Luke 17:9 kjv
Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
Luke 17:9 nkjv
Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.
Luke 17:9 niv
Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do?
Luke 17:9 esv
Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded?
Luke 17:9 nlt
And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not.
Luke 17 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 17:10 | "So likewise you, when you have done all things commanded you, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what was our duty to do.'" | Direct explanation of duty and unworthiness. |
| Ps 116:16 | "O Yahweh, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant." | Expresses identity as a bondservant of God. |
| Rom 3:23-24 | "For all have sinned and fall short... being justified freely by His grace..." | Salvation is not earned by works but by grace. |
| Rom 6:17-18 | "Thanks be to God that, though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient... having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness." | Believers are now servants of righteousness. |
| Eph 2:8-9 | "For by grace you have been saved through faith... not of works, lest anyone should boast." | Emphasizes salvation is by grace, not works. |
| Tit 3:5 | "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us..." | Works cannot save; salvation is purely mercy. |
| Phil 2:12-13 | "work out your own salvation... for it is God who works in you..." | Human effort is a response to, not a cause of, divine working. |
| 1 Cor 4:7 | "For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive?" | All gifts and abilities come from God. |
| Jn 15:5 | "Apart from Me you can do nothing." | Dependence on Christ for fruit-bearing. |
| 1 Cor 9:16-17 | "For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me... If I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if unwillingly, I have a stewardship." | Preaching is a compelled duty, not boasting. |
| Is 64:6 | "But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags." | Human efforts and righteousness are insufficient. |
| Ps 100:2-3 | "Serve Yahweh with gladness... It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture." | We serve God as His creation and His people. |
| Rom 12:1-2 | "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." | Serving God is our reasonable, expected duty. |
| Col 3:23-24 | "Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward..." | Serve God for His glory, with rewards ultimately from Him. |
| Lk 12:47-48 | "that servant who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or do what he wanted will receive a severe beating." | Knowledge implies greater responsibility and expectation. |
| Matt 25:21, 23 | "His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’" | Reward comes from master's gracious will, not earned right. |
| 1 Pet 4:10-11 | "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." | Ministry is stewardship, a gracious giving of gifts received. |
| Neh 13:22 | "Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy!" | Appeals to mercy for recompense, not merit. |
| Acts 20:24 | "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus..." | Serving Christ is a divinely appointed mission, not personal credit. |
| Lk 7:6-7 | "for I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me... 'just say the word, and my servant will be healed.'" | Authority figures expect immediate, unquestioning obedience from servants. |
| Jas 1:17 | "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights..." | All capacity and opportunity to serve originate from God. |
Luke 17 verses
Luke 17 9 Meaning
Luke 17:9 rhetorically asks whether a master thanks a servant for simply performing the duties commanded of him. The implied answer is no. This verse sets the foundation for the profound truth taught in the subsequent verse (Luke 17:10) regarding the nature of a disciple's service to God. It underscores that human service to God, no matter how diligent or extensive, is nothing more than fulfilling an obligation, not a basis for earning merit, praise, or gratitude from God, as if we have placed Him in our debt. We are merely doing what we are duty-bound to do as His bondservants.
Luke 17 9 Context
Luke 17:9 is part of a series of teachings by Jesus on various aspects of discipleship, immediately following His discourse on the power of faith (Lk 17:5-6) and the importance of forgiveness (Lk 17:3-4). The broader context of Luke 17:7-10 deals directly with the duties and expectations of a servant or slave (doulos). The parable of the "unprofitable servant" (which is Luke 17:7-10 itself, with 17:9 being a rhetorical question leading to the explicit statement in 17:10) contrasts the common societal practice of masters, who do not thank their servants for routine tasks, with the disciple's relationship to God. The historical context reflects a societal structure where slavery was prevalent and the relationship between a master and a slave (doulos) was one of ownership and command. The slave had no inherent rights to rest or special thanks until all duties were performed. This teaching implicitly stands against any contemporary belief that good deeds or adherence to religious laws could earn a person favor or merit with God, putting God in debt to them. Instead, it emphasizes that such acts are simply what is due from one who belongs entirely to God.
Luke 17 9 Word analysis
Does he thank (Echei charin ἔχει χάριν): Literally "does he have grace/favor/thanks?" This is a rhetorical question, designed to elicit a negative answer. Charis (χάρις) primarily means grace or favor, but in this context, it takes on the meaning of "thanks" or "gratitude" extended from the master to the servant. The implication is that such an extension of thanks for mere duty is not standard practice and certainly not obligatory. It challenges any notion that basic obedience creates an obligation for the master to acknowledge.
the servant (doulos δούλῳ): This is not an employee who works for wages, but a bondservant or slave. A doulos is the property of his master, entirely subservient to the master's will, and bound by duty to perform any task assigned. Their existence and labor belong to the master, with no expectation of thanks for what is merely an expected obligation. This word choice is crucial, emphasizing total ownership and submission.
because (hoti ὅτι): A conjunction indicating the reason or ground for the preceding thought. It points to the underlying action being merely the fulfillment of what was expected.
he did (poiesas ποιήσας): An aorist participle, "having done" or "having performed." It signifies the completion of the action—the servant has carried out the assigned tasks.
what was commanded (ta diatachthenta τὰ διαταχθέντα): This is the neuter plural participle, "the things having been commanded," "the things having been ordered" or "appointed." It refers to specific instructions or duties issued by the master. The emphasis is on explicit obedience to stated directives, rather than initiative or going above and beyond the call of duty.
Words-group analysis:
- "Does he thank the servant...?": This opening rhetorical question immediately highlights the prevailing societal norms and expectations regarding servant-master relationships. It invites the listener to affirm the widely understood practice: masters do not typically thank servants for simply doing their basic, expected work. This common experience is used to frame a spiritual truth.
- "...because he did what was commanded?": This phrase underscores the reason for the lack of thanks—the servant performed nothing extraordinary, but only that which was obligatory. This directly mirrors the human relationship with God; our service, while good, is merely our required response to God's commands and inherent right to our obedience. It dismisses the idea of meritocracy in our divine relationship.
Luke 17 9 Bonus section
This rhetorical question implies that God is not obligated to us, but we are fully obligated to Him. The entire teaching reminds believers that service to God is not a means to gain personal credit or boastful standing before Him. It encourages a posture of humility and selfless devotion, recognizing that everything we are and have comes from Him, and therefore, our duty is to live in complete obedience to His will. This humility also fosters a right perspective on ministry – that it is a privilege to serve, not a burden, and certainly not a favor we do for God.
Luke 17 9 Commentary
Luke 17:9 serves as a vital pedagogical step toward understanding Luke 17:10. It establishes a practical illustration from daily life to convey a profound spiritual lesson. In ancient society, a slave or servant's life was entirely consumed by the master's needs. After a day's work in the fields, the servant was expected to prepare the evening meal, wait on the master, and only then attend to his own needs. There was no concept of overtime pay or a word of thanks for these routine tasks; they were simply what was owed to the master. Jesus uses this common understanding to challenge a pervasive mindset, even among religious people, that one can earn favor or blessings from God through their acts of piety or service. This verse directly refutes the notion that obedience to God somehow puts God in our debt, requiring Him to reward or even thank us. Our greatest efforts, sacrifices, and acts of devotion are merely the fulfillment of what we, as creatures entirely dependent on and belonging to the Creator, are inherently bound to do. True humility acknowledges that even our capacity to obey comes from Him, leaving no room for boasting or demanding recognition. This parable dismantles self-righteousness and cultivates a spirit of grateful humility in discipleship.