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Time after Pentecost · Year C

Proper 22

October 8, 2028

The Mulberry Tree, Vincent van Gogh
The Mulberry Tree, Vincent van Gogh, 1889Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena
Painted at Saint-Rémy in a single sitting: one tree in full autumn yellow against blue rock, the brushwork as violent as the colour.If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, Be uprooted and planted in the sea, and it would obey you.Vincent van GoghVan Gogh (1853-1890) trained first for the ministry and preached in a Belgian mining district before taking up painting, which he did seriously for only the last decade of his life.Norton Simon Museum, PasadenaAn industrialist's collection in Pasadena, assembled in two decades of aggressive buying and left as a museum.Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelLuke 17:1-10Lk 17:1-10
Epistle2 Tim. 1:1-142 Tm 1:1-14
Old TestamentHab. 1:1-4; 2:1-4Hb 1:1-4; 2:1-4
PsalterPs. 62Ps 62

Overview & Insights

"So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, should say, 'We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'" (Luke 17:10)

The apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith, and he answers first with a saying that even mustard-seed faith could uproot a mulberry tree, then with a parable about a servant who does his assigned work without expecting special thanks. Together the sayings reframe faith away from a quantity to be measured and toward simple, undramatic obedience.

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Take it further: Luke 17:1-10

Commentary

Luke 17 Commentary: Duty, Thankfulness and the KingdomLk 17 Commentary: Duty, Thankfulness and the Kingdom Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse-by-verse treatment of the whole chapter, including this reading's two scenes.

Luke 17:1 CommentariesLk 17:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Collects several classic commentaries on the warning against causing sin.

Luke CommentariesLk Commentaries Precept Austin

Indexes detailed verse-by-verse notes and word studies across the Gospel.

Luke 17 (Barnes' Notes)Lk 17 (Barnes' Notes) StudyLight

Albert Barnes on forgiveness, mustard-seed faith, and the unworthy servant.

Luke 17:5-10 CommentaryLk 17:5-10 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

A preaching-focused reading of what Jesus actually means by mustard-seed faith.

Commentary on Luke 17:5-10Commentary on Lk 17:5-10 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary's exegesis of the disciples' request and the servant parable.

Getting to Work, Proper 22 (C) Sermons That Work · Episcopal Church

A full sermon on the unworthy-servant parable and Christian duty.

Background & Word Study

Luke 17:1 InterlinearLk 17:1 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek interlinear text for the opening warning against causing sin.

Book of Luke OverviewBook of Lk Overview BibleProject

Video and guide to Luke's literary design and major themes.

The Church Fathers

Catena on Luke 17Catena on Lk 17 Catena

Patristic and medieval comments compiled verse by verse on this chapter.

Sermons & Reflections

Our 'Punctiform' God Journey with Jesus

An essay on faith's mustard-seed smallness meeting God's nearness.

Podcast

SB503: Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (Ord. 27) Working Preacher

A roundtable discussion of all three readings for this Sunday.

Art & Music

Year C, Proper 22 Art Vanderbilt

Public-domain artwork illuminating this Sunday's readings.

Study Hub

Proper C22 Resource Index Textweek

A broad index of further commentary, sermons, and art for this Sunday.

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