Luke 17:9 - Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded? I think not.

Generated Verse: Luke 17:9

What does "Luke 17:9" mean?


This verse, Luke 17:9, is part of a larger parable Jesus tells in Luke 17:7-10 about a servant who works all day in the field and then prepares dinner for his master. The whole parable is meant to illustrate the proper attitude of a follower of Christ.

Here's a breakdown of the verse and what it means:

"Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded?" This is a rhetorical question. Jesus is asking if the master of the house would thank the servant just for doing what he was already supposed to do.
"I think not." This is the answer to the rhetorical question, confirming that the master would not thank the servant merely for fulfilling his basic duties.

The overall meaning of the verse and the parable is:

Duty is expected, not praiseworthy: Jesus is emphasizing that when we serve God, we are simply fulfilling our duty. We shouldn't expect special recognition or reward just for doing what is asked of us. We are already deeply indebted to God for everything we have and the grace we have been given.
Humility in service: The parable encourages a humble attitude of service. We should serve not for praise or recognition, but out of love and obedience to God.
"Unworthy servants": The parable concludes in verse 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.'" This is the key takeaway. We are always indebted to God and our service is never something to boast about. We are always simply fulfilling our duty, and we are always unworthy.
Focus on relationship with God: The focus is not on earning favor but on our relationship with God. Service is an expression of that relationship, not a means of earning something from Him.

In short, the verse highlights the idea that serving God is our duty, and we shouldn't expect special praise or reward for simply doing what is asked of us. It promotes humility in service and emphasizes that we are always indebted to God. It's not about earning God's favor, but about responding to His love and grace with obedience and humility.

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