InstaStudy

Expository Study of Luke 17

An expository study of Luke 17, exploring themes of faith, forgiveness, and the coming Kingdom.

1. Faith and Forgiveness

1.1 The Offense of Stumbling Blocks

Verses: Luke 17:1-2
  • Jesus emphasizes the serious nature of causing others to stumble, highlighting the importance of personal responsibility.
  • The imagery of a millstone and the sea underscores the severity of leading others astray.

1.2 The Imperative of Forgiveness

Verses: Luke 17:3-4
  • Forgiveness is not optional but a command. We are to forgive those who repent.
  • The disciples' request for increased faith reveals their understanding of the difficulty of consistent forgiveness.

2. Faith and Service

2.1 The Power of Faith

Verses: Luke 17:5-6
  • Jesus uses the parable of the mustard seed to illustrate the power of even a small amount of genuine faith.
  • Faith is not about quantity but quality and its connection to the divine power.

2.2 The Servant's Heart

Verses: Luke 17:7-10
  • The parable emphasizes humility and the understanding that we are servants doing what is expected of us.
  • Our service should be motivated by love and duty, not by a desire for special recognition.

3. Gratitude and Healing

3.1 The Cleansing of the Ten Lepers

Verses: Luke 17:11-19
  • Only one leper, a Samaritan, returned to give thanks, highlighting the importance of gratitude.
  • Jesus acknowledges the Samaritan's faith as the reason for his healing, emphasizing that faith is what makes us whole.

4. The Coming Kingdom

4.1 The Nature of the Kingdom

Verses: Luke 17:20-21
  • The Kingdom of God is not a visible, earthly kingdom but a spiritual reality within believers.
  • The Kingdom is present wherever the divine presence is manifest in the hearts and lives of people.

4.2 The Suddenness of His Coming

Verses: Luke 17:22-30
  • Jesus warns of a sudden and unexpected return, comparing it to the days of Noah and Lot.
  • People will be going about their normal lives, unaware of the impending judgment.

4.3 The Need for Readiness

Verses: Luke 17:31-33
  • Jesus emphasizes the need to be ready and not attached to earthly possessions or relationships.
  • The warning to remember Lot's wife highlights the danger of looking back and clinging to the world.

4.4 The Separation and the Gathering

Verses: Luke 17:34-37
  • The saying about being taken and left speaks of separation and judgment.
  • The location of the 'body' and the gathering of the 'eagles' is a symbolic reference to judgment and the final gathering.