PERSONAL WARNINGS TO GOD’S SERVANTS

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LUKE 17:1-10
Lesson #46
PERSONAL WARNINGS TO GOD’S SERVANTS

• Memory Verse: Psa 34:22
• In our previous lesson we saw Jesus speak about one’s priorities in life, whether a person puts God first or not.
• Now we are going to see that integrity of character is just as important as priorities.
  • Jesus gives us a variety of personal warnings in Luke 17 as we deal with people and events that cross our path of life.
  • Previously in Luke Jesus warned the Scribes and Pharisees of hypocrisy, but these warnings get more personal and more intimate.
• Read Luk 17:1- 4 Responsibility and forgiveness
  • Offenses in human relationships are common, and we all are either on the giving side or on the receiving side. In either event, offenses are a heavy burden to bear.
  • On the giving side of offenses: (2)
    • “It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.”(2)
    • Who are the “little ones” that should not be offended?
      • Possibly Jesus refers to small children.
        • There are a lot of crimes directed toward taking advantage of innocent children such as drugs and sex crimes.
        • But there is also the offense of teaching children bad lifestyle habits.
      • However, this warning can also refer to baby Christians according to verses 3 and 4.
    • What is the millstone?
      • This is a very heavy stone used to grind grain into flour.
      • The weight is so heavy that to hang the stone around the neck is impossible.
        • Therefore, Jesus is using exaggerated speech to get attention. Exaggerated speech is called hyperbole.
        • Jesus uses hyperbole to emphasize the seriousness by which God will judge someone that purposefully takes advantage of others.
  • On the receiving side of offenses: (3)
    • “…If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.” (3)
      • The word rebuke (epitimao) in this verse means = to put honor upon and then present your case.
      • In other words you have respect for your relationship with your “brother” or fellow Christian so as to not permit anything to lie between you that is not resolved.
      • Notice that the motive and end result are to bring forgiveness to preserve your relationship.
    • “And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.” (4)
      • The number 7 in the Bible is symbolic of God’s perfection or completeness.
      • Mat 18:21-22 says, “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”
      • Therefore in the perfect will of God forgiveness is always paramount. Why?
        • God forgives us of our sins. Therefore we should forgive others of theirs.
        • Read Mat 6:14-15
        • Forgiveness requires faith. How?

When you approach someone and ask for forgiveness, you are trusting by faith that he will forgive you.

When someone approaches you and asks you for forgiveness, you are to forgive him. By faith you are trusting that he will not do that again.

But if he does the same thing again, then what? You are still supposed to forgive him if he asks for forgiveness.

This is what prompted the disciples’ request that Jesus give them more faith for the grace to forgive.

In other words you forgive him, but you are trusting God to intervene and change that person so he does not continue to offend.

• Read Luk 17:5-10 The increase of faith to serve God
  • We would all want more faith as we go through this life. The disciples thought, also, that they needed more faith, and they asked Jesus to increase their faith. But it is not more faith that is needed.
    • Read Heb 11:1 The definition of faith.
    • Read Rom 12:3 God gives to every believer a “measure of faith”.
    • Read Heb 11:6 Faith is required to please God and to receive from God.
    • Read Rom 10:17 Faith comes by the Word of God.
  • The grain of mustard seed
    • The grain of mustard seed is a very tiny seed that grows into a medium sized bush. A seed contains life and the potential for growth and multiplication.
    • What is required for a seed to grow into a bush?
      • A seed needs water.
      • A seed needs soil with nutrients.
      • A seedling needs light.
      • A seed needs space to grow: not hindered by rocks or weeds that choke it.
    • What is required for a Christian’s faith to grow?
      • A Christian life needs the water of the actions of the Holy Spirit that mature his faith.
      • A Christian life needs a fertile heart that is open to the truth of God.
      • A Christian life needs the light of the truth of the Word of God to guide his faith.
      • A Christian life needs time with God in prayer, so maintain that space to prevent the enemy from choking your faith.
  • The Parable of the Seed and the Unprofitable Servants
    • Jesus’ response to the request of faith by the disciples was that they had enough quantity of faith, but they needed to work on the quality of their faith. (6)
      • Remember that Jesus Christ gives each of us a tiny measure of faith when we are born again. (Rom 12:3). It is up to us to exercise that faith to make it grow in conjunction with the Word of God.
      • Remember that the way to make faith grow is by hearing the word of God. (Rom 10:17)
        • As we act on the Word of God applying it to a specific problem in our life, our faith grows when we see God answer. We can then trust him for bigger problems. Faith is to draw us closer to the Lord to depend upon Him more. Faith is not to be a blank check for getting whatever we think we want!
        • Then Jesus begins the parable with the phrase, “who is it among you” (7)

If they had more faith, they would pride themselves in their victories of faith and expect greater and greater rewards.

Remember when Jesus sent out the 70 and they returned filled with pride saying, “even the demons are subject to us.” (Luk 10:17)

• • • • The believer has all the faith he needs. He simply needs to use his faith to serve God.
    • In the parable, who does the servant represent? (7)
      • For background:
        • Read Exo 21:1-6
        • Read Rom 1:1
        • The Old Testament “bond slave”:

The bond slave was legally free to leave his master but remained in his master’s service because of love.

The bond slave was physically marked so everyone would know he freely submitted to his master’s service.

• • • • The servant represents the committed believer in Jesus Christ.
        • Paul spoke of himself as a “love slave” or a “bond slave”.
        • We are love slaves of Jesus Christ by right of creation and by right of redemption. He created us and he purchased us with his blood.
        • When we receive Jesus Christ into our hearts, we become his love slaves. (Gal 2:20)
    • Generally speaking, what are the characteristics of a good servant or a slave?
      • The servant or slave obeys quickly with enthusiasm.
      • The good servant or salve is happy doing his master’s will.
      • The good servant or slave does more than is expected in order to do a good job
      • A slave’s work is never done. He is at his master’s use 24 hours a day.
      • The slave or servant must have his master’s interests at heart.
      • The slave has no expectations of reward or payment from his master.
      • The slave knows that because he is the property of his master, his master will feed him, clothe him, and care for him because of his value.
    • Who does the master (implied in the parable) represent? The implied master represents Jesus Christ.
    • What does the “ploughing and feeding cattle” represent in the Christian life? (7)
      • Read 1Pet 5:2
      • Read Act 20:28
      • This phrase represents the actions of working among people to plant the Word of God by helping them, teaching them, meeting their needs, and witnessing to them. In other words, the servant or slave is actively working to serve His master to the best of his ability and calling.
    • Why are we all “unprofitable servants”? (10)
      • We all fall short of what we could do for the Lord. We all miss opportunities to do his will, to speak to people about Christ, or to help someone who needs help.
      • From time to time, we all do things with a motive of getting something in return.
        • If we expect thanks for doing our duty, our heart is not really on our master.
        • The slave owner never says thanks to his slave because he expects his slave to do his duty.
    • What is the central truth of the parable?
      • This parable is a caution to believers not to presume upon our position of the power of faith and of a relationship to Jesus Christ.
      • We are to remember that we are simply bond slaves of Jesus Christ.
        • We are here to serve him by serving others.
        • In all matters, we must be subject to God. All our energies must be used in his service. We have no claims for any special praise or reward.

The slave or servant is always a debtor of service while the master is never a debtor of reward.

While the Bible tells us that rewards are coming, we do not work for reward but because we love Him and want Him to get the glory.

Homework
Luke 17:11-37

• Application of Luk 17:1-10
  • What in this passage currently speaks to your personal life:
    • – confronting another person for an offense he has done to you.
    • – extending forgiveness to another person for an offense he has done to you.
    • – asking another person for forgiveness of an offense that you have done to him.
    • – causing your faith to grow by reading the Bible, by obedience to the Word, or by listening to the Holy Spirit.
    • – using your faith to serve Christ.
• Preparation for Luk 17:11-37
  • Read Luke 17:11-37
    • In the Old Testament, what does leprosy represent symbolically?
    • What does the phrase “kingdom of God” mean?
• Memory verse: Mat 3:2