(137) Sin, Faith, Duty
Luke 17:1-10
Then He said to the disciples, “Offenses will come, for they are inevitable; but woe to him through whom they come.[1] [2]It would be better for him to be cast into the sea with a millstone hung around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to stumble.
[3]“Guard yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. [4]And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and returns to you seven times that day, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
[5]And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
[6]And the Lord said, “If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
[7]“Now which one of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, would say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Go and sit down and eat.’? [8]Would you not rather tell him, ‘Put on your apron and get my supper ready. After you have served me and I have finished eating and drinking, then you may eat and drink’? [9]Does he thank that servant because he did what he was commanded to do? I think not. [10]So you too, when you have done everything that you are commanded to do, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have only done that which was our duty to do.’ “
(137) Sin, Faith, Duty
Luke 17:1-10, KJV
Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 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. 3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4 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. 5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. 6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. 7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? 8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? 9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. 10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
(1) This might be paraphrased, "Temptations to sin will surely come, but woe to the one who does the tempting."