What does Jesus mean that offences will come but woe to the one through whom they come?

Jesus is honest that in this fallen world, sin, temptation, and hurtful actions are going to happen. People will be led into sin or discouraged by what others say and do. But he warns that it is very serious to be the person who causes that harm, especially to “little ones,” those who are weak or young in faith. His picture of a millstone and the sea shows that it would be better to suffer a painful death than to lead a believer into sin. So believers should be very careful not to trip others up.

Why does Jesus say to forgive a brother seven times in a day?

Jesus is showing that forgiveness among his people is not meant to be limited or small. If someone truly wrongs you, you should first rebuke him, meaning you speak to him about the sin in a loving and honest way. If he then repents, you are to forgive him, even if this happens again and again in the same day. The number “seven” points to repeated acts, not a strict count. This kind of forgiving heart reflects how God treats us, and it shows why the disciples felt they needed more faith to live this way.

What does faith as a grain of mustard seed mean in this passage?

When Jesus speaks of faith as a grain of mustard seed, he is not praising tiny faith that stays tiny, but showing that even a small, real trust in God is powerful because of who God is. He uses a strong picture: telling a deep-rooted sycamine tree to be uprooted and planted in the sea. The point is not that we should try such stunts, but that what seems impossible becomes possible when we truly rely on God. Faith is not about size or show; it is about depending on God’s power, especially in hard things like real forgiveness.

Why does Jesus tell his disciples to say, We are unprofitable servants?

Jesus gives a short picture of a servant who works in the field and then serves his master at the table. The master does not see this as something extra, but as normal duty. Jesus then applies this to his followers. Even if we were to do everything God commands perfectly, we still would not put God in our debt or earn payment from him. We would only have done what we already owed him as our Creator and Lord. Saying, “We are unprofitable servants,” is not self-hate but humble truth: all we have and do is already God’s, and any reward is pure grace.

Why did only one of the ten lepers return to thank Jesus?

The ten lepers all cried for mercy, and as they obeyed Jesus and went to show themselves to the priests, they were cleansed. But only one man, a Samaritan, turned back to praise God loudly, fall at Jesus’ feet, and give thanks. Jesus notes that the others did not return. The story shows how often people enjoy God’s gifts but forget to thank him. It also highlights that the thankful one was a “stranger,” not from the Jewish people. His faith not only received healing but also recognized God at work and responded with worship, and Jesus says his faith made him truly whole.

What does Jesus mean when he says the kingdom of God is within you?

Jesus speaks these words to the Pharisees when they ask when God’s kingdom will come. They seem to expect a visible, outward kingdom with show and political power. Jesus corrects them by saying the kingdom does not come with signs you can watch like a parade. Instead, it is already present in their midst as he himself is there, ruling in hearts and gathering people to God. The wording can mean “within you” or “among you.” The main point is that God’s rule starts inwardly and is already present where Jesus is trusted and obeyed, even if the world does not see it.

What does Remember Lot's wife teach in this passage?

Jesus brings up Lot’s wife while warning about the day when he, the Son of Man, will be revealed. He has just spoken of people in Noah’s and Lot’s days living normal lives until sudden judgment came. Lot’s wife looked back toward Sodom as she was being rescued and became a pillar of salt. By saying “Remember Lot’s wife,” Jesus warns his followers not to cling to possessions or old life when God calls them to leave it. In times of judgment or cost, trying to hold on to this life, rather than trusting and obeying, leads to loss, not safety.

What does one taken and the other left mean in this passage?

Jesus describes pairs of people in normal daily life: two in one bed, two women grinding grain, two men in the field. Outwardly they look the same, but when the Son of Man is revealed, there will be a sudden separation, one taken and the other left. The passage stresses how unexpected and dividing that day will be. It shows that being near godly people or sharing daily work with them is not enough. What matters is each person’s own response to Jesus. The scene pushes us to be ready and not assume we have time to delay turning to him.

How does this passage show both God’s mercy and God’s judgment?

The passage holds mercy and judgment side by side. God’s mercy shines in Jesus’ call to forgive again and again, in his patience with the disciples’ weak faith, and in the healing of all ten lepers, even though most did not thank him. His mercy also appears in warning about false claims, future trouble, and the need to be ready. At the same time, Jesus speaks plainly about judgment: severe words for those who cause others to stumble, sudden destruction in Noah’s and Lot’s days, the fate of Lot’s wife, and the final separation of people. God is kind and ready to forgive, yet he is also holy and will judge.

Luke.17.1

Luke 17:1

KJV Jesus

Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

Temptations and Trespasses

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.

The Power of Faith

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

6 And 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.

The Ten Lepers

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

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

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

14 And 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.

15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, 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 And 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.

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

The Coming of the Kingdom

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.

22 And 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.

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

Cross References

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