Luke 17:9

9 Does he thank that slave because he did what was commanded? ^[a]

Luke 17:9 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 17:9

Doth he thank that servant
As if he had done him a favour, and what he was not obliged to;

because he did the things that were commanded him?
for, as a servant, he ought to do them, and in so doing does but his duty: he may indeed be commended for it, but not thanked:

I trow not;
or "I think not"; it do not seem so to me, as if he would, or, as though it was proper and necessary he should. The Ethiopic version leaves out this last clause.

Luke 17:9 In-Context

7 "Which one of you having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he comes in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat'?

8 Instead, will he not tell him, 'Prepare something for me to eat, get ready, and serve me while I eat and drink; later you can eat and drink'?

9 Does he thank that slave because he did what was commanded?

10 In the same way, when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, 'We are good-for-nothing slaves; we've only done our duty.' "

11 While traveling to Jerusalem, He passed between Samaria and Galilee.

Footnotes

• [a]. Other mss add I don't think so