Luke 17

The Lord who increases faith

And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. Luke 17:5–6

Luke calls Jesus 'the Lord,' and the apostles ask Him for more faith. Even a tiny seed of faith in Him has great power.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

Jesus, Master

Jesus — 'Jehovah saves'

And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Luke 17:11–19

Ten lepers cry to Jesus for mercy and are cleansed on their way to the priests. The one who returns glorifies God by falling at Jesus' feet, and Jesus tells him his faith has made him whole.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Leviticus 14:2-4 — 'Go shew yourselves unto the priests' sends them to the law of the leper's cleansing, a rite that pointed to Christ.

The kingdom already among you

And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Luke 17:20–21

The Pharisees look for a future sign, but the King is already standing among them. The Joseph Smith Translation reads that the kingdom of God 'has already come unto you,' pointing to Jesus' own presence.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

Son of Man

Son of Man — the Son of Man of Holiness, the Father (Moses 6:57)

And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. Luke 17:22–24

Jesus uses His favorite title for Himself and says His coming will be as plain and sudden as lightning across the sky, so disciples should not chase rumors of Him here or there.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• interpreted by Moses 6:57 — Man of Holiness is the Father's name, and the name of His Only Begotten is the Son of Man.
• a parallel account in Matthew 24:26-27 — Go not forth; as the lightning, so shall the coming of the Son of man be.
• a parallel account in JS—Matthew 1:25-26 — The Prophet's inspired rendering of the lightning saying.

He must first suffer and be rejected

But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. Luke 17:25

Before the glory of His coming, Jesus must suffer and be rejected by His own generation. He foretells His Passion.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Isaiah 53:3 — He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows.
• fulfilled by Luke 23:18-21 — The crowd cries 'Away with this man' and 'Crucify him.'

The day the Son of man is revealed

And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. Luke 17:26–30

Jesus prophesies that His Second Coming will surprise a world busy with ordinary life, as the Flood came after Noah entered the ark and fire fell after Lot left Sodom. Those who are ready are delivered, as Noah and Lot were.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• a parallel account in Matthew 24:37-39 — As the days of Noe were, so shall the coming of the Son of man be.
• a parallel account in JS—Matthew 1:41-43 — As it was in the days of Noah, so it shall be at the coming of the Son of Man.
• alludes to Genesis 7:7 — Noah went into the ark because of the waters of the flood.

In that day: one taken, one left

In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Luke 17:31–37

On the day of His coming there will be no time to go back for belongings; people side by side will be separated. The disciples ask their Lord where, and He answers with the proverb of the eagles gathering.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• a parallel account in Matthew 24:40-41 — One shall be taken, and the other left.
• interpreted by JS—Matthew 1:27 — The eagles gathered to the carcass are explained as His elect gathered from the four quarters of the earth.