In the Lord’s ministry to the people there was both teaching and healing. This chapter gives us both. In the matter of a trespass (sin) by a brother, we are to have a forgiving spirit. The apostles thought this was a hard teaching to follow, but we should remember that when we confess our sins to Him, all is forgiven us. Keeping the example of the Lord Jesus before us, we realize how far short we come. Do you think we can do as much for Him as He has done for us? At best, we would say, “We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.”
After this teaching, we have a miracle of healing. There were ten lepers who were healed, but only one whose heart was touched enough to cause him to turn back and give glory to God. Should not the other nine have returned to say “Thank You”?
The Pharisees felt that they were ready for the kingdom of God and only wanted to know when the kingdom of God would be ready for them. That blessed time will come, but first the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected. The question of our sins had to be settled before the kingdom could be established.
Judgment was about to fall on that unbelieving generation. What happened in the days of Noah and in the days of Lot are given as an example. People forget that God judged wickedness in the past and that He will do it again in the future. That is why we are told to “flee from the wrath to come” (Matthew 3:77But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (Matthew 3:7)).
1. If someone trespasses (sins) against you seven times in one day and each time says, “I repent,” what should you do? __________ Luke 17:___
2. Even when we have done what is our duty to do, we are still __________ servants. Luke 17:___
3. Of the ten lepers who were cleansed, how many of them turned back to glorify God? __________ Luke 17:___
4. The Son of Man (the Lord Jesus) will come as the shining lightning, but first what must He do? __________ Luke 17:___
5. When Lot went out of Sodom, what rained down from heaven on that city? __________ Luke 17:___