Luke 17:8

Analysis & Commentary

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? Jesus continues the parable with the expected master's response. The Greek construction will not rather say (οὐχὶ ἐρεῖ αὐτῷ, ouchi erei autō) expects the affirmative answer: "Of course he will say..." The command sequence is specific: Make ready wherewith I may sup (ἑτοίμασον τί δειπνήσω, hetoimason ti deipnēsō—"prepare something for my supper").

Then gird thyself (περιζωσάμενος, perizōsamenos)—tucking one's robe into the belt to work unencumbered, the posture of active service. The servant must serve me, till I have eaten and drunken (διακόνει μοι ἕως φάγω καὶ πίω, diakonei moi heōs phagō kai piō)—complete the master's meal before attending to personal needs. Only afterward (μετὰ ταῦτα, meta tauta) does the servant eat and drink.

This isn't cruelty but cultural expectation—servants fulfill duties before claiming privileges. Applied spiritually: believers serve God's purposes before pursuing personal comfort. We don't negotiate terms with the Almighty or demand compensation. Our obedience is owed, not optional, and completing assigned tasks doesn't create indebtedness in God. This radically opposes prosperity gospel notions that obedience guarantees material blessing.

Historical Context

Ancient near-eastern household dynamics placed servants entirely at masters' disposal. The verb diakonei (διακόνει, serve) is the root of "deacon" and describes menial table service. The sequence (field work, then domestic service, then personal eating) was standard. Servants had no right to rest until the master's needs were met. While modern sensibilities may find this harsh, Jesus doesn't endorse slavery's ethics but uses familiar social structures to illustrate theological truth. God's people exist to glorify Him and accomplish His purposes—our comfort and recognition are secondary. The Incarnation inverts this pattern (Luke 22:27, John 13:1-17)—Jesus, the Master, serves His servants—demonstrating grace beyond justice. But the parable's point stands: we cannot claim merit before God based on obedience to His commands.

Questions for Reflection

• How does the servant's posture of completing the master's agenda before his own challenge contemporary Christianity's focus on personal fulfillment?
• What would change in your spiritual life if you truly internalized that serving God is duty owed, not favor granted?
• How does Jesus' own servant-hearted ministry (John 13, Philippians 2:5-8) transform the master-servant dynamic established in this parable?