Luke 17:1-10
Faithful in Small Things
Read the passage
1Jesus said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks will come, but woe to the one through whom they come!
2It would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.
3Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
4Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
5The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
6And the Lord answered, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.
7Which of you whose servant comes in from plowing or shepherding in the field will say to him, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’?
8Instead, won’t he tell him, ‘Prepare my meal and dress yourself to serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you may eat and drink’?
9Does he thank the servant because he did what he was told?
10So you also, when you have done everything commanded of you, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Jesus tells His disciples that temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the person through whom they come. He says it would be better for such a person to have a millstone hung around his neck and be cast into the sea than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.
He tells the disciples to pay attention to themselves. If a brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. Even if he sins against them seven times in a day and turns back seven times saying he repents, they must forgive him.
The apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith. He answers that faith like a grain of mustard seed could command a mulberry tree to be uprooted and planted in the sea, and it would obey. The size of the seed directs them away from measuring how impressive their faith feels. They must trust the God whose power exceeds what they can accomplish themselves.
Jesus then pictures servants who work a field and come in from the work. The master does not owe them special thanks for doing what they were commanded. Jesus is not denying their value; He is teaching humble obedience rather than spiritual entitlement.
Questions
1 What warning does Jesus give about causing others to stumble?
AnswerHe gives a severe warning to anyone whose actions lead vulnerable people into sin. Influence carries responsibility.
2 How often should a repentant brother be forgiven?
AnswerJesus says to forgive even seven times in one day when the person turns back and says he repents.
3 What does the mustard-seed image communicate?
AnswerEven small faith is real faith when it rests in God. Jesus emphasizes God's power rather than the disciple's spiritual size.
4 What attitude does the servant illustration teach?
AnswerIt teaches humility. Obedience is not a reason to demand praise or treat God as indebted to us.
What This Means for Us
Jesus tells us both to confront sin and to forgive the person who turns back. At home, that means naming the wrong honestly and refusing to keep using it as a weapon after someone asks forgiveness. Repeated failure is difficult, which helps us understand the apostles' plea for more faith.
Forgiveness also belongs beside Jesus' severe warning about harming the vulnerable. Protecting someone from abuse and getting help can remain necessary even while we refuse revenge. We need God's strength for both mercy and responsible care, without treating our obedience as something that puts him in our debt.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, keep us from leading anyone into sin and make our repentance real. Give us faith for obedience, wisdom about boundaries, and humility when we serve without applause. Amen.