Gospel-Luke 17:5-10

The gospel for this coming Sunday consists of two uneven parts: one on faith, the other on humility rooted in faith. The
first part (vv. 5-6) is better understood in connection with Jesus’ demands that his disciples be prepared to forgive any
offense every time an offender manifests his/her sorrow (for further elaboration, see Luke 17: 3-4). The second part (vv.
7-10) stresses the need to be humble and not to claim credit from God for the good we do working in service. We
should not think, that, when we do our duties as Christians, we are doing favor to God and, therefore, He is indebted to
us. After having fulfilled our duties to the full, our faith tells us that we have just done what was expected of us.

Textual Context of the Gospel this coming Sunday

Luke 17, 5-10 is under the whole context of Luke 17, 1-10 entitled Some saying of Jesus. Luke 17, 1-10 is located
between the last Sundays Gospel Luke 16, 19-31 entitled The Rich Man and Lazarus and Luke 17, 11-19 Jesus cleanses
the Ten Lepers

The Structure of the Gospel

*5-6-tells about Jesus’ response to the disciples’ request to have their faith increased
*7-9-gives example of relationship between servant and master
*10-is all about the Exhortation to be humble

Verses 5-6
What disciples on the way need more than anything else is a deepening faith in the God of Jesus Christ, who can and will
rescue them from opposition and other destructive forces. In v. 5. And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our
faith." The apostles were confessing that their faith was not great enough. Apparently they realized that their faith was
too weak to ever live according to what Jesus was talking about. Going back in vv. 1 to 4, Jesus gave to those who would
live in His kingdom commands like not causing others to stumble and always being willing to forgive. With such
instructions, the apostles felt that they desperately needed greater faith. So they asked Jesus to help them develop their
faith.
 
Verse 6
The Mustard Seed and the Mulberry tree
Mulberry tree: A relatively large tree with an extensive root system. It would be difficult not only to uproot this tree but
also to grow it in deep water. Jesus used the mulberry tree in order to come up with a good explanation about the
mustard seed. Jesus employs a short parable, or imagery, to portray what faith can do no matter how small it can be.
The size of a mustard seed is very small, while the mulberry tree is very big. In a deeper sense, it tells that genuine faith
can bring about quite unexpected things. On this imagery, it stresses that when you have faith even if it is small, you can
do the impossible.
Notice how He shifts the focus. He moves from the request to have more faith to a matter of possessing and having
faith. For Jesus, it is a question of genuineness, not so much of quantity. If there is real faith, then effects follow. Faith is
not assessed in terms of size. It is assessed in terms of its quality.

Verses 7-9
Servant: This is the other side of the coin of Luke 12:35-37, which underscored God’s unmerited graciousness to
disciples. Stressed here is responsible ministry on the part of church officials who till the field of the church and
shepherd its flock.

Verse 10
Unworthy: The point is not that disciples are not worth anything in themselves or in their work for the Lord. The fact
that disciples have done their duty does not empower them to lay a claim upon God that they are worthy of God’s
graciousness. That graciousness is and remains sheer gift.