Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 17:7

"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;" — Luke 17:7 (ASV)

Luke here presents Jesus’ teaching about the ideal of servanthood. The world’s idea of success is to lord it over others; Jesus’ way is the reverse— namely, servanthood—which is actually the way to true greatness. The circumstances that Jesus describes here were normal in that society and the point is obvious (cf. 12:35–37, where Jesus highlights God’s grace by a reversal of this normal procedure). Through this parable Jesus emphasizes the proper servant attitude. He does not intend to demean servants but to make their duty clear.

This narrative stresses several characteristically Lukan themes. Jerusalem is the goal of Jesus’ journey (cf. 9:51; 13:33); Jesus has mercy on social outcasts; he conforms to Jewish norms by requiring that the lepers go for the required priestly declaration of health (cf. Leviticus 14); faith and healing should bring praise to God (cf. 18:43; Acts 3:8–9); and the grace of God extends beyond Judaism, with Samaritans receiving special attention (cf. 10:25–37).