Luke 17:9
“And he said unto them, Which of you shall have 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?”
This verse is part of a larger passage where Jesus is teaching His disciples about faith, forgiveness, and servanthood.
In this particular verse, Jesus uses a parable to illustrate a point about the nature of true servanthood.
The parable begins by asking a rhetorical question: “Which of you shall have 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?”
Jesus is essentially asking the disciples to imagine a scenario where they have a servant working in the field.
When the servant comes back from his work, would the master of the servant tell him to sit down and have a meal first, or would the master expect the servant to finish his work and then attend to his own needs?
The purpose of this parable is to emphasize the attitude of a true servant.
Jesus is teaching His disciples about the humility and selflessness that should characterize their lives as His followers.
A servant’s primary responsibility is to fulfill the tasks assigned by his master before attending to his own needs or desires.
In the broader context of this passage, Jesus is highlighting the importance of having a servant’s heart and the need for His disciples to cultivate a spirit of humility and obedience.
He goes on to say that when a servant completes his assigned tasks, he should not expect praise or reward because it is simply his duty to do so.
In the same way, Jesus expects His disciples to fulfill their responsibilities without seeking recognition or self‑gratification.
By using this parable, Jesus challenges His disciples to consider their role in God’s kingdom.
He encourages them to serve faithfully, without expecting special treatment or rewards.
This teaching reminds believers that true servanthood involves putting others’ needs before their own and faithfully carrying out their responsibilities.
In summary, Luke 17:9 teaches us about the attitude of a true servant.
It emphasizes the importance of humility, obedience, and selflessness in serving others and carrying out the tasks assigned to us.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to serve faithfully without seeking recognition or personal gain, but with a heart that seeks to honour God and bless others.
