom. 2.11. 2.