LORD, INCREASE OUR FAITH

Passage: Luke 17:1-6

Key verse: 5

NIV

Sin, Faith, Duty

17 Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble(A) are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come.(B) 2 It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones(C) to stumble.(D) 3 So watch yourselves.

“If your brother or sister[a] sins against you, rebuke them;(E) and if they repent, forgive them.(F) 4 Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”(G)

5 The apostles(H) said to the Lord,(I) “Increase our faith!”

6 He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed,(J) you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.(K)

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 17:3 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a fellow disciple, whether man or woman.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Temptations to Sin

17 And he said to his disciples, (A)“Temptations to sin[a] are (B)sure to come, but (C)woe to the one through whom they come! 2 (D)It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.[b] 3 Pay attention to yourselves! (E)If your brother sins, (F)rebuke him, and if he repents, (G)forgive him, 4 and if he sins against you (H)seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

Increase Our Faith

5 (I)The apostles said to the Lord, (J)“Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, (K)“If you had faith like (L)a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this (M)mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 17:1 Greek Stumbling blocks
  2. Luke 17:2 Greek stumble
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Watch yourselves (1-4)

Some people say that what they think and do is their own business; if their words or actions tempt someone to sin, that's the other person's problem. But Jesus teaches us that we are responsible for our influence on others --'So watch yourselves.' Furthermore, a Christian cannot be indifferent to the spiritual needs of others. He must care enough to rebuke his brother when he sins. And he must love his brother enough to forgive him--without limit.

2. Increase our faith (5-6)

The apostles were realists. They knew that what Jesus was commanding them to do was next to impossible. How can we care enough about others to curtail our own freedom? How can we love a brother enough to risk a good human relationship by rebuking him? The apostles knew that it was a matter of faith. Jesus told them that they didn't need much faith--only a little!

Prayer: Lord, give me faith to forgive, and help me to be a good influence on others.

One Word: Lord, increase my faith!