On Line Bible Study - For the Week April 18-24, 2011

Lesson 489

Luke 17: 1 Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. 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 to stumble. ³ So watch yourselves...

This study is being written during the Easter season. There have been "sightings" of the risen Christ, but this same Jesus who is alive is also somewhat elusive. Prior to the crucifixion / resurrection, Jesus was just as elusive in his teaching. People were constantly trying to pin him down, but over and over again he cautions the disciples to be careful. He points out that many who presume to 'hear' (read: understand) are actually blind to the truth. So ... watch yourselves ...

One of the most difficult concepts for people to get their heads around had to do with forgiveness -

Luke 17: “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 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.”

This is a tall order! The "seven times" has the quality of infinity to it. There is no maximum number. But there is another quality here that has to be acknowledged - we have a responsibility to each other. If a brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them. Another way to look at this would be to say we have to have the courage to speak directly with people. The overwhelming temptation is to speak about each other. It can be just as difficult to speak directly to someone who has sinned against you as it is to forgive them.

Darrell Bock points out that the balance between honest confrontation and the willingness to forgive is what prevents the situation from slipping into judgment.

The kingdom of God is wall to wall forgiveness. Don't be a stumbling block for others, either in causing them to sin, or in preventing them from experiencing God's forgiving love.

A tall order, indeed.