S3E186 – Luke 17-18: The One Millimeter Difference

Transcript

Podcast Introduction

Today we’ll read Luke 17-18.  Afterwards, I’ll have some thoughts to share with you. I’m calling today’s episode “The One Millimeter Difference.”

Comments on Luke 17

Luke 17 begins with Jesus speaking to His disciples about sin, forgiveness and faith.

1Jesus said to his disciples: 

There will always be something that causes people to sin. But anyone who causes them to sin is in for trouble. A person who causes even one of my little followers to sin 2would be better off thrown into the ocean with a heavy stone tied around their neck. 3 So be careful what you do. 

Correct any followers of mine who sin, and forgive the ones who say they are sorry. 4Even if one of them mistreats you seven times in one day and says, “I am sorry,” you should still forgive that person.

5The apostles said to the Lord, “Make our faith stronger!”

6Jesus replied:

If you had faith no bigger than a tiny mustard seed, you could tell this mulberry tree to pull itself up, roots and all, and to plant itself in the ocean. And it would!

Luke 17:1-6 CEV

The first three verses are pretty straighforward: Stumbling blocks that cause people to sin are always going to exist. But you’re in deep trouble if you are the one who places the stumbling blocks in their path. 

Then Jesus gets into the more difficult teaching. Let’s break this down a sentence at a time:

a) If a fellow believer sins (and some translations say “sins against you”) then you are to correct them. Don’t cover it up or pretend it didn’t happen. Nip it in the bud, or this small offense can grow. Remember, Jesus was talking to His disciples about those times when a fellow believer sins. So the correction should be delivered with love, not with harshness. 

b) If the offender apologizes, forgive them. This instruction is not a suggestion from the Lord. He didn’t say, “Try to forgive them.” He said, “Forgive them.”

What if they don’t apologize or ask for forgiveness? Are we then not obligated to forgive them? Before I answer that question, let me ask you a question: Do you think Jesus would teach a *narrow* brand of forgiveness or a *broad* brand of forgiveness?

Let’s keep going, then return to the question.

c) If this someone mistreats you seven times in one day and then apologizes, you are to forgive them. Ok, but what if he doesn’t mean it? What if his apology isn’t sincere? As I look at this sentence, I do not see Jesus qualifying his description of the apology. The CEV renders the verse as, “…you should still forgive that person.” I looked it up in the original Greek. Jesus said, “…you shall forgive…”. In other words, you are obligated, it is your duty to forgive the person. 

d) And what was the reaction of disciples? “Make our faith stronger!” No kidding! To forgive like Jesus is telling us to do requires tremendous faith! I don’t know about you, but I am not a naturally forgiving person. I’m sorry, but that’s the truth. I know some people who are quick to forgive. I’m not one of them. And judging from the disciples’ reaction to Jesus’ command, most of them weren’t either. They knew it was going to take a lot of faith to forgive like this.

So now let’s ask the question again: Do you think Jesus would teach a *narrow* brand of forgiveness or a *broad* brand of forgiveness? It seems to me that a narrow forgiveness doesn’t take much faith at all. Perhaps none. But a broad forgiveness? HUGE faith.

Commentator Adam Clarke wrote, “This work of pardoning *every* offence of *every* man, and that *continually*, seemed so difficult, even to the *disciples* themselves, that they saw, without an extraordinary degree of faith, they should never be able to keep this command.” 

e) Then Jesus replied to their “Make our faith stronger!” statement: If you had faith no bigger than a tiny mustard seed, you could tell this mulberry tree to pull itself up, roots and all, and to plant itself in the ocean. And it would!

Have you ever seen a mustard seed? They really are tiny…about 1 to 2 millimeters, or 0.039 to 0.079 inches in diameter. 

There is a reason Jesus pointed to the mulberry tree as his example. The roots of that species of tree, according to Norval Geldenhuys, a 20th century commentator, were thought to be incredibly strong, and mulberry trees could remain rooted for six hundred years.

When we have allowed unforgiveness to take root within us, it can rooted like one of these mulberry trees. Impossible to tear out by the roots. But with faith in Jesus, it can be removed, roots and all.  

So it is not really the size of the faith, but where the faith is placed. If that faith is placed in Jesus, look out! Miracles can happen.

Do you have a miracle story? 

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 17 CEV, Ch. 18 GWT

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Transcript

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Steve Webb 0:00
No wiggle room at all.

Steve Webb 0:09
This is the Lifespring family Audio Bible coming to you from Riverside, California, podcasting since 2004. I’m your OG God caster Steve Webb. Today our reading is Luke 17 and 18. And afterwards Of course, I’ll have some thoughts for you, and I’m calling today’s episode, the one millimeter difference. shownotes page for today’s episode is Lifespring media.com/s 12 e 185. Let’s get started.

Steve Webb 4:26
Then Jesus disciples spoke up. But where will this happen, Lord, Jesus said, where there is a corpse there will always be vultures.

Steve Webb 4:36
Luke chapter 18.

Steve Webb 4:38
Jesus used this illustration with his disciples to show them that they need to pray all the time and never give up. He said in a city there was a judge who didn’t fear God or respect people. In that city. There was also a widow who kept coming to him and saying, give me justice. For a while the judge refused to do anything. But then he thought

Steve Webb 12:19
Well, I looked it up in the original Greek. Jesus said in the original Greek, I’m not going to read the Greek for you, but it means you shall forgive. In other words, you are obligated, it’s your duty to forgive that person, no wiggle room at all. And then next, what was the reaction of the disciples? What did they do? He said, Make our faith stronger? No kidding. To forgive, like Jesus is telling us to do requires a tremendous faith. Now, listen, I don’t know about you, but I’m not a naturally forgiving person. I’m sorry. But that’s the truth. I know some people who are quick to forgive than I’m not one of them. And judging from the disciples reaction to Jesus command, make our faith stronger. Most of them were to either they knew that it was going to take a lot of faith to forgive like this. So now, let’s ask the question again. Do you think Jesus would teach a narrow brand of forgiveness or a broad band of forgiveness? Well, it seems to me that a narrow forgiveness doesn’t take much faith at all, perhaps none. But a broad forgiveness like he’s talking about here. In my case, anyway, that takes huge faith. Commentator Adam Clarke wrote this, this work of pardoning every offense of every man, and that continually seemed so difficult even to the disciples themselves, that they saw without an extraordinary degree of faith, they should never be able to keep this command. And what happened next? Well, Jesus replied to their Make our faith stronger statement. He said, If you had faith, no bigger than a tiny mustard seed, you could tell this mulberry tree to pull itself up roots at all, and to plant itself in the ocean, and it would well beloved, have you ever seen a mustard seed, they really are tiny, about one to two millimeters in diameter or in inches, they’re about 39,000th to 79,000th of an inch in diameter. So that is small that that is tiny. So we’ll get back to that point in a minute. There’s a reason Jesus pointed to the mulberry tree as his example, the roots of that species of tree according to Norval Geldenhuys, a 20th century commentator, the roots of that species were thought to be incredibly strong and mulberry trees could remain rooted for 600 years. Beloved, when we have allowed unforgiveness to take root within us, it can be rooted like one of those mulberry trees, impossible to tear up by the root

Steve Webb 18:05
Comment on the show at Lifespring media.com/s 12 e 185. Email me at Steve at Lifespring media.com And please support the show at Lifespring media.com/support. Until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. Thank you for being here. My name is Steve Webb. Forgive me? Bye

Steve Webb 0:38
Luke chapter 17. Jesus said to His disciples, there will always be something that causes people to sin, but anyone who causes them to sin is in for trouble. A person who causes even one of my little followers to sin would be better off thrown into the ocean with a heavy stone tied around their neck. So be careful what you do. Correct any followers of mine who sin and forgive the ones who say they are sorry, even if one of them mistreats you seven times in one day and says, I am sorry, you should still forgive that person. The Apostle said to the Lord, make our faith stronger. Jesus replied, If you had faith, no bigger than a tiny mustard seed, you could tell this mulberry tree to pull itself up roots at all, and to plant itself in the ocean. And it would if your servant comes in from plowing or from taking care of the sheep, would you say welcome come on in and have something to eat? No, you wouldn’t say that. You would say, prepare me something to eat. Get ready to serve me so I can have my meal. Then later on, you can eat and drink. Servants don’t deserve special thanks for doing what they’re supposed to do. And that’s how it should be with you. When you’ve done all you should then say we are merely servants and we have simply done our duty.

Steve Webb 2:00
On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus went along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village 10 men with leprosy came toward him. They stood at a distance and shouted Jesus, Master, have pity on us. Jesus looked at them and said, Go show yourself to the priests on their way they were healed. When one of them discovered that he was healed, he came back shouting praises to God. He bowed down at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was from the country of Samaria. Jesus asked, weren’t 10 Men healed? Where are the other nine? Why was this foreign or the only one who came back to thank God? Then Jesus told the man, you may get up and go, your faith is made you well. Some Pharisees asked Jesus when God’s kingdom would come, he answered, God’s Kingdom isn’t something you can see there is no use saying, Look, here it is, or look, there it is. God’s Kingdom is here with you. Jesus said to His disciples, the time will come when you along to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not. When people say to you look there or look here, don’t go looking for him. The day of the Son of Man will be like lightning flashing across the sky. But first he must suffer terribly and be rejected by the people of today. When the Son of Man comes, things will be just as they were when Noah lift. People were eating, drinking and getting married right up to the day when Noah went into the big boat. Then the flood came and drowned everyone on Earth. When lot lived. People were also eating and drinking. They were buying, selling, planting and building. But on the very day lot left Sodom fiery flames poured down from the sky and killed everyone. The same will happen on the day when the Son of Man appears. At that time, no one on a rooftop should go down into the house to get anything. No one in a field should go back to the house for anything. Remember what happened to Lot’s wife. People who tried to save their lives will lose them, and those who lose their lives will save them. On that night two people will be sleeping in the same bed, but only one will be taken. The other will be left. Two women will be together grinding wheat, but only one will be taken, the other will be left.

Steve Webb 5:00
This widow really annoys me. Although I don’t fare God or respect people, I’ll have to give her justice. Otherwise, she’ll keep coming to me until she wears me out. The Lord added, pay attention to what the dishonest judge thought, Won’t God give his chosen people justice when they cry out to Him for help day and Knight? Is he slow to help them? I can guarantee that he will give them justice quickly. But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth. Jesus also used this illustration with some who were sure that God approved of them while they look down on everyone else. He said, Two men went into the temple courtyard to pray. One was a Pharisee. And the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed, God, I thank you that I’m not like other people. I’m not a robber, or a dishonest person. I haven’t committed adultery. I’m not even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I give you a 10th of my entire income. But the tax collector was standing at a distance, he wouldn’t even look up to heaven. Instead, he became very upset and he said, God, be merciful to me a sinner. I can guarantee that this tax collector went home with God’s approval. But the Pharisee didn’t. Everyone who honors himself will be humbled, but the person who humbles himself will be honored. Some people brought infants to Jesus to have him hold them. When the disciples saw this, they told people not to do that. But Jesus called the infant’s to him and said, Don’t stop the children from coming to me. Children like these are part of the Kingdom of God. I can guarantee this truth. Whoever doesn’t receive the kingdom of God, as a little child receives it will never enter it. And official ask Jesus, Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus said to him, why do you call Me good?

Steve Webb 6:55
No one is good except God. You know the commandments, never committed adultery, never murder, never steal, never give false testimony. Honor your father and your mother. The official replied, I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was a boy. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, you still need one thing, sell everything you have, distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, then follow me. When the official heard this, he became sad because he was very rich. Jesus watched him and said, how hard it is for rich people to enter the kingdom of God. Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. Those who heard him asked Who then can be saved. Jesus said, the things that are impossible for people to do are possible for God to do. Then Peter said, we’ve left everything to follow you. Jesus said to them, I can guarantee this truth. Anyone who gave up his home wife, brothers, parents or children, because of the kingdom of God will certainly receive many times as much in this life, and will receive eternal life in the world to come. Jesus took the 12 apostles aside and said to them, we’re going to Jerusalem, everything that the prophets wrote about the Son of Man will come true. He will be handed over to foreigners, they will make fun of him, insult him, spit on him, whip him and kill him. But on the third day, he will come back to life. But they didn’t understand any of this. What he said was a mystery to them. And they didn’t know what he meant. As Jesus came near Jericho, a blind man was sitting in begging by the road. When he heard the crowd going by he tried to find out what was happening. The people told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. Then the blind man shouted, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. The people at the front of the crowd told the blind man to be quiet. But he shouted even louder, son of David, have mercy on me. Jesus stopped and ordered them to bring the man to him. When the man came near, Jesus asked him, What do you want me to do for you? The blind man said, Lord, I want to see you again. Jesus told him receive your site. Your faith has made you well. Immediately he could see again, he followed Jesus and praised God. All the people saw this and they to praise to God. Let’s talk a little bit about Luke 17. The chapter begins with Jesus speaking to His disciples about sin, forgiveness and faith. Let me read it for you again real quick. Jesus said to His disciples, there will always be something that causes people to sin, but anyone who causes them to sin is in for trouble. A person who causes even one of my little followers to sin would be better off thrown into the ocean with a heavy stone tied around their neck. So be careful what you do. Correct any followers of mine who sin and forgive the ones who say they’re sorry Even if one of them mistreats us seven times in one day and says, I’m sorry, you should still forgive that person. The Apostle said to the Lord make our faith stronger. Jesus replied, If you had faith, no bigger than a tiny mustard seed, you could tell this mulberry tree to pull itself up roots in all into plant itself in the ocean. And it would that was the contemporary English version, by the way. Well, the first three verses are pretty straightforward. stumbling blocks that cause people to sin are always going to exist. But you’re in deep trouble if you are the one who places the stumbling blocks in their path. And then Jesus gets into the more difficult teaching. Let’s break this down a sentence at a time. First, if a fellow believers sins, and some translations say sins against you, then what we’re supposed to do is correct them. We’re not supposed to cover it up or pretend it didn’t happen. We need to nip it in the bud or this offense can grow. And remember, Jesus was talking to his disciples about those times when a fellow believer sins, so the correction should be delivered with love, not with harshness. Next, if the offender apologizes, Jesus said, Forgive them. Now, this instruction is not a suggestion from the Lord. He didn’t say, try to forgive them. He said, Forgive them. Now, when I read this, I say, Well, what if they don’t apologize or ask for forgiveness? Are we then not obligated to forgive them? Well, before I answer that question, let me ask you a question. Do you think Jesus would teach a narrow brand of forgiveness or a broad brand of forgiveness? Let’s keep going. And then we’ll return to the question maxxed.

Steve Webb 11:49
Jesus said, If someone mistreats you seven times in one day, and then apologizes, you were to forgive them? Okay, but what if he doesn’t mean it? What if his apology isn’t sincere? Well, as I look at this sentence, I don’t see Jesus qualifying his description of the apology. Our version today renders the verse as you should still forgive that person. Now that might leave a little bit of wiggle room, right, you should forgive that person.

Steve Webb 15:00
But with faith in Jesus, it can be removed roots at all. So it’s not really the size of the faith but where the faith is placed. If that faith is placed in Jesus, look out, miracles can happen. Do you have a miracle story? I’d love to hear it. Comment on the show notes page at Lifespring media.com/s 12 e 185. Our reading tomorrow was Philippians, three and four.

Steve Webb 15:34
Speaking of comments, Kirsty sent a couple of comments in on the first one she’s commenting on the onward episode. That was the episode beginning our second half of the year, and Kirsty said without this show, there’s no way I would have read half the Bible in six months. Looking forward to the next six months and reaching the end of the lap. I was gonna say Finish Line, but we never really finished reading the Bible, do we? Well, Kirsty? I think not. I know every time I’ve read through it, God has shown me something new. So yeah, I encourage reading it over and over and over again. Absolutely. Thank you for that comment, Kirsty. And then on the I’m not a smart man episode where I asked who introduced you to Jesus Kirstie said, My maternal grandparents had been away from the church for many years. And when I reached 12, apparently, I started asking some big questions that they didn’t know how to answer that prompted them to return to church and take me and my brothers. Three years later, I gave my heart to Jesus, and I’ve never looked back. Both grandparents are with the Lord now, but they’ve left me a legacy that is beyond value, my salvation, a godly husband, and the salvation of my children. I thank God that they chose to follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit all those years ago. Well, Kirsty, I’m glad they did, too. Amen. And thank you for sharing that.

Steve Webb 17:05
On this date in church history, march 5 1743, in the midst of the Great Awakening, clergyman Thomas Prince, an avid collector of colonial historical records, published the Christian history, America’s first religious magazine.

Steve Webb 17:31
Let’s pray. Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word. And as the disciples asked Jesus, we ask that you make our faith stronger. Help us to forgive as you do. I thank You, Lord for the Lifespring family. I ask that you bless each one today. I pray this in Jesus name, amen. If you’ve got a prayer request or praise that you’d like to share with the Lifespring family, send it in and prayer dot Lifespring media.com.

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