Matthew Henry Commentary Luke 17:1-10

"And he said unto his disciples, It is impossible but that occasions of stumbling should come; but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were well for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble. Take heed to yourselves: if thy brother sin, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he sin against thee seven times in the day, and seven times turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye would say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou rooted up, and be thou planted in the sea; and it would obey you. But who is there of you, having a servant plowing or keeping sheep, that will say unto him, when he is come in from the field, Come straightway and sit down to meat; and will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank the servant because he did the things that were commanded? Even so ye also, when ye shall have done all the things that are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which it was our duty to do." — Luke 17:1-10 (ASV)

It is no reduction of the guilt of those by whom an offense comes, nor will the fact that offenses will come lessen their punishment.

Faith in God's pardoning mercy will enable us to overcome the greatest difficulties in forgiving our brothers. Just as with God nothing is impossible, so all things are possible to the one who can believe.

Our Lord showed His disciples their need for deep humility.

The Lord has such a right of ownership over every creature as no human can have over another; He cannot be indebted to them for their services, nor do they deserve any reward from Him.