November 27, The Parable of the Unprofitable Servants, Luke 17:7-10

November 27, The Parable of the Unprofitable Servants, Luke 17:7-10

Wow! I fear I often avoided a few of these parables: the Parable of the Unjust Steward in Luke 16 and this one. They always seemed so unlike Jesus. Better put, they don’t seem to fit the kind of Jesus I knew. I believe the context of this parable is the teachings on wealth and gaining rewards in the next life by use of our wealth from Luke 16. Notice, the healing of the ten lepers follows this parable. Of the ten lepers healed, only one, a Samaritan, returned to give thanks. The two ideas are rewards versus giving thanks.

I believe this parable addresses the idea of reward for faithful service. Servants, or slaves, are intended to do as they are told. Obedience is not something special but the minimum requirement. If a servant or slave is obedient, they will not be punished. The parable describes in great detail the exhausting task of a slave. After doing chores in the field the slave must change and serve his master before eating himself.

The explanation is given in verse 10, “So you too, when you do all things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slave; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’” The self-righteous Pharisees and Jewish leaders were not very grateful. At times, I think parents, employees, even pastors and missionaries, and especially working mothers, feel like they have done more than their share. We might be tempted to look to the Lord and ask if we are doing above what is required.

Jesus came, gave up His heavenly throne, served fallen humanity, and gave His life for our shortcomings. The scripture says that Jesus learned obedience through the things He suffered. I believe God is a loving God and salvation is free to us, but in the mystery of God, we are still unworthy slaves. We should be grateful we have breath enough to serve God and others.

⁷ “Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? ⁸ Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? ⁹ Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? ¹⁰ So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”—Luke 17:7-10