Parable of the Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
“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.’”
Observations & Reflections
This parable by Jesus is more of an illustration than a parable. It is difficult to see how the parable connects with the surrounding passages as it appears to be off-topic. However, it’s only recorded in Luke and it’s possible that Luke had no other indication from Mark on where it was supposed to go so he made the best choice for location that he knew how. Either way, it appears that this saying of Jesus was preserved somewhere in either Q or proto-Luke and it’s a gem.
The parable serves as a reminder that the servant is never greater as the master, a lesson that they will soon be reminded of once they enter Jerusalem and Jesus is apprehended. In our own lives we must remind ourselves the value of humility. In God’s kingdom the first will be last and the meek will inherit the earth.
[Featured image from biblia.com]