Faith AND Works

The image of the slave who serves his master at table is only necessary because it demonstrates that man cannot take credit for fulfilling God’s demands.

Jesus Christ: His Life and Teaching, Vol.4 - The Parables of Jesus, Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev

Luke 17: 5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”

This request prompted a short parable – well, maybe or maybe not technically qualifying as a parable, but a worthy teaching.

6 So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

Still not to the parable part, but Jesus is reminding the apostles of the power of faith. Which comes to the parable:

7 And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? 8 But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.

10 So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’”

What does this teaching have to do with faith? It sounds more like the relationship of the master and servant and the works the servant is commanded to perform by the master.

The theme of this parable is not slavery at all, nor is it agricultural labor, nor is it serving at table, nor is it gratitude. The most important theme is man’s relationship to God.

This servant does many different things for his master, but all are things required for him to do. No gratitude is expected for one doing that which is required. It is a teaching that is dedicated to humility, a virtue to which Jesus regularly returns.

The parable teaches that all people are slaves before God. any difference in social status refers only to human interactions, not one’s relationship to God, before whom all are equal.

A servant must have humility, obedience, and faithfulness. This is what is expected of us in our relationship to God: fulfill His commands humbly, do not take credit for doing that which is expected or required.

Conclusion

And it is through this means, doing that which is required by God, that our faith will increase. It was, after all, the request by the apostles that prompted this short parable: “Increase our faith.”

And Jesus explained: here is how; do the work of your Master.