Luke 17:10

Even so you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.’”

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WEBBE

Even so you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.’”

BSB

So you also, when you have done everything commanded of you, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

KJV

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.

ASV

Even so ye also, when ye shall have done all the things that are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which it was our duty to do.

BBE

In the same way, when you have done all the things which are given you to do, say, There is no profit in us, for we have only done what we were ordered to do.

Original Greek

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οὕτως houtōs Thus G3779 καὶ kai also G2532 ὑμεῖς humeis you yourselves G4771 ὅταν hotan when G3752 ποιήσητε poiēsēte you may have done G4160 πάντα panta all G3956 τὰ ta the [things] G3588 διαταχθέντα diatachthenta having been commanded G1299 ὑμῖν humin you G4771 λέγετε legete do say G3004 ὅτι hoti that G3754 δοῦλοι douloi Servants G1401 ἀχρεῖοί achreioi unworthy G888 ἐσμεν esmen are we G1510 ὅτι hoti for G3754 ὃ ho that which G3739 ὠφείλομεν ōpheilomen we were obliged G3784 ποιῆσαι poiēsai to do G4160 πεποιήκαμεν.¶ pepoiēkamen we have done G4160

The early church

Servants, I say, because bought with a price; (1 Cor. 6:20) unprofitable, for the Lord needeth not our good things, (Ps. 16:2) or because the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Rom. 8:18.) Herein then is the perfect faith of men, when having done all things which were commanded them, they acknowledge themselves to be imperfect.
Bede · d. 735Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
Boast not thyself then that thou hast been a good servant. Thou hast done what thou oughtest to have done. The sun obeys, the moon submits herself, the angels are subject; let us not then seek praise from ourselves. Therefore He adds in conclusion, So likewise ye, when ye have done all good things, say, We are unprofitable servants, we have done that which it was our duty to do.
Ambrose of Milan · d. 397Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
Our Lord teaches us that it is no more than the just and proper right of a master to require, as their bounden duty, subjection from servants, adding, Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. Here then is the disease of pride cut away. Why boastest thou thyself? Dost thou know that if thou payest not thy debt, danger is at hand, but if thou payest, thou doest nothing thankworthy? As St. Paul says, For though I preach the Gospel I have nothing to glory of, for necessity is laid upon me, yea, woe is unto me if I preach not the Gospel. (1 Cor. 9:16.) Observe then that they who have rule among us, do not thank their subjects, when they perform their appointed service, but by kindness gaining the affections of their people, breed in them a greater eagerness to serve them. So likewise God requires from us that we should wait upon Him as His servants, but because He is merciful, and of great goodness, He promises reward to them that work, and the greatness of His loving-kindness far exceeds the labours of His servants.
Cyril of Alexandria · d. 444Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
Because faith makes its possessor a keeper of God's commandments, and adorns him with wonderful works; it would seem from thence that a man might thereby fall into the sin of pride. Our Lord therefore forewarned His Apostles by a fit example, not to boast themselves in their virtues, saying, But which of you having a servant plowing, &c.
Theophylact of Ohrid · d. 1107Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 1–10

It is no abatement of their guilt by whom an offence comes, nor will it lessen their punishment that offences will come. Faith in God's pardoning mercy, will enable us to get over the greatest difficulties in the way of forgiving our brethren. As with God nothing is impossible, so all things are possible to him that can believe. Our Lord showed his disciples their need of deep humility. The Lord has such a property in every creature, as no man can have in another; he cannot be in debt to them for their services, nor do they deserve any return from him.

Read Matthew Henry on Luke 17 →

Cross-references

18

Topics

HumilityDutySupererogation

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.