Luke 17:8

Because faith makes its possessor a keeper of God's commandments, and adorns him with wonderful works; it would seem from thence that a man might thereby fall into the sin of pride. Our Lord therefore forewarned His Apostles by a fit example, not to boast themselves in their virtues, saying, But which of you having a servant plowing, &c.

By this parable it is declared that one must not boast of any attainment, not even of the fulfillment of all the commandments. For upon a servant lies the necessary obligation to carry out the orders of his master, yet the fulfillment of them should …

Whence he adds: And will he not say: Make ready what I may sup on, and gird yourself, and serve me until I eat and drink, namely through the groaning of interior compunction, in which each one prepares the banquet: Sirach 18: "Before prayer prepare …

And will not rather say to him,....

It is fit that Christ should be served before us: Make ready wherewith I may sup, and afterwards thou shalt eat and drink. Doubting Christians say that they cannot give to Christ the glory of his love as they should, because they have not yet obtained the comfort of it; but this is wrong.

We do not know the secret feelings from which this request sprang. Perhaps the hearts of the apostles failed within them, as they heard one weighty lesson after another fall from our Lord's lips. Perhaps the thought rose up in their minds, "Who is sufficient for these things? Who can receive such exalted doctrines? Who can follow such a lofty standard of practice?" These, however, are only conjectures. One thing, at any rate, is clear and plain. The request which they made was most deeply important, "Increase our faith!" Faith is the root of all saving religion .

THESE words are not addressed to the general congregation. You notice that the chapter begins, "Then said He unto the disciples." Even they felt as if Christ's words were too heavy for them and so, when you get to the fifth verse, you read, "And the Apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith," as if only the very strongest of them were able to receive His teaching just then—He was describing such difficult duties and prescribing so peculiar a path.

say unto him by and by--The "by and by" (or rather "directly") should be joined not to the saying but the going: "Go directly." The connection here is: "But when your faith has been so increased as both to avoid and forgive offenses, and do things impossible to all but faith, be not puffed up as though you had laid the Lord under any obligations to you."

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

We do not know the secret feelings from which this request sprang. Perhaps the hearts of the apostles failed within them, as they heard one weighty lesson after another fall from our Lord's lips. Perhaps the thought rose up in their minds, "Who is sufficient for these things? Who can receive such exalted doctrines? Who can follow such a lofty standard of practice?" These, however, are only conjectures. One thing, at any rate, is clear and plain. The request which they made was most deeply important, "Increase our faith!" Faith is the root of all saving religion . "He who comes unto God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6.) Faith is the hand by which the soul lays hold on Jesus Christ, and is united to Him, and saved. Faith is the secret of all Christian comfort, and spiritual prosperity. According to a man's faith — will be his peace, his hope, his strength, his courage, his decision, and his victory over the world. When the apostles made request about faith, they did wisely and well. Faith is a grace which admits of degrees . It does not come to full strength and perfection as soon as it is planted in the heart by the Holy Spirit. There is "little" faith — and "great" faith. There is "weak" faith — and "strong" faith. Both are spoken of in the Scriptures. Both are to be seen in the experience of God's people. The more faith a Christian has — the more happy, holy, and useful will he be. To promote the growth and progress of faith — should be the daily prayer and endeavor of all who love the Savior. When the apostles said, "increase our faith" — they did well. Have we any faith at all? This, after all, is the first question which the subject should raise in our hearts.

THESE words are not addressed to the general congregation. You notice that the chapter begins, "Then said He unto the disciples." Even they felt as if Christ's words were too heavy for them and so, when you get to the fifth verse, you read, "And the Apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith," as if only the very strongest of them were able to receive His teaching just then—He was describing such difficult duties and prescribing so peculiar a path. Mark you, He was not laying down the way of salvation, but pointing out a path of service for those who were already saved. We must be saved, first, and must serve afterwards. To hope to serve Christ so as to win salvation is a fallacy, a delusion of our proud hearts. But to be saved by His Grace as a matter of pure favor and then, afterwards, to serve Him, having gratitude for our great motive, is the right order and a very different thing from self-righteousness. It is to disciples, then, that the words about which I speak, tonight, are addressed. We must not start back at the sight of the service which is required of us. It is our highest honor that we are allowed to be the servants of our Savior and, being servants, unless we are so only nominally, and not really, we must not be offended at anything that is demanded of us. We must try to fill up the word, "servant," and show the world what a servant can be! It is the duty of every Christian to turn each common silver word into a golden one. Whatever "husband," or "father," or "son," may mean in reference to ordinary society, it must mean something more when it gets into the Church of God! We must fulfill it, we must fill it full! We must make something more of it than it used to be.

I may sup - Make ready my supper. Gird thyself - See the notes at Luk 12:37.