Servants don’t eat with the master:
“When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, does his master say, ‘Come in and eat with me’? No, he says, ‘Prepare my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you can eat later.’
Luke 17:7-9
Servants aren’t thanked for serving:
And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. In the same way, when you obey Me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.'”
Luke 17:9-10
What does it mean? Jesus begins this segment with a question that expects the answer, “No”. When the servant comes in from work in the afternoon, does the master invite him to eat with him? No, of course not. Literally, the sentence begins, “Who of you will say to your servant come eat with me?” This construction has sent the commentators and Bible critics into a frenzy over what is being meant here.
Is this really addressed to the disciples at all? Does it follow on from the verses before or should it be separated? The disciples were poor fisherman and now poorer disciples, on the road moving from place to place. They were not likely to have servants. So how can this be directed at them? What seems to be in focus here, is a small landowner who has one servant who works in the fields in the day and then comes into the house and acts as the house servant preparing the meal and taking care of the household tasks. All of this has sparked huge debate as to how this all fits.
I don’t see it as being a problem. Surely we can see that Jesus is using a well known common local experience of a man who has a bondservant who takes care of both responsibilities. He is using the illustration for them to put themselves in this role and imagine what they would do. We are not to take it that the disciples literally had servants. Rather He is saying, “Put yourself in this situation . . . who among you would . . . ?” It would be unimaginable that a master would treat servants like one of the family. The servant would not be invited to eat with the master. It would be unheard of.
On the contrary he would say, “Hitch up your robes (roll up your sleeves) and get my dinner ready and serve me till I have eaten and drunk my fill. You can eat later.” And wash the dishes too. You can eat after the work is all done! This last element is placed in the emphatic position in the discussion. End of story. This is what the servant is hired for. He has already got his reward for doing this. His wages! He is after-all a bondservant. Does he eat with the master? No! Is he thanked? No! Literally, is there any grace to him because he did what he was commanded? No, of course not.
So you too! You disciples too, (both the twelve at the time and us now) don’t get thinking the Lord owes us anything. We are unworthy servants. Don’t let any grand thoughts take over. You are a bondservant of Christ. Nothing more. You are only doing what is expected of you; your duty.
What is the context? As with the other segments, there are those who don’t see any connection between the segments whatsoever. There are four or five distinctly separate, individual sayings. However, others see this as connected to the faith verses before this, and this is sequential to that. Once again, take each of these sayings and investigate the connection between them to see if you can determine a flow or a sequence to these sayings.
Next Gem we will attempt to put it together.
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Great leadership is not about making the decision on your own, but owning the decision after it is made.
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