Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that

offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 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.

Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

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.

And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

Luke 17:1-5

If Your Brother Trespass Against You

Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 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. And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

Read It Again

Break It Down

Take heed to yourselves

1) to bring to, bring near2) to turn the mind to, attend to be attentive3) to attend to one’s self, i.e. to give heed to one’s self

Jesus is warning the person who is offended.

Jesus is warning this person about his reaction and behavior to the offender.

Our reaction could be wrong to offenses – so we are warned

The Opening Phrase Is A Warning

If thy brother trespass against thee

1) to be without a share in2) to miss the mark3) to err, be mistaken4) to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honour, to do or go wrong5) to wander from the law of God, violate God’s law, sin

a. If – a conditional word b. Your brother – remember this – thus the warningc. Trespass against thee - sin

Potential Of Offense

Rebuke him

3) to adjudge, award, in the sense of merited penalty4) to tax with fault, rate, chide, rebuke, reprove, censure severely4a) to admonish or charge sharply

A Command Is Given

And if he repent1) to change one’s mind, i.e. to repent2) to change one’s mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins

1) Christ is still speaking to the one offended.2) He address that ones response in relation to the

one who was rebuked.3) The rebuked response drives the offended action.

Command Continued

Forgive him

1) to send away1a) to bid going away or depart1a1) of a husband divorcing his wife1b) to send forth, yield up, to expire1c) to let go, let alone, let be1c1) to disregard1c2) to leave, not to discuss now, (a topic)1c2a) of teachers, writers and speakers1c3) to omit, neglect1d) to let go, give up a debt, forgive, to remit1e) to give up, keep no longer

Command Continued

and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him.“

(Luke 17:4)

Emphasis But Same Response

The words are straight forward and mean just what

they say.

One should not read these verses and ask: “But what if they don’t repent.”

That answer is in the verse; “if he repent forgive him”

If implication means anything the answer is here.

No Such Thing As A Bad Question

Jesus prayed for their forgiveness (Luke 23:34)

That does not address Luke 17:3

1) The Lord’s desire is expressed. 2) Their forgiveness is not granted or the Lord

contradicted his own teaching. He said (If…) 3) Acts 2:38 when they repented they were

forgiven.

We Don’t Have To Fudge Here

True –

1) The first part of the verse is a warning – Take heed

2) Still, the verses are conditional.3) If he trespass4) If he repent – Forgive him.5) The offended shouldn’t be charged with holding

a grudge if the offender refuses to repent.

We Can’t Hold Grudges

The verses are not about judging.

The verses are about – Sin - Repentance – Forgiveness – The Lord is clear on judging (Matt 7:1-5; John 7:24)

The offended shouldn’t become the perpetrator. They didn’t do the wrong – the offender did.

We Aren’t The Judges

The one who was offended is told by Christ what he is to do.

Take heed to yourself – If your brother sins against you Forgive –

Christ also tells the offended the condition under which he can do what Christ said.

If He Repent – Is Jesus Condition - Forgive Him.

Separate Jobs Both Before God

Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that

offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 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.

Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

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.

And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

Luke 17:1-5