Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 17 :1-10 "A COMPLEX LESSON INDEED"
Day 206 – Luke 17
Text: Luke 17 :1-10
A COMPLEX LESSON INDEED
On the one hand, Jesus taught His Disciples to be most careful about the danger of sinning. He used powerful imagery to describe the seriousness of stumbling people in the faith! On the other hand, Jesus taught His Disciples an important lesson of Forgiveness.
These two lessons seem diametrically opposite at first glance! The person who is a stumbling block is described as being better off if he drowned himself! It would appear as if his sin is unforgivable! However, this was NOT the message Jesus sought to convey!
Jesus went on to teach His Disciples that they must learn how to forgive people who sinned against them. How complex this lesson must have sounded to the Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus seemed to be teaching a paradox here!
ANOTHER REMINDER TO SET ASIDE TIME TO MEDITATE ON GOD’S WORD
The earlier lessons of Jesus were fairly easy to comprehend. However, Jesus seemed to teach more and more complex lessons as He went along. That is such a reflection on life.
Life is simple enough for a child. With each passing year, life becomes more and more complex. There may have been times when things were simpler. There were also times when life became really complex.
To wish for simplicity all the time is not an option we can choose all the time. There are times when we have to set aside time to think through really difficult issues. This is one of those issues that demands much time to be set aside for quiet meditation.
DUAL ROLES
What was Jesus seeking to teach His Disciples as He explained this complex lesson? It would appear that Jesus was seeking to teach His Disciples to consider playing two roles simultaneously.
On the one hand, they must take great care that they do not sin callously. It is possible to become callous in life, and we sin with impunity. On the other hand, while we are strict with ourselves, we are to guard against becoming harsh to sinful people. We must be firm with reference to ourselves, but with reference to others, we are to be gracious and compassionate!
That was a very big lesson that the Disciples had to learn. That was certainly no easy lesson to master! The lesson on Forgiveness must have been particularly hard. The Disciples were told that they were to forgive the same person seven times a day as the case may be!
Would the Disciples not be taken advantage of? Would those who knew what Jesus taught on Forgiveness stretch the point and deliberately sin against them. Were they expected to forgive in those circumstances also?
There was no mistaking the lesson that Jesus sought to teach. YES! They were supposed to exercise a forgiving attitude at all times! Let us consider the whole statement Jesus made,
“If your brother sins against you,
Rebuke him,
And if he repents,
Forgive him.
And if he sins against you seven times in a day,
And seven times in a day returns to you,
Saying, ‘I repent’,
You shall forgive him.”
Luke 17:3-4
LEAVING THE JUDGMENT TO GOD
We need not fear being taken advantaged of. Remember the first lesson about sinning? If a person were to sin with impunity, and he causes people to stumble, he will face judgment one day. His fate would not be a pleasant one at all.
However, the disciple is not to stand in judgment of him. His role is clear. He must learn how to exercise forgiveness. If the brother is taking advantage, God will one day judge him.
HOW CAN WE DEAL WITH AN ERRING BROTHER?
As human beings, we would naturally feel angry or upset with a brother who sins against us. Jesus allowed for a word of rebuke to be administered to the sinning brother. However, with that word of rebuke there must also be a word of forgiveness.
Rebuke and reconciliation must go hand in hand. Rebuke must not lead to estrangement in relationship!
A MATTER OF FAITH
As the apostles listened to this difficult lesson Jesus was explaining to them, they cried out,
“Lord, increase our faith.”
Luke 17:5
The Apostles recognized that Jesus was once again seeking to raise them up to another level of faith. They knew that they lacked the kind of faith that would be needed to accept and practise the kind of faith and lifestyle that Jesus expected of them.
They were right in their response. It was all a matter of faith.
1. It was a matter of faith when they left their all and followed Jesus.
2. It was a matter of faith that saw them embrace Jesus as the Messiah.
3. It was a matter of faith when they imbibed His teachings. The new-found faith that they had in Jesus had changed so many aspects of their outlook of life already.
4. They knew also that it would take faith to play the dual roles that Jesus expected of them. To be strict with themselves where sin was concerned, and to understand others when they sinned.
Their cry to the Lord Jesus was well taken. They would need the Lord Jesus to increase their faith if they were to attempt what He expected them to do. Should we not also cry out, “Lord, increase our faith” ?