17 And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin1 are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.2 3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, 4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
7 “Will any one of you who has a servant3 plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? 8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly,4 and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants;5 we have only done what was our duty.’”
Section Overview
Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem is interleaved with instructions for disciples. In chapter 16 the danger of riches was especially stressed, and here we find various sayings about discipleship that will close the second stage of Jesus’ journey. Jesus warns about things that lead believers to stumble and fall and about the great danger and consequence of being one who leads others into sin. Believers are to reprove one another regarding sin and are to be quick to forgive when injured by others. Perhaps the radical demand for forgiveness leads the disciples to ask for an increase in faith. But Jesus emphasizes that even a tiny amount of faith suffices. Finally, Jesus tells a brief parable about a servant who works in either farming or herding. When the servant completes his work outside, the master does not invite the servant to relax at home. Instead the servant then prepares the evening meal for the master, and only afterward does he enjoy his own meal. Nor does the master thank the servant for what he has done, since he has merely done what is expected. The point of the parable comes in the conclusion: disciples must not think they deserve a reward if they obey the Lord. They must always remember that they are unworthy of any commendation.
Section Outline
IV. Galilee to Jerusalem: Discipleship (9:51–19:27) . . .
B. The Journey Continues (13:22–17:10) . . .
5. Sayings on Discipleship (17:1–10)
Response
This text reminds us that we are to be a godly influence on others. Woe to parents who lead their children astray or abuse them. Woe to those in our society who tempt young people to sin sexually or abuse women physically, sexually, or emotionally. Woe to those who cheat and steal and lie and tempt others to do so.
Part of what it means to be a believer is to reprove others in sin. We are not to get on our high horse and tell off another person. We are not to start yelling and screaming at another person. We must come to the Lord and ask him to cleanse us of all pride and arrogance in tone when we speak to others. Still, it is difficult and hard to tell others about their sin when we see it. It takes courage and love to confront others. It is a lot easier to do nothing. An important rule is that the person who sees another sinning is the one who should confront the person. If you are aware of someone else’s sin, then, unless it is a crime or a matter that must be brought to a pastor, talk to the person yourself. That is your spiritual responsibility.
Our hearts are also to be quick to forgive. How easy it would be to hold grudges against those who sin against us repeatedly, to harden our hearts against them, to let a coldness settle in toward them. Jesus reminds us that we are to have hearts of forgiveness, and surely the best way to forgive is to be reminded of God’s great forgiveness of us in Christ.
The Lord also reminds us about having expectations that are too high. A spiritual cancer is growing in our hearts if we begin to say, “I have served the Lord for a long time and even in difficult situations. I have been faithful come what may. He must be pretty impressed with me.” If we have obeyed, we have merely done what we were supposed to do. None of us is a great person. We are all ordinary people, desperately in need of God’s grace and dependent upon him for everything. If we live in a way that pleases God and do not put stumbling blocks in front of others, we do not pat ourselves on the back. We say to ourselves, “I do not deserve a reward. I am only doing what I am called to do.” If we have the courage to reprove others, we do not say to ourselves, “I am a bold and honest Christian.” We say, “I am an unworthy servant. I am only doing my duty.” If we forgive others, we do not think, “God must be impressed with how tender and compassionate I am.” Instead we say, “I am only doing what I am called to do.”