Church Fathers Commentary Luke 17:7-10

"But who is there of you, having a servant plowing or keeping sheep, that will say unto him, when he is come in from the field, Come straightway and sit down to meat; 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? Doth he thank the servant because he did the things that were commanded? 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." — Luke 17:7-10 (ASV)

Theophylact of Ohrid: Because faith makes its possessor a keeper of God’s commandments and adorns him with wonderful works, it would seem from this that a person might consequently fall into the sin of pride. Our Lord therefore forewarned His Apostles with a fitting example not to boast in their virtues, saying, But which of you having a servant plowing, etc.

St. Augustine of Hippo: Alternatively, to the many who do not understand this faith in the truth already present, our Lord might seem not to have answered the petitions of His disciples. A difficulty in the connection appears here, unless we suppose He meant the change from faith to faith—from the faith by which we serve God to the faith by which we enjoy Him. For our faith will be increased when we first believe the word that is preached, and then believe the reality that is present. But that joyful contemplation possesses perfect peace, which is given to us in the everlasting kingdom of God.

That perfect peace is the reward for the righteous labors performed in the administration of the Church. So let the servant in the field, whether plowing or feeding—that is, in this life either attending to worldly business or serving foolish people who are like cattle—return home after his labors, which means being united to the Church.

The Venerable Bede: Or, the servant departs from the field when the teacher, temporarily setting aside his work of preaching, withdraws into his own conscience to ponder his own words or deeds. To this teacher, our Lord does not immediately say, Go from this mortal life, and sit down to meat—that is, refresh yourself in the everlasting resting place of a blessed life.

St. Ambrose of Milan: For we know that no one sits down before he has first passed over. Moses indeed also passed over so that he might see a great sight. Since you do not just say to your servant, Sit down to meat, but require another service from him, so in this life the Lord does not content Himself with the performance of only one work and labor, because as long as we live we must always work. Therefore, it follows, And will not rather say, Make ready wherewith I may sup.

The Venerable Bede: He commands him to make ready that with which He may sup; that is, after the labors of public discourse, He commands him to humble himself in self-examination. Our Lord desires to be fed with such a supper. To gird oneself is to collect the mind, which has been enveloped in the vile coil of fluctuating thoughts by which its steps in the cause of good works are often entangled. For he who girds up his garments does so that he is not tripped up while walking. To minister to God is to acknowledge that we have no strength without the help of His grace.

St. Augustine of Hippo: While His servants are ministering—that is, preaching the Gospel—our Lord is eating and drinking the faith and confession of the Gentiles. It follows, And afterward you shall eat and drink. It is as if He says, “After I have been delighted with the work of your preaching and refreshed by the choice food of your compunction, then at last you shall go and feast everlastingly at the eternal banquet of wisdom.”

St. Cyril of Alexandria: Our Lord teaches us that it is nothing more than the just and proper right of a master to require, as their obligation, subjection from servants, adding, Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. Here, then, the disease of pride is cut away. Why do you boast? Do you not know that if you do not pay your debt, danger is at hand, but if you do pay it, you do nothing worthy of thanks? 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!

Observe, then, that those who have rule among us do not thank their subjects when they perform their appointed service. Instead, by gaining the affections of their people through kindness, they cultivate in them a greater eagerness to serve. Likewise, God requires that we serve Him as His servants. But because He is merciful and of great goodness, He promises a reward to those who work, and the greatness of His loving-kindness far exceeds the labors of His servants.

St. Ambrose of Milan: Do not boast, then, that you have been a good servant. You have done what you ought to have done. The sun obeys, the moon submits, and the angels are subject; let us, therefore, not seek praise for ourselves. He concludes by adding, So likewise you, when you have done all good things, say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which it was our duty to do.

The Venerable Bede: We are servants, I say, because we were bought with a price; we are unprofitable because the Lord does not need our good things, or because the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. In this, then, is perfect human faith: when, after having done all the things that were commanded, people acknowledge that they are imperfect.