King James Version
What Does Luke 17:1 Mean?
“Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!”
Context
1
Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!
2
It 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.
3
Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
Commentary
Ellicott’s Commentary for English ReadersXVII.
(1) **It is impossible but that offences will come.**—In this instance, the absence of any apparent connection might, perhaps, justify us in looking on the two precepts as having been noted by St. Luke for their own intrinsic value, without regard to the context in which they had been spoken. (See Notes on Matthew 18:7.) Even here, however, we must remember that there may have been what we have called “dropped links.” It is not hard to see that the self-indulgent life, after the pattern of that of the rich man in the preceding parable, was an “offence” which, in one sense, must needs come, in the history of the Christian Church, as it had come in the Jewish, and yet would bring a woe on the man through whom it came.
Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.
Historical Context
This verse is found in the book of Luke. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Theological Significance
Luke 17:1 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Cross-References
Verses related to Luke 17:1
Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge