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Author: Stephen Weller
629 words, 3 minutes read time

Are We Unworthy Servants?

Scripture: Luke 17:7-10

With the previous lesson we completed the section covering the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. With this lesson we will cover a short section about unworthy servants.

^{Lk 17:7} “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’?”

The question that is being asked has an expected answer of “No.” Even though the servant has been busy in the field, his work for the day is not done. There is still work inside that needs to be done.

^{Lk 17:8} “Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’?”

A second question is asked with an expected answer of “Yes.” These kinds of questions are asked to cause the listeners of Jesus to connect and agree to what he was teaching. The people in the crowd know what is expected of servants and would know the correct answers.

^{Lk 17:9} “Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded?”

We come to the third and final question Jesus is using to build his case. This question, like the others, relates to what is expected and therefore saying thanks would not be an expected answer. Jesus is not intending anyone to be inconsiderate or rude but is simply giving an example to illustrate the point of verse 10 that we are all unworthy servants, doing only what is required of us, if we even do that.

^{Lk 17:10} “So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”

Consider two examples: In Luke 18:13 ESV, we have “the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’” He understands that he is an unworthy servant. In Luke 18:11 – 12 ESV, we have ¹¹ “The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’’ The Pharisee does not see himself as an unworthy servant and thus remains in his sin.

As Christians, we should acknowledge that God owes us nothing (like the thanks spoken of in verse 9), but instead we owe him everything, even our lives for all that he has done for us. This is illustrated in 1 Corinthians 4:7 with the questions, “What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?”

Conclusion

What kind of servants are we? “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10 ESV). How faithful are we in doing those assigned works? ¹⁹ “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19 – 20 ESV). How well are we doing in faithfully carrying out that command? Maybe we need to see ourselves as unfaithful servants and like the tax collector, beat our breasts and say, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”