THE PARABLES | Good-for-nothing slaves (Luke 17:7-10)
THE PARABLES | Good-for-nothing slaves (Luke 17:7-10)
Well, it is the same with you; when you have done all you are bidden, say,
'We are but servants; we have only done our duty.'
Luke 17:10, Moffatt New Testament
'We are but servants; we have only done our duty.'
Luke 17:10, Moffatt New Testament
Context: Slaves who worked in the fields of their master also frequently served his evening meal before they would eat theirs. Often, they would vie for the honour of waiting on him.
Meaning: Jesus lived in a Jewish religious climate of slaving to obey the Law – a balance sheet morality - to earn salvation. He often presented to such listeners the full force of the Law’s requirements to show that no one, but only Christ himself, could fulfill them (Matt 5:17,28,48; 19:16-20; 22:36-40). Now though, we are no longer viewed as slaves but sons (Acts 17:25; John 1:12; 15:15). In the immediate context Jesus addressed a request from his apostles: “increase our faith!” (Luke 17:5). Jesus basically replied: “You don’t need more faith. You just need to put your faith to work.” In other words, you have a servant called “faith”. Faith is a gift from God, but faith that does nothing is an unprofitable servant. Like a servant, faith needs to be put to work.
Application: How do you see yourself? As a valued son or a worthless servant? Our gift of faith is not like a ‘couch potato’ but grows stronger and more efficient through use. In the Talents Parable the unprofitable servant is the one who buried the talent of God’s grace entrusted to him, because, in his eyes, he had an exacting master. When we consider all that God has done, his awesome goodness, faith gets off the couch and begins to work empowered by His grace and Spirit (1 Cor 15:10).
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How do you see yourself? As a beloved child of God or a mere minion?
How do you see yourself? As a beloved child of God or a mere minion?