What does the chapter actually say?
Identify the explicit claims before importing later doctrine or assumptions.
LUKE • CHAPTER 17
Luke 17
Jesus, outsiders, the poor, women, prayer, the Holy Spirit, parables, Jerusalem, crucifixion, and resurrection.
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Luke 17
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1
He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no occasions of stumbling should come, but woe to him through whom they come!
2
It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.
3
Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him.
4
If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”
5
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
6
The Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, ‘Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
7
But who is there among you, having a servant plowing or keeping sheep, that will say when he comes in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down at the table,’
8
and will not rather tell him, ‘Prepare my supper, clothe yourself properly, and serve me, while I eat and drink. Afterward you shall eat and drink’?
9
Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded? I think not.
10
Even so you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.’ ”
11
As he was on his way to Jerusalem, he was passing along the borders of Samaria and Galilee.
12
As he entered into a certain village, ten men who were lepers met him, who stood at a distance.
13
They lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14
When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” As they went, they were cleansed.
15
One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice.
16
He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan.
17
Jesus answered, “Weren’t the ten cleansed? But where are the nine?
18
Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?”
19
Then he said to him, “Get up, and go your way. Your faith has healed you.”
20
Being asked by the Pharisees when God’s Kingdom would come, he answered them, “God’s Kingdom doesn’t come with observation;
21
neither will they say, ‘Look, here!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ for behold, God’s Kingdom is within you.”
22
He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.
23
They will tell you, ‘Look, here!’ or ‘Look, there!’ Don’t go away or follow after them,
24
for as the lightning, when it flashes out of one part under the sky, shines to another part under the sky; so will the Son of Man be in his day.
25
But first, he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
26
As it was in the days of Noah, even so will it be also in the days of the Son of Man.
27
They ate, they drank, they married, and they were given in marriage until the day that Noah entered into the ship, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
28
Likewise, even as it was in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;
29
but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from the sky and destroyed them all.
30
It will be the same way in the day that the Son of Man is revealed.
31
In that day, he who will be on the housetop and his goods in the house, let him not go down to take them away. Let him who is in the field likewise not turn back.
32
Remember Lot’s wife!
33
Whoever seeks to save his life loses it, but whoever loses his life preserves it.
34
I tell you, in that night there will be two people in one bed. One will be taken and the other will be left.
35
There will be two grinding grain together. One will be taken and the other will be left.”
37
They, answering, asked him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the body is, there the vultures will also be gathered together.”
GOSPEL
Where this chapter fits
Luke is one of the canonical Gospels, ancient narratives about Jesus written to communicate both remembered events and theological interpretation.
Chapter numbers were added long after the biblical books were written.
Read this chapter together with what comes immediately before and after it.
ANCIENT TEXT, MODERN QUESTIONS
Historical claims should be compared with historical evidence.
Scientific claims should be compared with science.
Moral claims should be examined morally.
Theological claims require theological and philosophical argument.
QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING
Don't skip the hard parts.
What kind of literature is this?
Narrative, poetry, prophecy, law, letters, wisdom, and apocalypse communicate differently.
What historical evidence matters?
Ask whether names, places, institutions, events, customs, and chronology can be independently investigated.
What are the strongest competing interpretations?
Compare serious Jewish, Christian, academic, and skeptical readings rather than caricatures.
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