Luke 17 reminds me of having a substitute teacher. Everyone felt like we could anonymously get away with mischief. Today’s chapter ponders what happens after the teacher returns. Jesus instructed the disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come”. Life will always have challenges; He adds, “but woe to him through whom they come!” Those who intentionally lead others into trouble bear a heavy responsibility. He says it would be better to be thrown into the sea with a weight around your neck! Why so harsh? First, this is a purposeful corrupting. Secondly He emphasizes causing “one of these little ones to stumble”. Certainly this means any child, but I believe it can also mean the vulnerable. To those quick to blame others, He adds “So watch yourselves”. Note that He is talking to both the tempter and tempted. Jesus then gave instruction specific to the Christian, “If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him”. He holds His followers to a higher standard. We are never to ignore the sin of a believer. We are told to admonish them until correction. He continued, “if he sins against you seven times a day” and returns each time to repent, “forgive him”. Keep in mind that true repentance always includes evidence of change. We learned in the previous chapter that trust is earned by being faithful with little things. Forgiving and fully trusting are not the same. Friend, is it time to let go of bitterness and forgive?
The next lesson is for those of us that think we have earned some special honor by not acting like the class clown. He compared the legalist to “unworthy slaves”. There is no extra-credit for following the rules, “We have done only that which we ought to have done”. The teacher’s pet cannot wait to tattle, but 1 Corinthians 8:1 cautions, “Knowledge puffs up while love builds up”. Friend, are you building up others? Next, while on His way to Jerusalem, Jesus passed ten lepers. They shouted to Him, “Master, have mercy on us!” Jesus told them, “’Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they were going, they were cleansed”. One of the lepers turned back to give Him thanks. Jesus asked, “Were there not ten cleansed?” Expressing gratitude blesses both the giver and the receiver. Is thankfulness missing in your life?
The chapter closes with a look at what happens after the substitute. The Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God is coming. They were expecting an earthly king to defeat the Roman army. They probably wanted to seek atonement before the due date. Jesus told them; “first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation”. The Jewish leaders could not imagine a crucified Messiah, dying in their place. He promised that He will return to right all wrongs. “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying… up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came”. Remember, Noah warned that the flood was coming for over 60 years, but no one listened, until after God shut the door. Only those inside the ark were removed from God’s judgement. “It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed”. Today is the day of man. Spitballs are flying and lawlessness goes unpunished. Be aware that the Day of the Lord is coming. Life will seem normal until the moment Messiah returns, and then there will be no time to change. “I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left”. Messiah will return in righteousness and judgment. No one will be anonymous. Are you ready?