Wednesday, September 18, 2024

The Parables of Jesus Series

Tonight’s Study – Session 34: The Parable of the Unprofitable Servants

Introduction: The Parable of the Unprofitable Servants at first glance can seem a bit perplexing as we try to understand what Jesus is telling His disciples. But as we dig deeper it is quite an amazing teaching because in one short story Jesus shows that works are completely useless for earning salvation and completely necessary in another sense. A Christian’s service to God is not the means of salvation, but the result of it, and the minimal expectation thereof.

The Parable of the Unprofitable Servants is only found in the Gospel of Luke.

Let’s take a Look at the Passage where this Parable is Found

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 give thanks to 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.’” (Luke 17:7-10)

Let’s also Look at the Context in which we find the Passage

Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves.

 If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” So, the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. (Luke 17:1-6)

As we exegete Scripture, we must always start with the context in which you find the passage. This parable is the response Jesus gives His disciples because they had requested more faith. Before Jesus begins to tell this parable, He lays two difficult commands on the disciples; first He tells them not to cause anyone to stumble, for it would be better to have a millstone tied around their necks and be thrown into the sea; second, He tells them that they are to forgive anyone who wrongs them and ask forgiveness, even if they do it seven times a day. In this context, seven represents the perfect number, which means there is no limit to how many times we are to forgive someone. It is these seemingly impossible commands that caused the disciples to ask Jesus for more faith, because they see the difficulty of the commands and understand their own weaknesses. Jesus goes on to confirm their lack of faith by telling them that if they only had the faith of a mustard seed, they would be able to do many wonders. This is used not only to humble them, but also to encourage them by showing the power of faith in Christ alone. What they could never do themselves, would in fact be accomplished through faith. It is this context that we find this parable, which clues us into the fact that faith has something to do with what Jesus wants to teach us and what He wants us to learn and do.

Let’s break the Parable down

Verses 7-9

Jesus asks some rhetorical questions that seemed silly but drove home the point that the servant is at the command of the master, not the other way around. God is the master in this parable and the Christian is the servant. If the master is a representation of God, then clearly the subordinates are His disciples. The disciples would have realized the master’s authority over the servant, and the servant’s duties to feed the master and gird himself.

So, when they heard the question that was being posed – “Would you let your servant sit down and eat first before he fed you?”– they would have of course answered, “No.” Jesus used what is called a “lesser to the greater” argument. This means He is saying if a human master has the right to command his servant this way, how much more does God have the right to command His disciples? In other words, if we think a human master has the right to require this of the servant and offer no thanks (v.9), then how more does God have the right to do the same?

Many believers live as if God owes them something because of their obedience and service, in essence, everything we do is our “duty” which comes out of a heart of gratitude for the one who came to serve and die on the cross for our sins.

Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

(Matthew 20:26–28)

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

(Philippians 2:5–8)

Verse 10

Jesus’ closing statement of this parable goes like this, “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.”

Think of the word “Do” as “Duty.” Believers serving God and others are doing their duty.

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1)

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, (Colossians 3:23)

“God cannot be a gainer by our services, and therefore cannot be made a debtor by them. He has no need of us, nor can our services make any addition to His perfections. It behooves us therefore to call ourselves unprofitable servants.” (Unknown)

Conclusion: This parable should cause us to be humble as we do great things for God. Anyone who thinks that they have earned some special favor with the Lord because of their good works or service is severely mistaken, because this is what we are supposed to do. It is only by God’s grace that He looks upon us with favor. There is nothing in ourselves that makes us worthy of being called children of God. That is why some translations of Scripture call the “Unprofitable servants” the “Unworthy servants.” Therefore, as we move forward doing the work God has commanded us to do, we can only do it by faith, and we must never begin to think that we are of such value that God owes us anything. For it is by grace through faith that we are saved, and anything we do for Him is the result of our salvation and not the cause of it. The favor God gives us is completely unmerited. We are the ones who are to give the thanks, not the other way around!

Next Week, Session 35 – The Parable of the Persistent Widow