LUKE LESSON 42

    We will begin this lesson in Luke 17:1 "Then said he unto the
disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe [unto
him], through whom they come!"   Luke 17:2 "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."

    Possibly, some of what Jesus is saying here is preparing the
disciples for the hardships that lie ahead. Jesus is speaking
prophetically about Judas Iscariot being the one the offence will come
from. He says woe to the one it comes by. Little ones here could be
new Christians, this is also a warning to the disciples that their way
will not be easy, either. There is tribulation in this life for all
followers of Jesus.

    Luke 17:3  "Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass
against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him."

    This is Jesus speaking to the disciples. He is saying make sure
that you are living right before you start correcting someone else. We
see here that people in ministering capacity are supposed to point out
sins (in love). Make sure this same sin is not in your own life,
before you point it out in someone else. Jesus is also saying, be
quick to forgive them and start them out again. Church is a hospital
for sinners, not a hotel for saints.

    Luke 17:4 "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."

    Jesus is saying, in this, continue to forgive him as many times as
he asks. Seven. you remember, means spiritually complete. This is not
to be thought of literally, but just to mean everytime they ask. It is
not for us to ask whether they really repented or not, just forgive
them when they ask.

    Luke 17:5 "And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our
faith."

    Everyone has been given a measure of faith as we read in Romans
12:3. The way to increase the faith is by using our faith. Practice
using your faith, and it will grow. There is a gift of faith, also,
which is perhaps what the twelve are asking Jesus for here. We know
that without faith it is impossible to please God.

    Luke 17:6 "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."

    Jesus tells His own, here, that even a little faith can bring
about mighty miracles. It seems unreasonable that a tree would uproot
itself and be planted in another place. Jesus says, if you had as much
faith as the size of the very small mustard seed, the tree would do
it.  Not maybe, it would!  The problem is, we doubt. We jump now to a
whole new subject, the parable of the unprofitable servants.

    Luke 17:7 "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?"

    Jesus is explaining here that the servant usually serves his lord,
even if he has been in the field working. The servant generally has
his own quarters and eats at his own table or else waits until the
family is finished and then he eats.

    Luke 17:8 "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?"

    Jesus is teaching here the difference in the lord and his servant.
The duty of the servant is to serve his lord. We Christians are really
servants of the Lord. We must serve Him as long as He desires. We
cannot quit a job because it gets hard, but we must work until the
Lord says it is enough and releases us from that job.

    Luke 17:9 "Doth he thank that servant because he did the things
that were commanded him? I trow not."

    This was his job. The boss doesn't thank you everytime you get a
job done. That is your obligation if you are working for him. We
workers for the Lord do not have to be thanked, either. It is our
obligation to do the job the Lord has given us.

    Luke 17:10 "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."

    We don't need applause for every little job we do. Our reward will
come when our Lord says, "Well done thy good and faithful servant". We
do not need or deserve the praise of the world for doing our job.

    Luke 17:11  "And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he
passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee."

    This just reminds us, again, that this is toward the end of Jesus'
ministry. He is headed for Jerusalem.

    Luke 17:12 "And as he entered into a certain village, there met
him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:"

    These ten men stood afar off because they were to be separated
from their people when the priest declared them with leprosy. They
were to cry out "unclean" when anyone came near them. This was an
incurable disease unless God healed you. "Ten" we know symbolizes
world government. We also know that leprosy was symbolic of sin.

    Luke 17:13 "And they lifted up [their] voices, and said, Jesus,
Master, have mercy on us."

    This should be the cry of every one in the whole world. not just
these lepers. The mercy of the Lord is what saves every one of us. We
do not deserve saving. This lifting of their voice here was so that
Jesus would hear them over the crowd. Notice they call Him Master.
They believed He would heal them. When a person was healed of leprosy,
he had to show himself to the priest so the priest could proclaim him
healed. When the priest said he was healed, he could move back home
and begin his life again. Instead of Jesus saying you are healed. He
just said go show yourself to the priest as you see in the next verse.

    Luke 17:14 "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."

    We see by this, that Jesus sent them on their way before the
leprosy left. They had to activate their faith to be made whole. As
they went, they were healed. Many times the Lord had the one He was
healing to do something to show that they believed they would be
healed.

    Luke 17:15 "And one of them, when he saw that he was healed,
turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God," Luke 17:16 "And
fell down on [his] face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a
Samaritan."

    We see here a grateful man. He gives God the glory for his
healing. All ten were healed, only one came back to praise God. He was
an humble man falling down on his face at Jesus' feet. A Samaritan was
hated of the Jews, perhaps he thought Jesus might not help him because
of his nationality, and his gratitude was overwhelming.

    Luke 17:17 "And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed?
but where [are] the nine?" Luke 17:18 "There are not found that
returned to give glory to God, save this stranger."

    Jesus, calling this Samaritan a stranger, makes it appear that the
other nine were perhaps Hebrews. These nine quickly forgot where their
healing came from and didn't bother to come back and praise God.

    Luke 17:19 "And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith
hath made thee whole."

    This same message was given to nearly everyone Jesus healed (your
faith hath made you whole). Jesus could heal them, but they had to
accept the healing.







                           Luke 42 Questions

1.  Jesus warned the disciples that _________ would come.
2.  What did He say about the one they come by?
3.  What would be better than offending one of the little ones?
4.  Why is Jesus prophetically speaking of bringing offences?
5.  If a brother trespass against you. what two things should you do?
6.  What did Jesus warn them about correcting someone?
7.  Church is a _______ for sinners, not a _________ for saints.
8.  How many times in a day did Jesus tell them to forgive?
9.  In verse 5. what did the apostles ask Jesus to do?
10. What do we read about faith in Romans 12:3?
11. Without faith it is ________ __ ____ _______.
12. What small item did Jesus compare faith with in verse 5?
13. What could you say to a sycamine tree and have it obey you, if you
    had faith?
14. Why can't we do miracles in Jesus' name?
15. What is this parable about the servant explaining?
16. What is the duty of a servant?
17. When is it okay to stop a fight?
18. Where was Jesus headed for when He met the lepers?
19. How many lepers were there?
20. What did a leper cry when anyone came near?
21. What did the lepers call Jesus?
22. What is leprosy symbolic of?
23. Why did Jesus tell them to show themselves to the priest?
24. How many came back and praised God?
25. When did the actual healing take place?
26. What one word makes us know the Samaritan was with nine lepers who
    were Israelites?
27. What did Jesus tell the Samaritan made him whole?