PARABLE 22 - Master and Servant

PARABLE 22 — LUKE 17:7-10 — MASTER AND SERVANT 

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.

Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the cattle. Will you say to the servant when he comes in from the field, “Come sit down and eat?” Do you not rather say to him, “Prepare my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you can eat and drink?” Do you thank that servant for doing the things you told him to do? I think not. 

So it is, that you also, when you have done everything you have been commanded to do, should say, “We are unworthy servants, we have done that which was our duty to do.” (paraphrased by me.)

  

Discussion Questions – Parable 22

PARABLE 22 — LUKE 17:7-10 — MASTER AND SERVANT

1. The original Greek word for the man working for his master is doulos. Do you know what that means? 

Many Bibles translate the Greek doulos as “servant,” but the word used in this passage describes a slave, probably the only slave of a small farmer, a slave who not only works in the field, but also performs household chores. To Jews in the First Century Roman Empire, slavery was a fact of life. The average person didn’t own slaves, but many villages would have one or more wealthy people who owned slaves. In those days, slaves did not just have menial duties. Some might be tutors, physicians, companions, household managers, sales agents, and administrators. But the slave Jesus describes in this brief parable, probably the only slave in this household, got mostly hard labor—plowing, looking after livestock, as well as cooking and household chores. His was a pretty hard existence. 

2. Was it fair for the master to expect his servant to prepare his meal after laboring in the fields all day? 

The point here is that, fair or not, the slave was expected to work in the fields and fix the food. That was his duty. People in our culture work two or three jobs because they have to. Is it fair? No. But it's required by the responsibilities they have. 

3. Has society shifted on obeying authority and doing ones duty? Has God? 

Yes. Here's an example. As recently as the 60’s, the Girl Scout Pledge read, “On my honor, I will try to do my duty to God and my country, to help other people at all times, and to obey the Girl Scout law.” But times have changed, and the words “duty” and “obey” have been changed. Now Girl Scouts recite, “On my honor, I will try: to serve God* and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law.” 

No, the meaning hasn’t changed that much, but it is softer. When we drop the ideas of “duty” and “obedience” from our relationship with God, however, we miss one of the essential components of true discipleship. To be real disciples we must be obedient to God's word and do our duty as followers of Jesus in a fallen world. 

* The Girl Scouts of the USA also add that, “it is okay to replace the word ‘God’ with whatever word your spiritual beliefs dictate.”  (How sad L)

4. Should the master be expected to thank his servant for doing what he was told (or ordered or commanded) to do, for doing his duty? Should we expect thanks from God for obeying him and doing what he tells us to do?

No. Don’t load this poor servant down with your 20^th century baggage. That isn’t the way one thinks in the 1^st  century. He understands that he is doing his duty. That’s all. He doesn’t deserve a reward for doing it, but he knows he’ll be punished for neglecting or shirking his duty. To be true disciples we must do away with an attitude of “entitlement” and instead see ourselves as “unworthy servants.”