What is the meaning of Luke chapter 17 verse 3?

Answer 1

17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.

When the wheat was in the storehouse, one way to separate the wheat kernel from the chaff was to fan the wheat. Like they do out of doors when they toss the wheat into the air and let the wind blow away the chaff. The verse means that the Lord will separate the good people from the bad and they (the bad) will feel the heat of His judgment upon them.

Answer 2

Read the full section in context and if it's in the gospels try to find a parallel account:-

Luk 17:1-4 NET Sin, Forgiveness

Jesus said to his disciples, "Stumbling blocks are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! [v. 2] It would be better for him to have a millstone tied around his neck and be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. [v. 3] Watch yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him.[v. 4] Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to you saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him."

A parallel account is found in Matthew:-

Mat 18:15-22 NET Restoring Christian Relationships

"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have regained your brother. [v. 16] But if he does notlisten, take one or two others with you, so that at the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be established. [v. 17] If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. If he refuses to listen to the church, treat him like a Gentile or a tax collector. [v. 18] "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven. [v. 19] Again, I tell you the truth, if two of you on earth agree about whatever you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. [v. 20] For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them." [v. 21] Then Peter came to him and said, "Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother who sins against me? As many as seven times?" [v. 22] Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, I tell you, but seventy-seven times!

This is all about believers confronting sinful behaviour by another believer, the steps to go through, and the disciplining to follow if they do not repent. If a believer (sincerely) repents, fellow-believers are to forgive him no matter how many times it occurs, BUT it does not mean to tolerate that sin, to condone sin, and is not a licence to sin regardless.

Answer 3

In Luke 17:3, Jesus instructs his disciples to rebuke a brother who sins against them, and if the brother repents, they should forgive them. This verse emphasizes the importance of addressing conflicts within the community of believers and the value of forgiveness in maintaining relationships.