Luke 17:1-4·~1 min
Temptations and Trespasses
Jesus warns the disciples that stumbling blocks will come, but severe judgment rests on the one who causes little ones to stumble.
J1esus said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks will come, but woe to the one through whom they come! 2It would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.
The disciples are told to rebuke a sinning brother, forgive when he repents, and keep forgiving even when repentance comes again and again.
3Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Section summaryJesus warns that stumbling blocks will come, but those who cause others to fall bear grave guilt. He then turns to the discipline of rebuke and forgiveness within the brotherhood, where repentance is met again and again with pardon.
Role in the chapterThis opening movement sets the moral weight of the chapter: harm must be feared, sin named, and forgiveness kept ready when repentance comes.