Luke 17 - Jesus' Second Coming

Click Here to Read or Listen to the Luke 17

Sin, Faith, Duty

In this first section there is kind of a random selection of teachings from Jesus. Jesus teaches on why causing someone else to sin it such a grave offense. He teaches about forgiveness and why we need to forgive someone if they are truly sorry, even to as many as seven times per day. I don't think he is being literal at this point. He is saying we need to forgive, as we have been forgiven. But he does add, "If they truly repent". This is important. Someone could ask for forgiveness not at all intending to change their behavior. This begs the question, "Do I have to forgive someone if they don't repent?" How do I determine if they are truly repentant, isn't that God's job? There are other places in the bible when our forgiveness of someone else is not dependent on them repenting of what they did to us. 

What do we do with the person who has never repented? Do we forgive them? Even if relationship cannot be restored because no common mind is arrived at, we can still choose to forgive them on our part, and wait for a work of God in their life for the restoration of relationship. - Guzik

Jesus Heals Ten Men With Leprosy

As Jesus made his way back to Jerusalem, he met ten lepers who asked him to heal them. Apparently most of them were Jewish, because we know Jesus points out that the only one that came back to thank him was a Samaritan. Jesus often uses the example of Samaritans in his parables and teachings. The Jews hated them, because they were Jews who had intermarried with Gentiles. But, Jesus seems to constantly lift them up as those who had stronger faith than the Jews. In this case, the Samaritan was the only one who came back and give thanks for his healing. Jesus commends the man and then sends him on his way saying, "Your faith has made you well." 

This seems to indicate that this was the only man whose healing led him to have faith in Jesus. Maybe this is why he returned, because he acknowledged that his healing was evidence that Jesus was the Son of God, a fact the others seemed to miss. 

There was an extra healing for this tenth leper. When Jesus said this, He likely meant God’s work within the man’s heart. The other lepers had whole bodies, but sick hearts. - Guzik

The Coming of the Kingdom of God

Interestingly it is the Pharisees who wonder when God's kingdom is going to come. They were looking for the Messianic reign and the return of the Jewish people to glory. But Jesus reminded them that the kingdom of God was already in their midst right now. Jesus preached, taught, and manifest the power of the kingdom all throughout his public ministry, but they missed it. He told them they would long for him to be among them again one he was crucified, died, and rose again. But, he would not return to them again until His second coming. 

Jesus warned that there would be false reports of Jesus' return. Most importantly he teaches that He will come at a time when people are least likely to expect it. He uses all kinds of metaphors and examples from the Old Testament when God judged the Israelites for their sin. Jesus' description of this is somewhat ominous, especially when he says, "Two people will be in bed, one will be taken and one left behind." 

Again I don't think Jesus is meaning to be literal here. But the fact of the matter is that when Jesus returns it will be a day of judgment. Those who have trusted in him will be brought up to heaven, and those who have not will be judged. There are other passages that talk about this as well. I.e. The wheat and chaff are separated at the time of judgment. 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 describes what we now call the "rapture". 

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 

The bottom line is WE need to be ready at any time for Jesus' return. We are ready if we are doing the things he told us to do when he was here. We can't get others ready, but we can encourage and pray for those who have fallen away from Jesus, or don't know Him at all. The fact that there will be a day of judgment should give us a sense of urgency to share the gospel with as many as are open to hearing it.