ScriptureDepth

Luke 17

Read Luke 17 (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,’ 8and will not 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 stranger?” 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, nor follow after them, 24for as the lightning, when it flashes out of the one part under the sky, shines to the other 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 will it be also in the days of the Son of Man. 27They ate, they drank, they married, 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. The 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.” 36 37They, answering, asked him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the body is, there will the vultures also be gathered together.”

World English Bible (public domain)

"And he said to him, 'Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.'"

Luke 17:19

Summary

In Luke 17, Jesus teaches His disciples about the importance of faith, obedience, and thankfulness. He warns against causing others to sin and emphasizes the necessity of offering forgiveness repeatedly, highlighting the power of faith, even as small as a mustard seed, to perform great deeds. Jesus speaks about the duty of servants, illustrating that fulfilling one's responsibilities does not earn special reward, but is expected. The chapter also includes the healing of ten lepers, focusing on a single Samaritan who returns to thank Jesus, underscoring the theme of gratitude. Jesus concludes with teachings about the coming of the kingdom of God, urging alertness and readiness, as the Son of Man's return will be sudden and unmistakable.

Go deeper

Ask the AI about Luke 17

Bring your question about the chapter, the key verse, or how this passage fits the rest of Scripture.

Ask the AI about Luke 17

Daily Scripture study

Get a short devotional by email

One passage, one reflection, and one practical question for the day.

Subscribe free and instantly get “Depth Without Seminary” — our step-by-step study guide (PDF).

One short email each morning. Unsubscribe anytime.

Studying Luke with a print Bible beside you? See our picks for the best study Bibles for beginners.

Chapter outline

How Luke 17 unfolds

  1. Luke 17:1–2 Warnings Against Causing Stumbling

    Jesus teaches His disciples about the seriousness of causing others to sin, particularly little ones. He emphasizes the gravity of such actions by stating it would be better for them to face severe consequences.

  2. Luke 17:3–4 Call to Forgiveness

    Jesus instructs His disciples on the importance of forgiving others, even repeatedly, upon genuine repentance. This highlights the necessity of maintaining a forgiving spirit among believers.

  3. Luke 17:5–10 Faith and Servanthood

    The apostles request an increase in faith, to which Jesus responds about the power of even a small faith. He illustrates the expectation of servants to fulfill their duties without seeking special recognition.

  4. Luke 17:11–19 Healing of the Ten Lepers

    On His journey, Jesus heals ten lepers, who obey His command to show themselves to the priests. Only one, a Samaritan, returns to express gratitude, prompting Jesus to acknowledge his faith.

  5. Luke 17:20–21 The Kingdom of God

    In response to the Pharisees' question about the Kingdom's arrival, Jesus states it is not observable externally but is within them. He prepares His disciples for the coming days.

  6. Luke 17:22–37 Teachings on the Son of Man

    Jesus warns His disciples about the unexpected nature of the Son of Man's return, using examples from Noah and Lot. He concludes with a cryptic statement about judgment that highlights the suddenness of His coming.

Key verses

  • Luke 17:19The key verse highlights the relationship between faith and healing, underscoring the transformative power of belief in Jesus.

Main themes in Luke 17

Faith

Faith is highlighted when the apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith in verse 5. Jesus responds with an illustration in verse 6, comparing faith to a mustard seed, indicating that even a small amount of faith can yield remarkable results. This theme emphasizes the necessity of trusting in God's power, particularly during the trials and demands faced in the journey of discipleship.

Explore faith in the Bible →

Forgiveness

The theme of forgiveness is central in verses 3 and 4, where Jesus instructs His disciples to forgive anyone who repents. This directive reveals the radical nature of grace that Jesus expects from His followers, challenging them to embody an attitude of forgiveness. It highlights the importance of maintaining healthy relationships within the community of believers, reflecting the character of Christ.

Explore forgiveness in the Bible →

Obedience

Obedience is depicted in the parable of the servant in verses 7-10, where Jesus illustrates the expectation of fulfilling one’s duties. The servant's actions highlight that obedience is a basic requirement, not a means to earn praise. This theme reflects the nature of discipleship as one of dutiful service to God.

Thankfulness

Thankfulness is vividly portrayed in the narrative of the lepers, especially in verses 15 and 16, where one leper returns to express gratitude. The Samaritan's act of returning to acknowledge God's mercy serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of recognizing and appreciating divine blessings. This theme encourages readers to cultivate a heart of gratitude, fostering a deeper relationship with God in response to His acts of kindness.

Cross-references

Passages that echo Luke 17

Study questions

Questions for studying Luke 17

  1. What does Jesus say will happen to those who cause others to stumble?
  2. How does the instruction to forgive relate to the disciples' request for more faith?
  3. Why does only one leper return to thank Jesus, and what does this signify?
  4. What are the implications of Jesus saying the Kingdom of God is within you?
  5. How do the examples of Noah and Lot illustrate Jesus' message about His return?
  6. What does the statement about the vultures suggest about judgment?
  7. How does Jesus' teaching on servanthood challenge common expectations of reward?

Luke 17: frequently asked questions

What is Luke 17 about?+
In Luke 17, Jesus teaches His disciples about the importance of faith, obedience, and thankfulness. He warns against causing others to sin and emphasizes the necessity of offering forgiveness repeatedly, highlighting the power of faith, even as small as a mustard seed, to perform great deeds. Jesus speaks about the duty of servants, illustrating that fulfilling one's responsibilities does not earn special reward, but is expected. The chapter also includes the healing of ten lepers, focusing on a single Samaritan who returns to thank Jesus, underscoring the theme of gratitude. Jesus concludes with teachings about the coming of the kingdom of God, urging alertness and readiness, as the Son of Man's return will be sudden and unmistakable.
What is the key verse in Luke 17?+
Luke 17:19: "Then he said to him, “Get up, and go your way. Your faith has healed you.”"
What are the main themes of Luke 17?+
The main themes of Luke 17 are Faith, Forgiveness, Obedience, Thankfulness.

Related chapters

Chapters that connect with Luke 17

Study Notes