In response to the ridicule of the Pharisees and their propensity to greed and service to mammon, Jesus turns aside to his disciples with some very important and challenging comments. He begins by noting that they and we should…
Recognize Reality (1-3a)
Luke 17:1 ESV
And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come…
In many ways Jesus is simply stating the obvious. He is noting that temptations or stumbling blocks are a part of life. Whether they come from within, from others, or from the world around us, we can expect to face stumbling blocks.
What are stumbling blocks?
In Greek, that word is skandalon from which we get the word scandalous. The suggestion is that there are certain things that come into our lives that can cause us to trip. Our choice then is to stumble over them or, having an awareness of them, to step around them.
It seems like in the context that Jesus is getting at here, stumbling blocks are things that might lead us to sin. One of the challenges is that in these first couple of verses of chapter 17, the Greek word for “sin” is not there - even though several translations include sin.
The implication is then that a stumbling block is something that might cause us to make decisions that are less-than honoring to God.
We could limit this to moral sins - and those stumbling blocks certainly abound. But some of these stumbling blocks might lead a person to hatred toward another person or people group or even political party. Stumbling blocks may prompt gossip or greed. Stumbling blocks may even come in the form of things that might not be as wise - spending too much on something, going into debt unnecessarily, etc.
But when you think about it, there are several ways that we encounter these stumbling blocks. One is…
Experientially
We experience stumbling blocks
reading or watching the news - here we are minding our own business getting caught up on the news of the day, but then an article or clip may prompt a curiosity that leads to dangerous places or the spin of an article may prompt me to hate or demonstrate disdain for someone else.
checking email - There are any number of things that could lead to compromising websites, scams, or negative attitudes.
similarly, browsing the internet - we can experience a variety of stumbling blocks.
reading books - These can come in a variety of types of books. A reputable book by a solid Christian can introduce a stumbling block to our faith if he or she is misguided on a certain doctrine. Some genres of books might lead us to escape from reality or wish that life were different.
driving - this almost goes without saying. We can let other drivers or traffic in general become a stumbling block by allowing them to affect our attitudes.
going to school - whether it’s learning something that seems to run counter to your faith or being exposed to influences that might lead you to sin.
going to work -
These scandalous stumbling blocks are everywhere.
Now, the challenge is that with stumbling blocks everywhere, should we just then turn inward and isolate? No, I don’t think that is what Jesus is getting at. I think he’s simply alerting us to the presence of stumbling blocks.
But these blocks are not only experienced, they can sometimes be encountered…
Expressively
Luke 17:1–2 ESV
And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.
In other words, we can be the cause that leads someone else to stumble - whether intentionally (which seems to be the reason for the woe) or incidentally or accidentally.
In someways, it seems like Jesus may be rebuking the Pharisees here. Their love for money and self-justifying actions (do what I say, not what I do) and even lack of charity (as in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus) can be means by which people stumble.
Jesus warns those who may cause others to stumble with some harsh words. The implication here is that it would be better for someone who might lead someone to sin or stumble to be thrown into the sea with a millstone around their necks than it would for them to cause a “little one” or a humble person or even a child to sin.
But how can this happen? How can we become a stumbling block to others?
lifestyle
When we model hypocrisy like the Pharisees did. This might also be a case where we live with certain freedoms that might be points of difficulty for others. The Apostle Paul discussed this some with the Corinthians:
1 Corinthians 8:4 ESV
Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.”
1 Corinthians 8:7–13 ESV
However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
Elsewhere, Paul writes:
Galatians 5:13–14 ESV
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Now, we could easily become wracked with walking on egg-shells in order to keep from being a stumbling block to the “weaker” brother or sister. There is a point where freedoms over lesser issues should be enjoyed carefully.
drinking
listening to certain types of music
tattoos
smoking
etc.
It also seems like we can be a stumbling block in…
teaching
As a pastor and along with the other elders, we all need to make sure that what is taught here in the service on Sundays or in Kids Connection is as biblically accurate as possible. There is a balance that needs to be carefully considered between what needs to be taught in order to press for a deeper or more accurate biblical understanding and where other lines need to be drawn in order to keep people from stumbling. For example, a certain view of end times concerns might need to be held loosely, whereas an exclusive view of salvation might need to be held tightly.
In some ways, lifestyle and teaching concerns can be a bit nuanced, but still, these are places where we need to be careful. I do think that Jesus is also explicitly warning people who express stumbling blocks through…
intentional leading others astray
This is why abuse in the church or in the home is so vile. Pastors, Priests, teachers, parents, or people in any kind of authority who intentionally abuse people that God has placed in their care will be judged harshly. Unfortunately, because of human sinfulness, this is still a problem today. This is why we put certain policies in place in Kids Connection and for youth trips. Our aim is to protect the “little ones” from unnecessary harm.
Overall, because of the ubiquity of stumbling blocks and the word of woe to those who would cause others to stumble, Jesus concludes this section by urging that we walk with…
Eyes wide open
He says…
Luke 17:3 ESV
Pay attention to yourselves!
Literally, “be in a constant state of readiness.” (Louw-Nida).
Watch our for our own lives - both aware of stumbling blocks in the path before us and in places where we might be stumbling blocks to others.
Since there is a reality that there will be stumbling blocks and people close to us will sin, Jesus urges that we should…
Respond Righteously (3b)
Luke 17:3 ESV
If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him,
Notice, Jesus provides some helpful “if…then” statements. Now the “then” is implied.
The first righteous response is to rebuke - if someone sins, rebuke him.
It can be challenging to rebuke someone in love - but as a part of a covenant community, we are called to encourage each other toward holiness and righteousness. We are each other’s keepers.
Mike McKinley has noted:
Luke 12–24 for You Life in the “Already/Not Yet”
Beyond the negative responsibility to not cause our brothers and sisters to sin, we also have a positive responsibility to rebuke them when they do sin (v 3). As followers of Jesus, our kingdom commitment to righteousness means that we have an obligation to confront sin in the lives of other believers, particularly when our brother or sister sins against us. Obviously, that confrontation needs to be undertaken with a spirit of love and humility (see
1 John 2:10 ESV
Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.
James 5:19–20 ESV
My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
Part of the beauty of the body of Christ is that we are not alone. But that also means, that we can expect that when we sin, a righteous rebuke is needed.
If we let people go in their sin, they may get the idea that the sin is not really that big of a deal.
It’s also an act of love to rebuke. Our individual sense of self-deception can lead us to justify sinful behaviors (kind of like the Pharisees were doing). We are called to holiness. We are called to holiness together.
Which brings us to the second part of this righteous response: forgiveness.
“if he repents, forgive him.”
In Greek, this means to “remove the guilt resulting from wrong doing” (Louw-Nida). In other words, we are not to hold onto anything regarding this sin. It’s forgiven. It is done. It is water under the bridge.
Mez McConnell notes in his book Preparing for Baptism that “God expects us to keep short accounts. In other words, when you sin against God and against your fellow believer repent as soon as possible and move on.” (79) By implication, this also means that the forgiver should move on as well.
Many years ago, someone described this process like a handle on a suitcase. If the suitcase is the sin or even the sinner, then the handle shows a lack of forgiveness. But if you have forgiven me, then that sin no longer has a means by which you can grip it easily.
But, what do we do when someone keeps falling into the same sin or keeps sinning against us is repeated similar ways?
Jesus’ final exhortation is that we…
Release Relentlessly (4)
Luke 17:4 ESV
and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
The other night as we were reading this together as Elders, one of the guys responded with “wow.” This is some difficult and hard language. Jesus urges that our default setting be forgiveness.
Notice, the if…then condition - if he sins AND if he says “I repent” then we must forgive. As we noted a few weeks ago, repentance is a turning a reorientation. It’s an adjustment.
Joel Beeke has noted that “Repentance involves a change in every aspect of human life, inward and outward.” He goes on to suggest that its:
Intellectual change: “turning of the mind.”
Emotional change: “turning of the affections”
Volitional change: “turning of the will”
Behavioral change: “turning of the conduct”
(Beeke, 454-456).
Now, this person’s repeated acts of offense might suggest that true repentance isn’t happening.
Danielle knows about this all too well. I will frequently say “I’m sorry.” Sometimes it’s when I’ve done something wrong, but often it’s more a statement of sympathy. I am working hard to repent of my overuse of “sorry.”
While Jesus places a condition on the repentance, he also places the responsibility on the hearer to forgive. This can be so hard to forgive someone time and time again. There may come a time when prudence and discernment may require some boundaries, but Jesus’ command here is that we MUST forgive.
Our own lack of forgiveness can be it’s own stumbling block - in our lives and in theirs. If we hold on to grudges or resentment because of someone’s sinful tendencies, the we risk being a reason for them to remain stuck in sin or for us to be weighed down with bitterness.
The amazing part is that Jesus does not ask us to do anything that He is not willing to do Himself. When He went to the cross, He paid the debt for our sin, for all time. Paul even uses this scandalous word to refer to the cross. It is a stumbling block to those who refuse to believe.
1 Corinthians 1:21–24 ESV
For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, Jesus knows the battles that we’re facing. He knows the stumbling blocks in our paths. He knows the times we will fall into temptation and the times that we will stand firm. He is standing their with His out-stretched nail-pierced hands stating - it’s forgiven. It’s covered. We are in a struggle until the day that He calls us home. At the same time, because of the rich mercy we’ve received from Him, we get to extend that same mercy to others. We get to rebuke and forgive - over and over and over again.
Friend, if you’ve not yet trusted Christ as your savior, know that when he walked on earth, he experienced all of the stumbling blocks that you and I face - and yet he did not sin:
Hebrews 4:15 ESV
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
While His cross is a stumbling block to those who think it’s folly, know that His cross is the means by which you and I get true forgiveness. It’s the means by which we get eternal life with Him. It’s the means by which we are made right with God.
2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Come to Him today. Repent, receive his forgiveness, be baptized, walk with Him in the fellowship of community.
Closing thoughts:
Mark Twain has said that while history doesn’t exactly repeat itself, it does “rhyme.”
When we think about the fact Jesus may have been providing a subtle rebuke to the Pharisees for their heavy handed leadership among the people of Israel, I do wonder if he is also providing a subtle warning to his followers and to us. Where the Pharisees introduced stumbling blocks through their self-righteous hypocrisy and moralistic legalism, where is that a temptation for us? Where the Pharisees may have condemned wayward followers rather than lovingly rebuking them, where is that a tendency for us? Where the pharisees seemed to withhold forgiveness, where are we inclined to do the same?
Jonathan Leeman has said:
“Pharisaism is a perennial temptation not just for the non-Christians, who have their own made up rules, but for Christians as well.” (253)
Jesus calls us to a radical awareness of what’s around us and what’s in us. He calls us to be radically different than the Pharisees and than we were.
Recognize the reality of stumbling blocks.
Respond righteously when others stumble and sin against us
Release relentlessly - following the example of Jesus’ scandalous grace toward us.
Let’s pray.
Benediction:
James 1:12 ESV
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Questions for reflection and discussion
Read: Luke 17:1-4
Based on the context, why do you think Jesus shared this teaching?
What surprises you about Jesus’ comments here?
What are some examples of stumbling blocks or temptations to sin? (v. 1)
Who are the “little ones” Jesus cares so much about? (17:2)
What did Jesus say about people who tempt others to sin? (17:1)
Do you find forgiving others difficult? Why or why not?
Life in the “already/not yet” of the kingdom also requires Jesus’ followers to forgive one another (Luke 17:3b–4). Because this world is still fallen and not yet made new, your brothers and sisters in the church are still going to sin against you. Even if they sin against you and come back to repent seven times (an expression used in those days to communicate the sense of “no matter how many times”), you must forgive them.
What principle of forgiveness was Jesus promoting? (17:4)
What is our “duty” as Christians?
Is there any brother or sister you need to forgive or from whom you need to seek forgiveness?
Sources:
Anyabwile, Thabiti. Exalting Jesus in Luke. Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2018.
Beeke, Joel R., Paul M. Smiley Reformed Systematic Theology: Vol. 3: Spirit and Salvation. Wheaton, IL. Crossway, 2021.
Bock, Darrell L. Luke 9:51-24:53. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1999.
Martin, John A. “Luke.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.
Leeman, Jonathan. Authority: How Godly rule protects the vulnerable, strengthens communities, and promotes human flourishing. Wheaton, IL. Crossway, 2023.
Liefeld, Walter L. “Luke.” In The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, edited by Frank E. Gaebelein, Vol. 8. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984.
Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996.
McConnell, Mez. Preparing for Baptism: A personal diary. Great Britain: 10 Publishing, 2018.
McKinley, Mike. Luke 12-24 for You. Edited by Carl Laferton. God’s Word for You. The Good Book Company, 2016.
Stein, Robert H. Luke. Vol. 24. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992.
The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible. Biblical Studies Press, 2005. Print.
Wilcock, Michael. The Savior of the World: The Message of Luke’s Gospel. The Bible Speaks Today. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1979.
