Lucas 17
John Phillips · Citado em PreceptAustin
Lucas 17
Phillips - The Lord had....had just ended with the solemn unveiling before the souls of everyone in the crowd of the eternal destiny of the lost and the redeemed. The Lord now turns to His disciples. His focus is on the life of ministry to which He has called them. It involves a special relationship, one that was both perilous and precious. (Exploring the Gospel of Luke: An Expository Commentary) Mattoon adds that "In this portion of Luke, Jesus shares a variety of principles that pertain to our ministry with others and serving the Lord Jesus Christ. These principles deal with our attitudes, behavior, and our relationships with other people and God." (Treasures from the Scriptures) He said to His disciples (mathetes) - Note they are referred to as apostles in Lk 17:5, so clearly Jesus is focusing in on the inner circle of men who will continue the Gospel proclamation after He is crucified. It is inevitable (anendektos) that stumbling blocks (skandalon) come but woe (ouai) to him through whom they come!- Jesus is literally saying "It is impossible for the stumbling blocks not to come." In other words, stumbling blocks are guaranteed to come in the life of the disciples. They could count on it! And we can too, because stumbling blocks will continually come to trip up the follower of Christ, for we have three persistent, powerful enemies - the world, the flesh and the devil. Woe introduces a solemn warning for all who would trip up other believers. Notice that the woe is not defined and is not the millstone, because that is actually the way to escape the woe! In fact it is the easier way out!. Jesus leaves the woe undescribed! But considering the alternative which is "better" the woe is something we would want to avoid! Brian Bell - "Beware of leading others astray. [not limited to children, but new believers also] Beware of doing anything that would cause others to fall into sin. “But I have this liberty!”…but they might not!
Lucas 17
Phillips - The disciples must be prepared. Traps would be set for them. That fact was inevitable given the nature of the battle in which they were engaged. They were up against the very Devil himself. The scribes and the Pharisees were but pawns on the chessboard of time. But woe to them and their like! Disciples (3101) (mathetes from manthano = to learn which Vine says is "from a root math, indicating thought accompanied by endeavor". Gives us our English = "mathematics") describes a person who learns from another by instruction, whether formal or informal. Discipleship includes the idea of one who intentionally learns by inquiry and observation (cf inductive Bible study) and thus mathetes is more than a mere pupil. A mathetes describes an adherent of a teacher. As discussed below mathetes itself has no spiritual connotation, and it is used of superficial followers of Jesus as well as of genuine believers. Related Study: matheteuo - make disciples Inevitable (418)(anendektos from a = negative + endechomai = to be possible) appears only here in the New Testament and means impossible or unavoidable. It refers to something that is certain and cannot be otherwise. And so the phrase in the literal version (Young's Literal) reads negatively, “It is impossible for the stumbling blocks not to come.” Cleon Rogers adds it is "from the verb meaning “to admit to oneself” hence, “inadmissible,” “unallowable." Stumbling blocks (4625)(skandalon from a root meaning jump up, snap shut) was originally the piece of wood that kept open a trap for animals. The animal would hit the bait stick, trigger the trap and be ensnared. The word came to be used spiritually of any enticement to sin, especially sin that led to defection from the faith. For example, it might be behavior that would cause a weaker brother to fall into sin (Ro 14:13) or false teaching that was crafted to subtly turn the unsuspected away from the truth ("those who cause dissensions and hindrances [stumbling blocks] contrary to the teaching which you learned" - Ro 16:17+). In short, to put a stumbling-block in someone’s way is to do or say something that causes another person to trip or get off the path of following the Lord. The fate of stumbling blocks is described in Mt 13:41. Not every stumbling block is sinful for Jesus Himself is called an "offense" (stumbling block) to those who "stumble over" Him and refuse to believe in Him. So as always context is important when looking at the meaning of a specific Greek word. In a similar passage in Matthew Jesus warned “Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!" (Mt 18:7) Jesus even used this word when addressing the apostle Peter, Matthew recording "But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block (skandalon) to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” (Mt 16:23) Outside the Bible it is not used metaphorically, though its derivative skandalethron (e.g. a trap set through questions) is so used. The English word scandal is derived from the noun via the Lat. scandalum. Thus skandalon was literally, that movable part of a trap on which the bait was laid, and when touched caused the trap to close on its prey. Skandalon thus came to mean any entanglement of the foot. Figuratively, as used most often in Scripture, skandalon refers to any person or thing by which one is drawn into error or sin. (Click for more detailed notes) Woe (alas; How dreadful!) (3750 - click and select "Phonetics" to hear "ouai" pronounced) (ouai pronounced "oo-ah'ee," an eerie, ominous foreboding sound some say is like the cry of an eagle) is an onomatopoeic word (an imitation of the sound) which serves as an interjection expressing a cry of intense distress, displeasure or horror. It may convey a warning of impending disaster to the hearers. Jesus used "Woe" frequently in the Gospels often in an eschatological context (Mt 24:19+; Mk 13:17+). Compare to the 3 woes in Lk 6:24-26+. Most NT uses of ouai are in the context of warning about inevitable, impending judgment, often intermingled with a feeling of pity (Mt 11:21-22, Lk 22:22 = Judas' betrayal). Rev 8:13+ has woe in triplicate which seems to provide the greatest possible emphasis on God's coming judgment on the world, much as the cry of "holy" in triplicate emphasizes His holiness. Indeed, His perfect holiness demands His perfect judgment! In the Lxx a double woe is addressed to unfaithful Jerusalem because of her idolatry and immorality (Ezek 16:23). Ouai does not depict sorrow on the part of those who have sinned (as some have mistakenly taught). Ouai - 47x in 36v - woe(46), woes(1). Matt. 11:21; Matt. 18:7; Matt. 23:13; Matt. 23:14; Matt. 23:15; Matt. 23:16; Matt. 23:23; Matt. 23:25; Matt. 23:27; Matt. 23:29; Matt. 24:19; Matt. 26:24; Mk. 13:17; Mk. 14:21; Lk. 6:24; Lk. 6:25; Lk. 6:26; Lk. 10:13; Lk. 11:42; Lk. 11:43; Lk. 11:44; Lk. 11:46; Lk. 11:47; Lk. 11:52; Lk. 17:1; Lk. 21:23; Lk. 22:22; 1 Co. 9:16; Jude 1:11; Rev. 8:13; Rev. 9:12; Rev. 11:14; Rev. 12:12; Rev. 18:10; Rev. 18:16; Rev. 18:19 ILLUSTRATION - According to the Associated Press, on the evening of February 6, 1996, several teenagers drove the rural roads east of Tampa, Florida, with the intent of playing pranks. Tragically, their game was anything but funny. They pulled some twenty street signs out of the ground, including the stop sign at one fateful intersection. The next day, three of their buddies, who had just finished bowling, breezed through that intersection without stopping. Their car sailed into the path of an eight-ton truck, and they were all killed. One year later, the three perpetrators of the deadly prank were convicted of manslaughter. In June of 1997, they stood in orange jail jump-suits and handcuffs before a judge in a Tampa courtroom, weeping and wiping their eyes, and were sentenced to fifteen years in prison. It is a dangerous thing with tragic consequences for anyone to take down a signpost on the highway. It is no less dangerous for anyone to vandalize the signposts that God puts on the highway of life. When we honor God's commandments, we point people in the right direction. If we dishonor God's commandments, if the example or testimony of our life stinks, we become a stumbling block and can unwittingly lead others to destruction. Jesus addresses this problem here. (Mattoon Treasures from the Scriptures) Mouse Trap – (invented by Sir Hiram Stephen Maxim) - A very simple device made up of a flat wooden platform; A wire acting as a hammer; a spring that gives the hammer the quickness it needs; a metal bar that holds the hammer back; & a sensitive little catch; that when you touch it with the slightest pressure it releases the metal bar, and the hammer comes slamming down on its victim. There are many things in this world that trap not mice but men! There are traps of unforgiveness…which “sever” relationships. And thus imprison countless Christians in its jaws! Luke 17:2 “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble. KJV Luke 17:2 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. It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck Matthew 18:6; 26:24; Mark 9:42; 1 Corinthians 9:15; 2 Peter 2:1-3 than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble Isaiah 40:11; Zechariah 13:7; Matthew 18:3-5,10,14; John 21:15; 1 Corinthians 8:11,12; 9:22 Luke 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 17:1-4 Relational Sins and How to Deal With Them - Steven Cole Luke 17:1-4 Four Hallmarks of Humility, Part 1 - John MacArthur Related Passage: Mt 18:5-7 “And whoever receives (deliberately and readily welcomes) one such child in My name receives Me (I.E., THE WAY A PERSON TREATS ANOTHER BELIEVER [OR EVEN AN UNBELIEVER] IS THE WAY HE TREATS JESUS) 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones (I.E., SPIRITUAL CHILDREN AS DESCRIBED IN Mt 18:3-4) who believe in Me to stumble (skandalizo), it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea (THE DISCIPLES HAD JUST BEEN ARGUING ABOUT WHO WAS GREATEST-THEY WERE SINNING AND DOUBTLESS CAUSING OTHER DISCIPLES TO SIN - ANGER, RESENTMENT, ETC. WOE!). 7 (LUKE'S VERSION LACKS THIS VERSE) “Woe to the world (FALLEN, GODLESS, ANTI-GOD SYSTEM) because of its stumbling blocks (THE LIST IS ENDLESS - BUT THINK OF DOUBLY "R-RATED" SHOWS LIKE "GAME OF THRONES" WHICH MANY WHO CLAIM TO FOLLOW CHRIST ARE WATCHING - I KNOW THIS FROM PERSONAL COMMUNICATION WITH A LOCAL PASTOR).! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes! (IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JESUS' SOLUTION READ Mt 18:8-9) Matthew 18:5-9 The Danger of Causing a Christian to Sin - The basic truth of that verse is that it is impossible to separate Christ from His people and that, consequently whatever affects believers, affects Him. Specifically whoever receives a child of God in Christ's name receives Christ. As is clear from the context, Jesus was using the child He held in His arms only as an illustration. One such child identifies the specific child being referred to in the context. This can only mean the one who spiritually becomes a little child, as described in verses 3-4. Jesus was not speaking of the toddler himself but was using him to represent the children of God....Believers are to receive one another with tenderness, care, kindness, and love, opening up their hearts to welcome fellow believers no matter who they are. In so doing, they embrace the Lord Christ who lives in them. We are to care for each other like precious children. What a vital message to the church!...When a person mistreats a Christian he mistreats Christ. This side of the truth also applies to believers and unbelievers. Whether the person is the worst persecuting pagan who causes harm to a Christian or whether he is a believer who causes harm to a fellow Christian, the result is the same: Christ Himself is attacked. (John MacArthur) AN AWFUL AND TERRIBLE CONDEMNATION Mattoon - Great sorrow awaits the person that tempts others to sin and spiritually fail. If you know Jesus Christ as your Savior, you have a bull's eye on your back, especially if you are living your life for Christ. You have a target on you and Satan and his forces are out to stop you for sure. Jesus says this is a fact of life for the Christian. The Lord issues a grave warning to anyone that would be used of Satan to cause believers, especially "little ones" or new believers, to spiritually fall, stumble, or be led astray from the Lord. (Treasures from the Scriptures) It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea - Jesus is saying it would have been better for this person to have died before he offended a little one! The KJV (Textus Receptus) has the Greek word mulos signifying a great millstone that would be 4-5 feet diameter, 1 foot thick, and weighing thousands of pounds. More modern Biblical transcripts have the Greek word mulikos which is used only here and means belonging to a mill without saying how big the millstone is. See Wikipedia discussion of millstone (some stones up to 3300 pounds!) The millstone Jesus spoke of is the surely a huge millstone, not the small hand millstone used by the women to grind a little grain at a time. It would be "like being fit for a pair of concrete shoes!" (Bell) The person would sink and stay on the bottom of the sea even no matter how hard they fought to free themselves - what a frightening and terrible thought (I have also feared death by dying and this picture is even worse!). Were thrown into the sea (Hurled into the sea! Mt 18:6, Mk 9:42) this person would sink to the bottom like a rock and drown, desperately trying to rise to the surface but impeded by the heavy weight around their neck! Jesus is not a torturer, but He is trying to get across how horrible it is to trip up a "little one!" It would be better for that person to die than to trip up a little one! Jesus depicts a death that is so horrible it is difficult to imagine. This warning would surely be an attention grabber! It would be better (lusitelei) is used only here in the Bible and means to be advantageous, to be useful, to be to someone's advantage. What is the "advantage?" To be thrown into water with such a heavy weight that escape would be impossible would result in horrible drowning! It makes me think of the frantic reactions we see portrayed in those who are "water boarded!" That implies that the fate of those who cause little ones to stumble is FAR WORSE than drowning this way!