The big picture
Luke 17 opens in verse 1 with “Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 19 with “And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”, and closes in verse 37 with “And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the…” Repeated or prominent terms include days, faith, field, heaven, kingdom. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Luke · King James Version · 37Luke 17:1-8
1–8: Said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will…
Luke 17:1–8 opens with “Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him…” and reaches “And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Luke 17 develops its own movement around days, faith, field, heaven, kingdom, with particular weight carried by faith, forgive, Lord.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they…” The line’s distinctive content terms include disciples, impossible, offences. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.” Naming Take keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Luke 17:1-8
King James Version1Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!
2It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
3Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
4And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
5And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
6And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
7But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
8And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
Luke 17:9-16
9–16: Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded…
Luke 17:9–16 opens with “Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.” and reaches “And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Luke 17 develops its own movement around days, faith, field, heaven, kingdom, with particular weight carried by commanded, afar, back.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Luke 17:9-16
King James Version9Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
10So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
11And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
12And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
13And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
14And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
15And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
16And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
Luke 17:17-24
17–24: Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the…
Luke 17:17–24 opens with “And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?” and reaches “For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Luke 17 develops its own movement around days, faith, field, heaven, kingdom, with particular weight carried by kingdom, days, heaven.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
“And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.” Naming Arise keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Luke 17:17-24
King James Version17And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
18There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
19And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
20And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
21Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
22And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.
23And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.
24For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.
Luke 17:25-32
25–32: First must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.
Luke 17:25–32 opens with “But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.” and reaches “Remember Lot’s wife.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Luke 17 develops its own movement around days, faith, field, heaven, kingdom, with particular weight carried by days, destroyed, drank.
Context that brings the passage to life
“But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the…” Naming Noe keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.” Naming Lot and Sodom keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Luke 17:25-32
King James Version25But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.
26And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
27They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
28Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
29But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
30Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
31In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
32Remember Lot’s wife.
Luke 17:33-37
33–37: Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall…
Luke 17:33–37 opens with “Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall…” and reaches “And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Luke 17 develops its own movement around days, faith, field, heaven, kingdom, with particular weight carried by left, taken, life.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
Luke 17:33-37
King James Version33Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
34I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
35Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
36Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
37And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Luke 17:1 begins with “Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!”
Where the chapter turns
Luke 17:17 forms a natural hinge: “And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?”
The final note
Luke 17:37 leaves the reader with “And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words days, faith, field, heaven, kingdom, left help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What does the covenant promise besides descendants?
Kings, land and an enduring relationship in which God is their God.
How are Isaac and Ishmael distinguished without erasing either?
Isaac carries the named covenant line; Ishmael is heard and promised fruitfulness and twelve princes.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.