Knowing The Word in Luke 17:5-10

Increase Our Faith

17:5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

Unworthy Servants

7 “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? 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’? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”

Comments

Falling on the heels of Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness, apparently the apostles thought great faith was needed for forgiveness. Jesus changed their request of more faith to understanding the power of real faith and the effects that follow it. Commentator Leon Morris wrote, “It is not so much great faith that is required as faith in a great God.”

When people have such faith as above, they may be tempted to spiritual pride, which Jesus addressed in the “Unworthy Servants” section. No master would prepare dinner for his servants—although our Master does!—but would expect his servants to prepare dinner for him first. Jesus’s point was not that we are special because we do what he asks of us, just as a servant is not special because he does what is asked of him. The Book of Common Prayer picks up the theme and wording of unworthy servants in the General Thanksgiving in Morning Prayer II: “Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks . . .” It is a rightful reminder of our place in relationship to Jesus, our Master.

Application

Many Christians have issues with pride. How do you deal with your own pride? How do you deal with prideful Christians?

Prayer

Lord, I desire a humble heart, a heart of a servant devoted to you. Remove from me any haughtiness and pride that may dwell within me. Let me be like you as you washed the feet of your disciples on the night before your crucifixion.