Luke 17

Jesus instructs his disciples on sin, repentance and forgiveness at the beginning of Chapter 17. A stumbling block in verse 1 is anything that causes someone to sin, and those responsible for them will be held accountable (v. 2). Don't accept sin, Jesus tells us, but when someone turns away from it, readily offer forgiveness (v. 3-4).

This teaching challenges the disciples, so they're asking for Jesus' help (v. 5). But he tells them even the smallest amount of faith will enable them to follow God's commands (v. 6). Faith involves surrender to God's will, which is the point of the parable Jesus tells in verses 7-10. Our role is to understand what God commands of us and do it (v. 10). Let's talk Sunday about ways we can discern God's will for our lives.

Jesus tells the leper healed in the next story (v. 11-19) that he's well because of his faith. How do he and the other nine men with him demonstrate faith in God? As you might remember from a couple past stories, Samaritans and Jews didn't get along. Jesus doesn't hesitate to point out that the man is an outsider (v. 18). As you also might remember, Luke plays up the idea that those outside of the Jews are invited into the God's kingdom, as well. So, Jesus' noting the man is Samaritan serves to again make this clear to us.

That kingdom, by the way, isn't only a future reality. Instead, Jesus insists, it is (and was) here now (v. 21). With no signs to be observed (v. 20), he's perhaps saying it is internal -- i.e., God's rule in human hearts. It is, of course, manifested in noticeable ways around us, as Jesus has described in numerous parables during earlier chapters. But Jesus does talk about a future time, when he will return to the earth (v. 22-37). Nobody is going to miss it when he comes back (v. 24), but it will still catch many unaware as did Noah's flood and the destruction of Sodom (v. 26-30). He illustrates this in verses 34-36 by suggesting one person in each of the pairs will be "taken" in judgement. Let's look a little closer at the specifics Jesus details of this coming judgment on Sunday.