Parable of the servant's duty
In Luke 17:7-10 Jesus describes the Parable of the Servant's Duty. The parable describes the obligations of the faithful servant to his master and compares this relationship to a man's relationship with God.
The parable is only found in the Book of Luke.
7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. Luke 17:7-10 KJV.
Jesus teaches that the servant is obligated to perform the required tasks and not expect any special treatment or reward. Even if the servant performs all of the tasks, he is still an "unprofitable servant" that has only performed his required duties. Therefore, Jesus expects us to perform our duties as faithful servants in a humble manner and not expect any special treatment. Of course Jesus also promises that all faithful servants will eventually be rewarded with eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven. In this life on Earth, however, Jesus teaches his followers to be faithful servants. The faithful servants will be rewarded one day.
Before Jesus told the Parable, his disciples asked him to increase their faith. Jesus told them the Parable of the Mustard Seed and that by faith one can order a mulberry tree to pull itself up by its roots and plant itself in the sea and it would obey. Luke 17:5-6.
The parable is only found in the Book of Luke.
7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. Luke 17:7-10 KJV.
Jesus teaches that the servant is obligated to perform the required tasks and not expect any special treatment or reward. Even if the servant performs all of the tasks, he is still an "unprofitable servant" that has only performed his required duties. Therefore, Jesus expects us to perform our duties as faithful servants in a humble manner and not expect any special treatment. Of course Jesus also promises that all faithful servants will eventually be rewarded with eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven. In this life on Earth, however, Jesus teaches his followers to be faithful servants. The faithful servants will be rewarded one day.
Before Jesus told the Parable, his disciples asked him to increase their faith. Jesus told them the Parable of the Mustard Seed and that by faith one can order a mulberry tree to pull itself up by its roots and plant itself in the sea and it would obey. Luke 17:5-6.
