Luke 17:1. Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!
Since the fall, we are so constituted that there are sure to be differences and disputes. It is a great mercy when men dwell together in unity. «Behold, how good and how pleasant it is.» It is a work of grace; but nature has its lustings, and lustings lead to strivings; And so, as long as the world is as it now is, «it is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come.» Let us not, therefore, be either offence givers or offence takers. When anyone offends us, let us say, «It is impossible but that offences will come,» and let us make light of it; and let us be very careful that we do not cause others to offend. As for him through whom the offence comes,
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
Or cause to offend
Luke 17:2-4. 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.
Perhaps someone remarks, «It looks as if he would do nothing else but keep on sinning and repenting.» Well, suppose he does so, that is precisely what you are doing, except that you do not go often repent when you sin. So, possibly, the offender is rather better than you are, after all, and if God is gentle in his dealings with you, you may well be gentle in your dealings with your neighbor.
Luke 17:5. And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
They seemed so struck with the severity of this command that they asked for more faith that they might be able to obey it. And, dear friends, that is always the best thing to do. Do not refuse obedience to the Lord's precept, but say, «Lord, increase my faith that I may be able to obey it. It can be done, or else thou wouldst not have given me the command. I cannot do it as I am without an increase of strength, therefore, as faith is the medium by which strength is received, Lord, increase my faith.»
Luke 17:6. 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.
Meaning that anything and everything should be possible to our faith; but we need much more of it than the most of us have. Remember how holy Bernard says, «If thou hast a hard task, ask God to give thee a hard resolution.» The diamond is difficult to cut, but it can be cut if you can find something harder. So, if there be a very difficult task set us, if we get faith that is more than equal to it, it will be accomplished. «With God all things are possible,» which means not only that God can do all things, but that we also can do all things when God is with us.
Luke 17:7-8. 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? 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?
This world is the place of service; we are not to be expecting to have the festival here. The great supper comes at the end of the day. This is the time for us to serve, even as Jesus did when he was here; and we are to serve right on till the close of the day, even as Jesus did.
Luke 17:9. Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
When the serving-man has done his day's work, his master does not say, «I am very grateful to you, John, for what you have done for me.» He will have his wages, they will be his master's thanks.
Luke 17:10. 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.
«When ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you.» Ah! but we have not come anywhere near that yet; even if we had, we should still be «unprofitable servants.» In our mind we should expect no thanks from our Master; but we should sorrow that we had not served him better.