How do you understand this parable:
[bible]Luke 17:7-10[/bible]
Some see this as noting that we should not view our labor as anything more than unprofitable work but others see this as contradicting Christ's Words about how He will "serve the servants" in Luke 12:37. Is Christ, in other words, teaching His disciples not to think of God as a stingy master the way as would be typical in the world's thinking?
Hendriksen writes:
[bible]Luke 17:7-10[/bible]
Some see this as noting that we should not view our labor as anything more than unprofitable work but others see this as contradicting Christ's Words about how He will "serve the servants" in Luke 12:37. Is Christ, in other words, teaching His disciples not to think of God as a stingy master the way as would be typical in the world's thinking?
Hendriksen writes:
Wrong interpretations of this parable have led to various difficulties. Questions such as the following have been asked:
a. Does not Jesus contradict himself when he says that no master would ever tell his servant, when he comes in from the field, to recline at table, with the implication that he, the master, would wait on him; while in 12:37 Jesus promises to do that very thing?
b. Why would servants, who have done everything they had been ordered to do, be called unprofitable?
c. What moved Luke, immediately after reporting this parable, to go all the way back to the beginning of the journey he is describing, and thus picture Jesus as traveling “along the border between Samaria and Galilee”? See 17:11.
With the right interpretation of this parable everything falls into line and the difficulties vanish.
It is clear that we are dealing here with the owner of a small farm. This farmer has only one servant. Some insist that the word used in the original—namely doulos—a word which sometimes means slave, sometimes servant, must here be rendered slave. We should remember, however, that Jesus is addressing his message primarily to “his disciples” (verse 1). He is saying, “Who among you …?” Is it not probable that some of these disciples had servants rather than slaves? See Mark 1:20. Further, we should understand that what the parable is picturing is that which does not happen in the realm in which God is consistently recognized as King. In fact, the very opposite takes place here.
The servant pictured in this parable does only what he has been ordered to do, and the spirit of a slave has taken possession of him. All day long he has been plowing or tending sheep. When he comes in from the field, his boss orders him to wait on him while he, the master, is eating and drinking. The servant is told, “When I’m finished, you can eat.” The servant obeys. He does exactly what he was told to do, no less but also certainly no more. Why does he do it at all? Probably because he does not want to lose his job. After all, he has to eat. So, grudgingly he finishes his chores. Are we becoming guilty of exaggeration when we picture this coldly calculating servant as looking out of the corner of his eye every once in a while to see how the farmer is doing, whether he is not almost finished with his meal?
However that may be, we believe that Robertson, Word Pictures, Vol. II, p. 227, has interpreted the parable correctly when he states, “The slavish spirit gains no promotion in business life or in the kingdom of God.” Naturally the master of this coldly calculating servant would not even think of “waiting on” such a servant.
What the parable means, therefore, is this:
a. In the kingdom of God—the realm in which God’s sovereignty is gladly recognized—matters are entirely different. To be sure, here, too, God’s children aim to do his will, but they do it with gladness of heart, in the spirit of love and gratitude.
b. In their case the promise of Luke 12:37 (the Lord waiting on them) will be realized. See the explanation of that passage.
c. And now, too, we begin to understand what may well have been the reason why the evangelist, after reporting this parable, immediately proceeds to tell the story about the ten lepers who were cured by Jesus. All ten were ordered to “show themselves to the priests.” All ten, in obedience to the command, go on their way. One, however, returns. He is the exact opposite of the coldly calculating servant. He praises God and thanks Jesus. He does more than he had been ordered to do. And he does it exuberantly. Luke has indeed given us “an orderly account.”
Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953-2001). Vol. 11: New Testament commentary : Exposition of the Gospel According to Luke. New Testament Commentary (796–797). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.