Day 80

Luke 17:1–4 (NIV)

¹ Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. ² It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. ³ So watch yourselves. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. ⁴ If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage

Read the Passage

Who is in the passage?

What action verbs do you see?

What other words stick out in your mind

Questions

Is Jesus saying we are bound to sin?

What does it mean to “watch yourself” in verse 3?

What does it mean to rebuke a fellow believer? What is the purpose of the rebuke?

What the point of Jesus saying forgive even if he sins against you seven times in a day?

Notes

Jesus once again addresses His comments to the disciples. This isn't to say the circumstances of the setting have changed. (There very well may still be a crowd around, including Pharisees) It just the focus of His remarks are now toward His disciples

Things that cause people to sin- that would be temptations. Note it isn't Jesus saying go ahead and sin. We clearly see that is not his intent through the rest of the section. He is saying temptations are bound to happen. Just don't be the cause of them. The woe statement again implies judgment.

vs 2 better off with milestone- used for grinding grain. Very heavy, reminds me of mafia killings. Point is you be better off dying a horrible death than to cause one of mine to sin. (think of the rich man's torment in the parable before this.

Little ones- not children, it is Jesus showing that he cares for his own. (like lost sheep)

So watch- the tense means now and keep on doing it. You do not want to lead someone into temptation.

3b- sin is serious and shouldn't be left alone. While not pronouncing final judgment (6:37) we are to tell someone when they sin. Rebuke is strong but its point is not to pretend it is okay. Point is about restoring someone. We see that with the rest of the section. Forgiveness is to be readily given even if continually hurt, If forgiveness is asked it must be granted. (11:4)

In Matt 18 Jesus is recorded in a more thorough discussion about this topic. in Matt 18:15-ff Jesus tells us what we should do when dealing with sin that another does to us. The key is always about restoring broken relationships if at all possible.