Luke 17
Stumbling, forgiveness, faith and duty
He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no occasions of stumbling should come, but woe to him through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble. Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
The Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. But who is there among you, having a servant plowing or keeping sheep, that will say when he comes in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down at the table’? Wouldn’t he rather tell him, ‘Prepare my supper, clothe yourself properly, and serve me while I eat and drink. Afterward you shall eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded? I think not. Even so you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.’”
Jesus warns his disciples that it would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone round one's neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. They must rebuke a brother who sins and forgive him whenever he repents, even seven times in a day. When the apostles ask for more faith, he says faith like a mustard seed could uproot a tree, and that servants who have only done their duty deserve no special thanks.
What does this mean?
"Offences" (KJV) or "occasions of stumbling" are things that cause someone to sin or lose faith. The "sycamine" is the black mulberry, a tree with deep roots. "Unprofitable servants" (KJV) means servants who have done only what was required and earned no special credit.
Historical context
A millstone was a heavy stone used for grinding grain. Slaves were expected to serve their masters after a day's labour, without thanks.
Why does it matter?
"Little ones" probably means vulnerable or new believers. The saying about faith concerns its kind rather than its quantity: even a tiny, genuine faith is powerful. The closing parable warns against treating reward from God as a debt owed.
Editorial notes, not scripture.