New Testament · Gospel

Luke 17:7

Faith Like a Mustard Seed

Which of you whose servant comes in from plowing or shepherding in the field will say to him, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? Luke 17:7 · Berean Standard Bible

What It Means

Luke 17:7, in plain English

Jesus tells another story: if your servant comes in from working in the field, do you say, 'Come sit down and eat'? Obviously not.

Why it's here

This parable is about attitude in service. Jesus is preparing His disciples to serve without expecting special treatment.

Who's speaking

Jesus uses a master-servant scenario to teach about humble, dutiful service to God.

Where it sits in the story

A servant comes home tired from the field, and the master says... 'Serve my dinner first.' It sounds harsh, but Jesus is making a point about expectations.

A Closer Look

The scholarly reading

Jesus introduces a parable about a servant returning from 'plowing or shepherding' (arotriōnta ē poimainonta). The rhetorical question expects a negative answer — no master would immediately invite his servant to dine.

Language and setting

This parable about master-servant relationships teaches about the proper attitude of disciples: service to God is an obligation, not a basis for claiming special reward.

Voice

Jesus addresses the disciples with a cultural scenario they would immediately recognize, setting up a teaching on dutiful service.

Significance

Jesus asks: if your servant comes in from a long day of plowing, do you tell him to sit down and eat? Of course not.

In context

Luke 17:5–9

5The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

6And the Lord answered, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

7Which of you whose servant comes in from plowing or shepherding in the field will say to him, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’?

8Instead, won’t he tell him, ‘Prepare my meal and dress yourself to serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you may eat and drink’?

9Does he thank the servant because he did what he was told?

Read all of Luke 17 — Ten lepers are cleansed, but only one returns to say thank you — and he's the outsider. Jesus teaches that the kingdom comes without warning.

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