Luke 17:1-6
1 Jesus said to His disciples,
Temptations (snares, traps set to entice to sin) are sure to come, but woe to
him by or through whom they come! 2 It would be more profitable for him if a
millstone were hung around his neck and he were hurled into the sea than that
he should cause to sin or be a snare to one of these little ones [ lowly in
rank or influence]. 3 Pay attention and always be on your guard [looking out
for one another]. If your brother sins (misses the mark), solemnly tell him so
and reprove him, and if he repents (feels sorry for having sinned), forgive
him. 4 And even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and turns to you
seven times and says, I repent [I am sorry], you must forgive him (give up
resentment and consider the offense as recalled and annulled).
5 The apostles said to the Lord,
Increase our faith (that trust and confidence that spring from our belief in
God). 6 And the Lord answered, If you had faith (trust and confidence in God)
even [so small] like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry
tree, Be pulled up by the roots, and be planted in the sea, and it would obey
you.
Food for thought!
Two things stand out in this
passage: temptations to sin are sure to happen; this world is not heaven; but
none of Jesus' disciples should be the cause of others' sinning. What Jesus
says is that it is impossible to construct a world with no temptations, no
trials, no hardships; there's nothing like a temptation free world, but woe to
that man or women who teaches another to sin or who takes away another's
innocence. Sinning is bad enough and should be avoided. But teaching others to
sin, should doubly be avoided.
A story. An old man was dying.
Something was obviously worrying him. At last he said what it was. "When I
was a young boy," he said, "I often played at a road junction. Nearby
was sign-post indicating the directions from the junction. I remember one day
twisting it round in its socket, thus altering the arms and making them point
in the wrong direction; and I've been wondering ever since how many travellers
I sent on the wrong road."
God will not hold anyone guiltless,
who, on the road of life, sends others on the wrong way.
On the contrary, we must always do
our best to rescue all those who are going down the wrong path. Never tire to
help them get on the right track. So, if anyone comes to us and asks us to
forgive them, don't hesitate to do so. When you do so, you save yourself and
the person from going on the wrong road.
Lk 17:5-6 tell us that faith is the
greatest force in the world. The saying, "If you had faith (trust and
confidence in God) even [so small] like a grain of mustard seed, you could say
to this mulberry tree, Be pulled up by the roots, and be planted in the sea,
and it would obey you" means that even that which looks completely
impossible to humans, becomes possible, if it is approached with faith.
Many of us have faith but we don't
put it to use. Faith is a force. If we approach a thing saying, "It can't
be done," it will not; if we approach it saying, "It must be
done," the chances are that it will. We must always remember that we
approach no task alone, but that with us there is God and all his power. This
is what Paul teaches us:
"I
can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)
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