Luke 17
Gospel of Luke
Chapter 17
Scripture of the Week: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own
understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be
wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and
nourishment to your bones. Proverbs 3:5-8
Observation
In Luke 17, Jesus shifts from speaking to and rebuking the Pharisees to teaching his disciples.
He encouraged them not to lead others into sin and to forgive those who sinned against them
over and over again. He encouraged them to do their duty willingly and with humility.
Jesus healed the 10 men with leprosy with a simple statement, “Go and show yourselves to the
priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. In their obedience they were healed. However,
one man, a Samaritan, returns to Jesus with a heart of gratitude and faith, giving glory to God.
Jesus responds, “Rise and go, your faith has made you well.” The other nine were cleansed in
body but this man’s soul was restored as well.
Jesus’ focus in this time with his disciples is the posture of their hearts.
Interpretation
Remember who Luke was and how he gathered his information. He was not present as a
disciple of Jesus, but was compiling data from eyewitnesses to provide an account of His life
and ministry. Luke then intentionally shifts to a Pharisees question to Jesus of when the
kingdom of God would come. His response to the question highlighted the heart posture of the
religious leaders and their incorrect view of God’s kingdom.
The centerpoint of this teaching is in Luke 17:33 where Jesus states: “Whoever tries to keep
their life will lose it and whoever loses their life will preserve it.” He is teaching his disciples that
living a “kingdom life” is living for others and not for themselves.
Application
When we, as men, set our minds to pursue something, we WILL find it. God made us to pursue
things in this life, it’s part of how He made us in His image. However, the motivation behind our
pursuits don’t always line up with God’s heart for us.
We were made to strive for success, a happy and joyful life, to experience pleasure, and so
much more. And all of those things are inherently good, but the motivation behind these pursuits
is where the rubber meets the road. And that road can either lead to a life God intended or it can
ultimately lead to destruction. We are either clinging to life with a tightly closed fist or we are
holding our lives with open hands to God.
There are common attitudes that those who seek to control their lives tend to display:
materialism, individualism, and skepticism. Let’s look at these a little closer.
Materialism - I work hard for what I want. All that I see and have is real. Unseen things are just
ideas and dreams.
- Opposite: generosity, selflessness
Individualism - I work hard for me. You work hard for you. I may make it; you may not. That’s
your problem, not mine.
- Opposite: Fellowship, discipleship
Skepticism - Everyone has an agenda so I will not trust anyone. Anything I am not convinced of
can't be important. Everything important to know I already know or can figure out on my own.
- Opposite: faith, trust
Jesus desires for us to live lives of generosity, fellowship, and faith. These attitudes are all about
letting go and holding things with open hands. When we let go of control and allow God to be in
charge, we start living the freedom He always intended for us.
Practical Application Questions
1. Think about all that you have pursued in life. What were the motivations behind your
pursuits?
2. Of the three attitudes, which is the hardest for you to overcome? Process this further
with your group.
3. In regards to our “Scripture of the Week,” what area(s) of your life does your faith and
trust tend to waiver?
4. What else stood out to you when it comes to this Chapter of Luke’s Gospel?
Luke 17
Gospel of Luke
Chapter 17
Scripture of the Week: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own
understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be
wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and
nourishment to your bones. Proverbs 3:5-8
Observation
In Luke 17, Jesus shifts from speaking to and rebuking the Pharisees to teaching his disciples.
He encouraged them not to lead others into sin and to forgive those who sinned against them
over and over again. He encouraged them to do their duty willingly and with humility.
Jesus healed the 10 men with leprosy with a simple statement, “Go and show yourselves to the
priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. In their obedience they were healed. However,
one man, a Samaritan, returns to Jesus with a heart of gratitude and faith, giving glory to God.
Jesus responds, “Rise and go, your faith has made you well.” The other nine were cleansed in
body but this man’s soul was restored as well.
Jesus’ focus in this time with his disciples is the posture of their hearts.
Interpretation
Remember who Luke was and how he gathered his information. He was not present as a
disciple of Jesus, but was compiling data from eyewitnesses to provide an account of His life
and ministry. Luke then intentionally shifts to a Pharisees question to Jesus of when the
kingdom of God would come. His response to the question highlighted the heart posture of the
religious leaders and their incorrect view of God’s kingdom.
The centerpoint of this teaching is in Luke 17:33 where Jesus states: “Whoever tries to keep
their life will lose it and whoever loses their life will preserve it.” He is teaching his disciples that
living a “kingdom life” is living for others and not for themselves.
Application
When we, as men, set our minds to pursue something, we WILL find it. God made us to pursue
things in this life, it’s part of how He made us in His image. However, the motivation behind our
pursuits don’t always line up with God’s heart for us.
We were made to strive for success, a happy and joyful life, to experience pleasure, and so
much more. And all of those things are inherently good, but the motivation behind these pursuits
is where the rubber meets the road. And that road can either lead to a life God intended or it can
ultimately lead to destruction. We are either clinging to life with a tightly closed fist or we are
holding our lives with open hands to God.
There are common attitudes that those who seek to control their lives tend to display:
materialism, individualism, and skepticism. Let’s look at these a little closer.
Materialism - I work hard for what I want. All that I see and have is real. Unseen things are just
ideas and dreams.
- Opposite: generosity, selflessness
Individualism - I work hard for me. You work hard for you. I may make it; you may not. That’s
your problem, not mine.
- Opposite: Fellowship, discipleship
Skepticism - Everyone has an agenda so I will not trust anyone. Anything I am not convinced of
can't be important. Everything important to know I already know or can figure out on my own.
- Opposite: faith, trust
Jesus desires for us to live lives of generosity, fellowship, and faith. These attitudes are all about
letting go and holding things with open hands. When we let go of control and allow God to be in
charge, we start living the freedom He always intended for us.
Practical Application Questions
1. Think about all that you have pursued in life. What were the motivations behind your
pursuits?
2. Of the three attitudes, which is the hardest for you to overcome? Process this further
with your group.
3. In regards to our “Scripture of the Week,” what area(s) of your life does your faith and
trust tend to waiver?
4. What else stood out to you when it comes to this Chapter of Luke’s Gospel?