The Parable of the Unworthy Servant

Mike Johnson

The Parable of the Unworthy Servant is found in Luke 17:7-10.

And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’

This story itself is straightforward.  The servant could not come in from the field and immediately sit down and eat.  He did not complete his duties by merely doing the day’s plowing and cattle feeding.  After the servant came in from the field, he had to prepare something for his master and then serve the master until he finished eating and drinking.  The servant could not eat and drink until he had done this.

Persistence

The servant in the parable could not be pleasing to his master until he finished his work.  An important lesson for us from this parable is that Christians must persist in a life of faithfulness to God.  They must continue to serve Him and must not falter.  Unfortunately, many today receive the Word but only endure for a time.  When faced with tribulation or persecution, unfaithfulness to God occurs.

We must be like those described in Luke 8:15 in The “Parable of the Sower” who heard the Word, kept it, and brought forth fruit with patience.  In I Corinthians 15:58, Paul said, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

Humility

In verse nine, Jesus asked if the master needed to thank the servant for doing his duty. Jesus said, “I think not.” The main point of the parable seems to be in verse ten, which says,  “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants.  We have done what was our duty to do.’” The attitude expressed in verse 10 would be the opposite of pride and self-righteousness.  A person might obey God and then stand up and say, “Look what I have done!” This attitude would be improper.

Some might feel as if God owes them salvation, being like the Pharisee — a prideful person, who prayed (Lk. 18:11-12), “. . . God, I thank You that I am not like other men — extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.” This Pharisee had an attitude of pride.  Today, when we obey all God has commanded, we are still unprofitable (unworthy) servants and have just done our duty.  After obeying God, we must not become puffed up, but we are to be “clothed with humility” (I Pet. 5:5).