Luke 17 — Clausal Layout (English)

independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecomparativecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended

Flush-left = a main (independent) clause. Each dependent line begins directly beneath the word it attaches to in the line above — the anchor word is dotted-underlined, and lights up when you hover its dependent clause; each tag also names the attachment. A dashed border marks verbless, elliptical, or suspended lines. Where a long sentence's staircase runs wider than the page, the diagram scrolls sideways. (In print, or without JavaScript, lines fall back to stepped indent columns.)

Stumbling-blocks and forgiveness 17:1–4

vv. 1–2 — the woe on the one through whom stumbling comes

And he said to his disciples:independent — speech-frame — δέ turns loosely from ch. 16 to the disciples

'It is impossible that occasions of stumbling should not come,content — impersonal ἐστιν + articular infinitive as subject — ἀνένδεκτος, NT hapax; stumbling is inevitable

but woecontent — verbless woe — πλήν pivots from inevitability to responsibility

to the one through whom they come!relative — the agent named only by the relative — gnomic present ἔρχεται, the standing peril

It is better for himcontent — impersonal λυσιτελεῖ (NT hapax) — the grim comparison begins

if a millstone is hung around his neckconditional — backward εἰ (anchored) — the 'preferable' fate stated as the case compared

and he has been cast into the seaconditional — coordinate protasis — perfect ἔρριπται, the settled state of being thrown

than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.content — the rejected alternative after ἤ — epexegetic ἵνα; σκανδαλίσῃ picks up τὰ σκάνδαλα of v. 1

vv. 3–4 — rebuke, repentance, and sevenfold forgiveness

Watch yourselves!content — asyndetic jolt — the woe turned into self-vigilance

If your brother sins,conditional — forward-leaning protasis on ἐπιτίμησον

rebuke him;content — aorist imperative — decisive admonition before mercy

and if he repents,conditional — forward-leaning protasis on ἄφες

forgive him.content — ἀφίημι — the first of the chapter's fourfold 'forgive'

And if he sins against you seven times in the day,conditional — forward-leaning — the limit case; genitive of time τῆς ἡμέρας

and seven times turns back to you,conditional — coordinate protasis — ἐπιστρέφω, the turning of repentance

saying,participial — speech-participle of manner

'I repent,'content — the one-word confession — the declared change of mind

you shall forgive him.content — imperatival future ἀφήσεις — obligation, not prediction; mercy without ceiling

Mustard-seed faith and the unworthy servants 17:5–10

vv. 5–6 — increase our faith: the mustard seed and the mulberry

And the apostles said to the Lord:independent — οἱ ἀπόστολοι address τῷ κυρίῳ — Luke's reverent titles frame the request

'Increase our faith!'content — προστίθημι, 'add to' — the plea answers the demanding ethic of vv. 1–4

And the Lord said:independent — the reply-frame — ὁ κύριος again

'If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed,conditional — forward-leaning on ἐλέγετε — mixed condition: present protasis with ἄν-apodoses, implying the faith is lacking

you would say to this mulberry tree,content — imperfect + ἄν — συκάμινος, the deep-rooted black mulberry (NT hapax)

'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,'content — two aorist passive imperatives — the impossible command

and it would obey you.content — aorist + ἄν — the issue is the presence of faith, not its quantity

vv. 7–10 — the unworthy servants: duty earns no thanks

Now which of you,independent — the Τίς-ἐξ-ὑμῶν parable-question — expected answer: no one; suspended, its verb riding in the relative below

having a slave plowing or keeping sheep,participial — the supposed case — ownership and the slave's double field-work

who will say to him when he has come in from the field,relative — the relative carries the question's finite verb; εἰσελθόντι agrees with αὐτῷ

'Come at once and recline at table'?content — the unthinkable invitation — the master waiting on his returning slave

Will he not rather say to him:independent — ἀλλʼ οὐχί expects 'yes' — the master's actual word

'Prepare something for me to dine on,content — deliberative subjunctive inside the command — 'what I am to dine on'

and, girding yourself, serve mecontent — περιζώννυμι — robe tucked up for table-service; present διακόνει, ongoing waiting

while I eat and drink,conditional — backward ἕως-temporal (typed cnd; no temporal key)

and afterward you shall eat and drink'?content — emphatic final σύ — the slave's turn comes last; the order of priority is the parable's point

Does he thank the slaveindependent — μή expects 'no' — ἔχειν χάριν τινί, to owe gratitude

because he did what was commanded?cause — the ground of the (denied) thanks; the best text omits the following οὐ δοκῶ ('I think not')

So you also —phrase modifier — fronted application, forward-leaning on λέγετε — the parable turned on the disciples

when you have done all that was commanded you,conditional — forward ὅταν (typed cnd; no temporal key) — πάντα: even total obedience earns no claim

say:independent — present imperative + recitative ὅτι — the habitual confession commanded

'We are unworthy slaves;content — ἀχρεῖος — not useless but claimless: deserving no χάρις (v. 9)

we have done what we were obligated to do.'content — perfect πεποιήκαμεν against imperfect ὠφείλομεν — duty done, merit disclaimed

The ten lepers and the thankful Samaritan 17:11–19

vv. 11–14 — ten cleansed as they go

And it happened, as he was journeying to Jerusalem,independent — Lukan travel-notice — καὶ ἐγένετο + ἐν τῷ + infinitive, the Septuagintal formula

that he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee.content — Septuagintal καί introducing the content of ἐγένετο — the borderland stages a Samaritan's part

And as he was entering a certain village,participial — genitive absolute — forward-leaning on ἀπήντησαν

ten leprous men met him,independent — the encounter — ten, so that nine may go missing

who stood at a distance.relative — πόρρωθεν — the Levitical separation of the unclean (Lev 13:45–46)

And they lifted up their voice,independent — αἴρω φωνήν — the shout across the required distance

saying:participial — speech-participle of manner

'Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!'content — ἐπιστάτα — Luke's distinctive title of address; the bare plea for mercy

And seeing them,participial — preposed circumstantial — forward-leaning on εἶπεν

he said to them:independent — the answering word — no touch, no pronouncement of cure

'Go and show yourselves to the priests.'content — the Lev 14 certification commanded before any visible cure — obedience must precede

And it happened, as they were going,independent — the formula again — the healing placed en route

they were cleansed.content — asyndetic content of ἐγένετο — καθαρίζω, the cultic word for leprosy

vv. 15–19 — the Samaritan returns: your faith has saved you

But one of them, seeingparticipial — the fronted εἷς against the nine — subject rides with the preposed participle, forward-leaning on ὑπέστρεψεν

that he was healed,content — ἰάομαι, not καθαρίζω — the deeper word appears with the grateful one

turned back with a loud voice,independent — ὑποστρέφω — the decisive return; the loud voice now praise, not plea (v. 13)

glorifying God,participial — manner — the return is itself doxology

and he fell on his face at his feet,independent — prostration at Jesus' feet — glory to God enacted before Jesus

giving him thanks.participial — εὐχαριστέω — the thanksgiving the other nine never render

And he was a Samaritan.independent — the sting held to the end — the returning worshiper is the despised outsider

And Jesus, answering,participial — pleonastic Semitic participle — forward-leaning on εἶπεν

said:independent — the double question follows

'Were not the ten cleansed?content — οὐχί expects 'yes' — all ten received the cleansing

But the nine — where?content — verbless — the missing majority thrown into relief

Was no one found returning to give glory to God except this foreigner?content — ἀλλογενής — the very word of the temple's Gentile-exclusion inscription; asyndeton sharpens the rebuke

And he said to him:independent — the personal word to the one

'Rise and go;content — imperatival participle + present imperative — the dismissal in peace

your faith has saved you.'content — perfect σέσωκεν — beyond the cleansing the nine received: σῴζω, wholeness/salvation, granted to the Samaritan's faith

The kingdom of God among you 17:20–21

And being asked by the Phariseesparticipial — preposed passive participle — forward-leaning on ἀπεκρίθη

when the kingdom of God comes,content — indirect question — the Pharisees' 'when'

he answered them and said:independent — double speech-frame — the answer redirects the question from 'when' to 'how'

'The kingdom of God is not coming with observation,content — παρατήρησις (NT hapax) — the sign-tracking watch denied

nor will they say,content — the impossibility of pointing it out

'Look, here!' or 'There!'content — verbless pointings — the kingdom cannot be localized

for behold, the kingdom of God is within / among you.'cause — γάρ grounds the whole denial — the chapter's chief crux: ἐντὸς ὑμῶν, 'within you' or (more probably, addressed to Pharisees) 'among / in the midst of you' — already present in Jesus, not a spectacle to chart

The days of the Son of Man 17:22–37

vv. 22–25 — the longing, the false pointings, the lightning — but the passion first

And he said to the disciples:independent — the discourse frame — the turn from Pharisees to disciples; everything to v. 35 hangs on this Εἶπεν

'Days will comecontent — the discourse opens on the plural 'days' — delay foreseen

when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.conditional — backward ὅτε on ἡμέραι (typed cnd; no temporal key) — the flat καί: longing unmet in the delay

And they will say to you,content — the coming false reports

'Look, there!' 'Look, here!'content — verbless pointings — v. 21 echoed; witnesses vary the ἐκεῖ/ὧδε order

Do not go off, do not chase after them.content — two prohibitive aorist subjunctives — the coming will need no guide

For as the lightning, flashing from one part under heaven, shines to the other part under heaven,comparative — forward-leaning ὥσπερ-half on οὕτως ἔσται — γάρ grounds v. 23: instantaneous and sky-wide, unmistakable

so will the Son of Man be in his day.content — the apodosis — ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ αὐτοῦ bracketed/omitted in some editions

But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.content — the divine δεῖ — the cross before the lightning-day; the eschatology anchored in the passion

vv. 26–30 — as in the days of Noah and of Lot

And just as it was in the days of Noah,comparative — forward-leaning καθώς-half on οὕτως ἔσται — the first typology

so will it be also in the days of the Son of Man:content — the apodosis — Noah's days made the pattern of the Son of Man's

They were eating, drinking, marrying, being given in marriage,content — four asyndetic imperfects — life as usual in Noah's days, expanding v. 26

until the day Noah entered the ark,conditional — backward ἄχρι-ἧς-ἡμέρας temporal (typed cnd) — the routine's abrupt terminus

and the flood camecontent — aorist cuts across the imperfects — the sudden onset

and destroyed them all.content — total judgment — the refrain v. 29 will repeat verbatim

Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot —comparative — second forward-leaning καθώς-half, reaching over vv. 28b–29 to its apodosis κατὰ τὰ αὐτὰ ἔσται (v. 30)

they were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building —content — six asyndetic imperfects expanding Lot's days — commerce and construction added to the Noah list

but on the day Lot went out from Sodom,conditional — fronted ᾗ-ἡμέρᾳ temporal (typed cnd) — forward-leaning on ἔβρεξεν; δέ pivots from routine to ruin

it rained fire and sulfur from heavencontent — Gen 19:24 — still inside the Lot-days picture

and destroyed them all.content — the flood's verdict verbatim (v. 27) — two typologies, one ending

According to the same it will becontent — the delayed apodosis of v. 28 — the double typology lands

on the day the Son of Man is revealed.conditional — backward ᾗ-ἡμέρᾳ (typed cnd) — futuristic present ἀποκαλύπτεται: the unveiling stated as fact

vv. 31–33 — that day: no turning back — remember Lot's wife

On that day, the one who is on the housetop with his goods in the house —relative — fronted relative (casus pendens), forward-leaning on μὴ καταβάτω — the possessions named before the prohibition

let him not come downcontent — third-person aorist imperative — instant detachment demanded

to take them away;purpose — infinitive of purpose — the forbidden errand for the σκεύη

and likewise let the one in the field not turn back to what is behind.content — εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω — Gen 19:17 ('do not look behind you') echoed; flight without regard to property

Remember Lot's wife.content — the tersest verse — Gen 19:26: the backward look embodied and monumentalized in salt

Whoever seeks to preserve his liferelative — indefinite relative as protasis — forward-leaning on ἀπολέσει; editions divide over ζητήσῃ περιποιήσασθαι

will lose it,content — the grasping forfeits — the paradox grounding v. 32

but whoever loses itrelative — the matching indefinite relative — forward-leaning on ζῳογονήσει

will keep it alive.content — ζῳογονέω, 'preserve alive' — the letting-go preserves; some editions read σῷσαι in the first half

vv. 34–35, 37 — one taken, one left (v. 36 omitted); the vultures

I tell you,content — solemn formula inside the discourse — the separation sayings follow

on that night there will be two in one bed;content — the night scene — judgment cuts through the closest companionship

the one will be takencontent — παραλαμβάνω — taken, whether to rescue or to judgment left unsaid

and the other will be left.content — ἀφίημι — the dividing line invisible until it falls

There will be two women grinding together;content — the day scene beside the night scene — the same division through daily labor

the one will be takencontent — the pair repeated feminine

but the other will be left.content — after this line the critical text OMITS v. 36 ('two will be in the field; one taken, one left') — a harmonizing interpolation from Matt 24:40, absent from P75 ℵ B A L W; the numbering jumps 35 → 37

And answering they say to him,independent — historic present — the narrative frame returns (the intervening v. 36 is omitted by the critical text)

'Where, Lord?'content — verbless — the disciples still ask for a location

And he said to them:independent — the closing aphorism's frame

'Where the body is,relative — verbless ὅπου-clause — forward-leaning on ἐπισυναχθήσονται

there also the vultures will be gathered.'content — ἀετοί — eagles or carrion-vultures: no map given; judgment converges on its object as surely as the birds on a corpse

Analysis. Luke 17 alternates narrative frames with hanging speech, and the layout shows the alternation plainly: purple frames flush left (Εἶπεν δέ, καὶ εἶπαν, ἀπεκρίθη, and the Lukan καὶ ἐγένετο travel-formula twice in the leper story), with everything spoken hanging blue beneath its verb of saying. Four smaller exchanges — the stumbling-block woe and the sevenfold forgiveness with its forward-leaning ἐάν-protases; the mustard-seed conditional whose mixed εἰ/ἄν grammar concedes the faith is lacking; the Τίς-ἐξ-ὑμῶν parable-question suspended over its own relative clause; the ten-lepers narrative where genitive absolutes and preposed participles lean forward on their aorists — lead through the kingdom-exchange to the discourse of vv. 22–37, which hangs entire on the one Εἶπεν of v. 22: a constant-depth catena against which the discourse's own grammar indents. The ὥσπερ/καθώς comparison-halves lean forward anchor-less on their οὕτως/κατὰ-τὰ-αὐτά apodoses (lightning, Noah, Lot — Lot's καθώς reaching over the six piled imperfects and the fire from heaven to land at v. 30), the fronted temporals and indefinite relatives (ᾗ δὲ ἡμέρᾳ, ὃς ἐὰν ζητήσῃ, the casus-pendens housetop clause of v. 31) lean the same way, and the twin taken/left pairs sit as a matched catena under λέγω ὑμῖν. Cruxes taken openly: ἐντὸς ὑμῶν (v. 21) is glossed 'within / among,' the tag preferring 'among / in the midst of' before Pharisees; ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ αὐτοῦ (v. 24) is noted as bracketed or omitted in some editions; v. 9's οὐ δοκῶ and v. 33's rival verbs are flagged where they fall; and v. 36 ('two in the field; one taken, one left') is OMITTED with the critical text as a harmonizing interpolation from Matt 24:40 — the verse numbering runs 35 → 37, and the tags on either side of the gap say so.