Deeper Teaching   Luke 17:1-11

This post involves deeper teaching taught by Jesus to His disciples while traveling toward Jerusalem.

Deeper Teaching by Jesus stresses intense subjects such as not tempting others, forgiveness, and the use of little faith.

The tragedy of tempting a little one, no doubt someone younger in the faith, may describe the sin of the rich man just mentioned in chapter 16. His bad example of selfishness probably encouraged his brothers to follow his way of life and end up in torment too.

Possibly, the disciples thought that they would never tempt someone weaker or younger in the faith. This was untrue because Jesus says ‘examine yourself!’

Then, Jesus reverses the picture. Rebuking happens after a brother sins. But, if you are one of the ones sinned against and the brother repents, forgiveness must follow, even seven times in a day.

The disciples’ response seems to indicate that such obedience would require an increase in their faith. But Jesus disagreed and said that just a little bit of faith can do big things in the service of the Lord. By using the example of casting a tree into the ocean—a large task if literally performed—Jesus taught figuratively that a small amount of faith can produce big results.

Why then, would Jesus tell about the duty of a hard-working servant in the kingdom of the Lord? Perhaps the disciples would feel self-important as they realized how much their faith could do. But Jesus issued a warning by telling about a servant who worked all day. At evening, no doubt exhausted, he must serve the evening meal to the master without being thanked. In any case, the servant is just doing his duty.

So, Jesus then introduces a theoretical servant—one that does all of his duty—theoretical because no one ever does all. Yet, Jesus labels the theoretical servant as still unworthy—unworthy of a home in heaven as a reward. Thus, service does not earn the disciple a  place in the kingdom. This teaches that earned salvation cannot occur, even if he were to do all, which no one can.

So, what did we learn?

1.We must not tempt others.

2.We must forgive repentant brethren.

3.Service characterizes our duty as disciples.

#don’tTemp #forgiveRepentant #grainOfMustardSeedFaith

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