171 He said to His disciples , " It is inevitable e that stumbling blocks come , but woe to him through whom they come ! 2 " It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea , than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble . 3 "Be on your guard ! If your brother sins , rebuke him; and if he repents , forgive him. 4 "And if he sins against you seven times a day , and returns to you seven times , saying , 'I repent ,' forgive him."
5 The apostles said to the Lord , "Increase our faith !" 6 And the Lord said , "If you had faith like a mustard seed , you would say to this mulberry tree , 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea '; and it would obey you.
7 "Which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep , will say to him when he has come in from the field , 'Come immediately and sit down to eat'? 8 "But will he not say to him, ' Prepare something for me to eat , and properly clothe yourself and serve me while I eat and drink ; and afterward e you may eat and drink '? 9 "He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded , does he? 10 "So you too , when you do all the things which are commanded you, say , 'We are unworthy slaves ; we have done only that which we ought to have done .' "
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 17:1-10
Commentary on Luke 17:1-10
(Read Luke 17:1-10)
It is no abatement of their guilt by whom an offence comes, nor will it lessen their punishment that offences will come. Faith in God's pardoning mercy, will enable us to get over the greatest difficulties in the way of forgiving our brethren. As with God nothing is impossible, so all things are possible to him that can believe. Our Lord showed his disciples their need of deep humility. The Lord has such a property in every creature, as no man can have in another; he cannot be in debt to them for their services, nor do they deserve any return from him.