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Luke 17:1-4
Jesus has been speaking to His disciples amidst interjections from the crowd, Pharisees, and scribes (lawyers). He refocuses His attention to His disciples in Luke 17:1 stating that “offenses” (NKJV) will come but puts emphasis on the importance of not being the one that causes them (Luke 17:1-2). “Offenses” translates from a word meaning a trap set for small animals, and in this passage is intended as a warning to not lead people astray from proper biblical teaching. He states that it would be better for someone who commits this offense to be drowned with a large stone tied around his or her neck.
With this emphasis on proper teaching, He adds that one should be forgiving of another who repents and asks forgiveness. Jesus requires His disciples to go above and beyond the standard level of forgiveness in commanding them to forgive one who sins against them seven times in a day, which was more than twice the standard. The main point in this teaching is that if someone sins against you and then repents asking forgiveness, forgiveness should be granted…always.
This is a command to not lead others astray with false teaching.
This is a command to forgive others as Jesus first forgave us.
We are to hold true to God’s Word (the Bible) which is proven to be the inspired Word of God and gives us proper instruction for our earthly lives and our spiritual lives (2 Timothy 3:10-4:5). We are expected to forgive one another in true repentance as Jesus first showed His love and forgiveness for us (John 13:34-35). Jesus died on the cross taking our place in paying the penalty for our sins. He will forgive us if we repent in sincerity to Him and ask of His forgiveness. We are unworthy of God’s mercy and grace in offering us this gift in our Savior Jesus, but He did for us what we could not do for ourselves, He saved us from the punishment for sin. We, likewise should show this forgiveness to others and let the light of Christ Jesus shine through our lives.
Dear Lord,
Please help us to be diligent in dividing Your Word correctly (2 Timothy 2:15) so that we would not lead anyone astray from what You would have of us, but that we would help to (as the Apostle Paul states) make known the riches of the glory of the mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. That we would warn and teach every man/woman in all wisdom. That we would present every man and woman perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily, as the Apostle Paul declares in Colossians 1:27-29.
Help us to be forgiving as You forgive us through Your mercy and grace given through Your Son Jesus who sacrificed His life for ours on the cross, so that through His death and resurrection, we too may receive forgiveness and eternal life. In Jesus name I pray, amen.