Luke 17:8
Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’?
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights a master's expectation of immediate and complete service from his servant, even after a long day's work. It's not just about preparing food, but about the servant being ready to attend to every need until the master has finished eating and drinking, emphasizing the servant's subordinate position and the master's priority. This underscores that our service to God isn't meant to be casual or conditional; it's about giving our all, recognizing His ultimate authority and our dependence on Him.
Jesus is teaching his disciples about humility and the nature of their service to God. He uses the analogy of a master and servant to illustrate that even after a servant has diligently performed all their duties, they still haven't done anything beyond what is expected, and thus deserve no special praise or reward from their master. This is a setup for the disciples to understand their own relationship with God.
Imagine coming home after a long day of work, expecting a meal to be waiting. What if your servant, instead of serving you, expected you to serve them first?
In this parable, Jesus highlights the absolute authority a master has over his servant. The master wouldn't say, 'Okay, you've finished your chores, now go sit down and eat.' No, he’d say, 'Prepare my meal, serve me diligently until I'm finished, and only then can you eat.' This isn't about a master being unkind; it’s about the natural order of things in that society. The servant’s job was to obey and serve until released by the master. This sets the stage for understanding our relationship with God.
Do you ever feel like you've done God a favor by being a good person or serving in church?
Jesus uses this parable to correct a dangerous misconception: the idea of merit. We tend to think, 'I’ve done so much for God, surely He owes me something!' But the parable paints a different picture. A servant who simply does what they are told, even diligently, isn't earning praise or a special reward; they are just doing their job. They owe their master their service. Similarly, whatever we do for God—whether it’s prayer, service, or obedience—is not something we ‘earn’ merit with. We are simply fulfilling what we already owe. God owns us completely; our service is His right.
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This verse paints a vivid picture of the master-servant relationship common in the ancient world, underscoring the expectation of immediate and diligent service from a subordinate to their superior, a dynamic Jesus uses to illustrate our relationship with God.
c. 1st century AD
Roman Provincial Rule
Judea was under Roman control, with a Roman governor or a client king like Herod the Great, imposing taxes and maintaining order. This meant a hierarchical society with clear master-servant dynamics.
c. 1st century AD— this verse
Jewish Master-Servant Relationship
In Jewish culture, servants were expected to be diligent and obedient, preparing meals and serving their masters immediately, even after a long day's work. This was a common social reality.
c. 1st century AD
Temple Service and Priesthood
The Jerusalem Temple was central to Jewish life, with elaborate rituals and a hierarchy of priests and Levites serving God. This context highlights the concept of devoted service.
This passage speaks of the Master girding Himself and serving the disciples, contrasting with Luke 17:8 where the Master expects to be served first, highlighting different aspects of service and reward.
Romans 14:8Paul states 'For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord,' reinforcing the idea from Luke 17 that our lives and actions belong to God, not as a basis for merit, but as a willing service.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27Paul uses the analogy of an athlete striving for a perishable wreath to illustrate the Christian life, emphasizing intense effort and self-discipline, much like the servant in Luke 17, in order to 'win' a greater, eternal reward.
Matthew 25:40Jesus says, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me,' connecting acts of service performed for others with service to God, aligning with the principle of serving the Master.
Revelation 3:20This verse describes Jesus standing at the door and knocking, wanting to sup with those who open to Him, which parallels the master in Luke 17 eventually allowing the servant to eat after serving him, suggesting a future shared joy after faithful service.
barnesLuke 17:8: "And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?"
I may sup - Make ready my supper. Gird thyself - See the notes at Luke 12:37.
gillLuke 17:8: "And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?"
And will not rather say to him,.... Or, "will he not say to him?" it is very likely, it is more agreeable to the language of a master, and the condition of a servant, that he should say to him, make ready wherewith I may sup: by dressing the food, spreading the table, and putting the food on it; for it was the busin…
The verse highlights a master's expectation of immediate and complete service from his servant, even after a long day's work. It's not just about preparing food, but about the servant being ready to attend to every need until the master has finished eating and drinking, emphasizing the servant's subordinate position and the master's priority. This underscores that our service to God isn't meant to be casual or conditional; it's about giving our all, recognizing His ultimate authority and our dependence on Him.
Jesus is teaching his disciples about humility and the nature of their service to God. He uses the analogy of a master and servant to illustrate that even after a servant has diligently performed all their duties, they still haven't done anything beyond what is expected, and thus deserve no special praise or reward from their master. This is a setup for the disciples to understand their own relationship with God.
Jesus is teaching his disciples about humility and the nature of their service to God. He uses the analogy of a master and servant to illustrate that even after a servant has diligently performed all their duties, they still haven't done anything beyond what is expected, and thus deserve no special praise or reward from their master. This is a setup for the disciples to understand their own relationship with God.
"Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’?" — The verse highlights a master's expectation of immediate and complete service from his servant, even after a long day's work. It's not just about preparing food, but about the servant being ready to…
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