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Scripture • World English Bible
Luke 17:1–19
1He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no occasions of stumbling should come, but woe to him through whom they come!
2It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.
3Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him.
4If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”
5The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
6The Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
7But who is there among you, having a servant plowing or keeping sheep, that will say when he comes in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down at the table’?
8Wouldn’t he rather tell him, ‘Prepare my supper, clothe yourself properly, and serve me while I eat and drink. Afterward you shall eat and drink’?
9Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded? I think not.
10Even so you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.’ ”
11As he was on his way to Jerusalem, he was passing along the borders of Samaria and Galilee.
12As he entered into a certain village, ten men who were lepers met him, who stood at a distance.
13They lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” As they went, they were cleansed.
15One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice.
16He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan.
17Jesus answered, “Weren’t the ten cleansed? But where are the nine?
18Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?”
19Then he said to him, “Get up, and go your way. Your faith has healed you.”
World English Bible (WEB) • Public Domain
Reflection
Luke 17 pulls no punches. Jesus warns that stumbling blocks are inevitable and calls men to do two hard things: protect others from harm and practice relentless forgiveness. Correction must be sober and loving—rebuke seeks restoration, not revenge. When a brother repents, we are commanded to forgive, even repeatedly. That’s not weakness; it’s obedience rooted in grace. Jesus also strips pride from service. The rightful posture of a disciple is not entitlement but humility: after we do what we must, we say, “We are unworthy servants.” Finally, the story of the ten lepers drives the point home—ten received cleansing, but only one returned to glorify God. Gratitude is not optional for those healed by Christ; it is the visible fruit of faith. Real faith obeys, serves without demand for praise, forgives repeatedly, and returns to worship. This is biblical strength: courage to confront sin, self-control over anger, humility in service, mercy toward sinners, and faith that gives thanks.
Putting Faith Into Action
- Confess one specific wrong you owe another and ask for forgiveness in person or by phone this week, then follow up with a concrete step to rebuild trust (e.g., regular check-ins, making restitution).
- Choose one person you’ve been slow to forgive and practice Jesus’ instruction by speaking a short, honest rebuke if needed, then deliberately offer forgiveness when they repent or show change.
- Spend five minutes each morning this week thanking God for specific mercies and asking him to grow your faith to recognize and respond to his work in your life and in others.
Prayer
Father, thank you that Jesus is the Savior who seeks the lost and calls us into lives of repentance, mercy, and thankfulness. Give us courage to rebuke with love when sin harms others and humility to receive rebuke when we are at fault. Teach us to forgive as Jesus commands, even repeated times, because our forgiveness is a reflection of your grace to us. Increase our faith so we see and respond to your work; make us men who serve without counting our duty and who return to give you glory. Heal the places where bitterness or pride remain. Help us trust you with outcomes; give us wisdom in relationships and the strength to act in love. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Memory Verse
Luke 17:19 — Then he said to him, “Get up, and go your way. Your faith has healed you.” (WEB)
“Then he said to him, “Get up, and go your way. Your faith has healed you.””
Bible Context
Read all of Luke 17
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Bible Context
Read all of Luke 17
Luke 17
World English Bible • WEB
1He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no occasions of stumbling should come, but woe to him through whom they come!
2It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.
3Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him.
4If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”
5The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
6The Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
7But who is there among you, having a servant plowing or keeping sheep, that will say when he comes in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down at the table’?
8Wouldn’t he rather tell him, ‘Prepare my supper, clothe yourself properly, and serve me while I eat and drink. Afterward you shall eat and drink’?
9Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded? I think not.
10Even so you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.’ ”
11As he was on his way to Jerusalem, he was passing along the borders of Samaria and Galilee.
12As he entered into a certain village, ten men who were lepers met him, who stood at a distance.
13They lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” As they went, they were cleansed.
15One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice.
16He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan.
17Jesus answered, “Weren’t the ten cleansed? But where are the nine?
18Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?”
19Then he said to him, “Get up, and go your way. Your faith has healed you.”
20Being asked by the Pharisees when God’s Kingdom would come, he answered them, “God’s Kingdom doesn’t come with observation;
21neither will they say, ‘Look, here!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ for behold, God’s Kingdom is within you.”
22He 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.
23They will tell you, ‘Look, here!’ or ‘Look, there!’ Don’t go away or follow after them,
24for as the lightning, when it flashes out of one part under the sky, shines to another part under the sky, so will the Son of Man be in his day.
25But first, he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
26As it was in the days of Noah, even so it will also be in the days of the Son of Man.
27They ate, they drank, they married, and they were given in marriage until the day that Noah entered into the ship, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
28Likewise, even as it was in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;
29but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from the sky and destroyed them all.
30It will be the same way in the day that the Son of Man is revealed.
31In that day, he who will be on the housetop and his goods in the house, let him not go down to take them away. Let him who is in the field likewise not turn back.
32Remember Lot’s wife!
33Whoever seeks to save his life loses it, but whoever loses his life preserves it.
34I tell you, in that night there will be two people in one bed. One will be taken and the other will be left.
35There will be two grinding grain together. One will be taken and the other will be left.”
37They, answering, asked him, “Where, Lord?”
World English Bible (WEB) • Public Domain
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