The Unprofitable Servants | Luke 17 : 7 – 10

Welcome to Ontario Community Church, where we are encouraging, equipping, and engaging lives for Christ.

! I'm Pastor Patrick Daly, and each week I share sermons that balance the grace and love of Jesus Christ with the truth of the Word of God.

Together, we'll explore Scripture using observation, interpretation, and application.

This helps us discover practical ways to live out our faith every single day.

Let's dive in together into God's Word.

Well, good morning, everyone.

I hope all of us are staying cool as the weather is starting to heat up and everything.

I want us to turn our Bibles to the Gospel of Luke as we just had our Scripture reading in Luke chapter 17.

Luke 17 · chapter mention

What we have here is we'll be going over the unprofitable servants from verses 7 through 10 in the Gospel of Luke chapter 17.

Luke 17 · chapter mention

In order for us to even begin to understand this very heavy, it's simple but yet it's heavy, parable.

I want us to turn there and start in verse 17 here where we see in the first two verses where Christ is saying to his disciples, right?

Talking about the temptations that they are sure to come, right?

Woe to the one through who they come.

It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and cast into the sea.

That's very, very harsh language we're seeing.

But it's a warning from Christ against causing these little ones to stumble.

And this is found after the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

And it's very important for us to consider the context of what is going on here.

That the rich man's sin was making an idol out of money.

And that's something that was very common back then and it is still common even now.

That there are people who they will idolize riches, fame, things that are outside of the Lord.

We have to consider this.

It goes on then into verses 3 and 4, right?

Pay attention to yourself.

If your brother sins, rebuke him.

And if he repents, forgive him.

And if he sins against you seven times in a day and turns to you seven times saying,

I repent, you must forgive him, right?

It's showing the importance of, well, rebuking and repentance, right?

Who here likes being rebuked here, right?

Nobody.

Nobody in that.

But it's showing that when there is wrong that is being done, there's the call for repentance.

There's the call for speaking to that.

Forgive as you have been forgiven, in other words.

Which then is leading us into 5 and 6 as it's kind of paving the way here where the apostles are saying to the Lord,

increase our faith.

And the Lord said, if you add faith like the grain of a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree,

be uprooted and planted in the sea, and it would obey you.

And that leads us now to this parable of the unworthy servants.

Where we start off where it's saying, will any of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in the field,

come at once and recline at the table.

It's talking about the return of servants.

It's now very commonly in scripture and the biblical culture back then.

The plowing of the field and the tending to the sheep was the most common duty that was expected from a servant.

And so it's very interesting.

We see plowing and shepherding, right?

The breaking the hard ground, the soil as it were.

And of course, shepherding would be caring for and guiding the flock.

So we see that there right away.

It's important for us to see these are a couple of things that were common for servants to have.

Leading into verse 8 then,

will he not rather say to him,

prepare supper for me and dress properly and serve me while I eat and drink and afterward you will eat and drink?

We'll just finish this off.

Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded?

So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded,

say we are unworthy servants.

We have only done what was our duty.

It's kind of a strange parable if you think about it.

Well, when we're going back to verse 8,

verse 7 and verse 8,

the servant, he is plowing, he is keeping the sheep.

This idea of reclining at a table,

you see this a few times in scripture.

When you first read it,

you think, okay,

the guy's just,

he's had a hard day at work.

He wants to sit down.

He wants to have some water.

He wants to have a break.

That's not what's being explained here.

The reclining at the table is speaking of a place of honor.

Now, when you read it on the surface,

you get one understanding,

but culturally, reclining at the table is more of the place of honor

where you are being served

rather than just simply sitting in a chair

or sitting on the couch after a hard day's work.

So that's very important for us to see.

Then, of course,

yeah, it says honor, leisure.

It's found in the gospel of Luke chapter 12.

Luke 12 · chapter mention

We're not going to turn there.

12, 37 and John 13, 23.

So it's saying that there is still work that needs to be done

in the respect that you as a servant

are not being placed in a position of honor.

That's what's being said here.

Now, before the servant eats,

he must serve the master, right?

That's what we're seeing in verse 8.

Will he not rather say to him,

prepare supper for me and dress properly

and serve me while I eat and drink

and what does it say after?

Afterward, you will eat and drink.

So it's showing here.

So the master's not being neglectful.

It's just understand that there's still things

that have to be done in this respect.

And so in verse 9 then,

does he thank the servant

because he did what was commanded?

That's an interesting question.

Well, in this case,

and it's hard for us to read something like this

because we think of servants and slaves

and that kind of language back then,

it's hard for us to understand

in a modern sort of concept that happens.

Well, we don't necessarily have slaves

or servants nowadays,

or at least I hope you don't.

But it's important for us to at least understand

that back then that was more common

in the given culture.

And so what he's saying here

is that the master's not going to give extra favor

for doing what's already meant to be done.

It's kind of like a similar rendering,

a similar theme that we can see would be

if you have a job and you have your employer

and you're expected to do certain things,

well, it's nice to get a pat on the back,

but when you're doing what's already expected of you,

you should see it through to the end, right?

You should complete your job at hand.

That's kind of the only modern parallel

that we could see nowadays

because, again, we don't have servants and slaves anymore,

so it's a little hard for us to understand.

And then, of course, at verse 10,

it closes off,

so you also, when you have done all your commanded,

say we are unworthy servants,

we have done what was our duty.

That's kind of a strange one there.

Being unworthy.

And so, when it's talking about we are unworthy,

it's talking about the word unprofitable.

For those of you who remember the series I did on Philemon,

you had Onesimus,

who was someone,

his name means useless or useful.

He was once useless,

and he became useful.

It's very similar language in that,

that we are unprofitable, right?

So it's similar to what we would find in Philemon.

And so, it's the wordplay.

This parable, then,

even though it may be hard for us to understand,

is very similar when we start connecting the dots

with other parables.

For example,

the parable of the prodigal son.

You remember that story.

The one runs off,

squanders all his money,

and he comes back,

and there's a celebration.

And you had the other brother,

who was rather upset.

And I'll tell you,

I feel like I'm not the only one

who struggled with that parable, right?

We can be honest here.

Well, there's this big celebration

of this son that's returning,

but some of us identify with the other son

that's been there the entire time,

doing what he's supposed to do.

Very similar language

to what we're finding here.

These servants are doing

what they're supposed to do.

They are already within the fold,

within the protection,

within the knowing of the master.

And so, there's no need for celebration.

As hard as it is for us to understand,

and even at times,

well, agree with it,

that's what the Lord is going for in that.

The other thing is,

well, when you think of the parable of the talents,

it's, in other words,

how someone responds

to what the master,

to what God has for your life.

Are you going to do

what the Lord has called you to do,

or are you not?

That's what we have here.

And so,

this then kind of leads us

into our interpretation here.

It's only a couple of verses here

that we're seeing.

Our interpretation then,

or you know what?

Let me go here.

This is our outline.

The servant returns from the field.

The master's orders

to prepare my supper.

There's no extra thanks

for the mere duty.

And the disciples are saying,

we are unprofitable servants,

which is showing this mirroring

for what, one,

a disciple of Christ

is supposed to do.

Now, when you think about it,

I want to stop for a second.

I want you to see the parallel here.

When we're talking about,

because this is very negative language,

it's kind of like,

this is kind of sad.

It's kind of like,

okay,

saying that you're an unworthy servant

and I've only done

what I'm supposed to do.

We have to look at it

as these servants

are known by the master

and the servants are doing

what they are called to do.

And when the disciples,

then,

are saying the same thing,

it's much like how we,

when we are in,

when we are saved by grace

through faith,

there are things that we

ought to do.

Following in the footsteps

of Christ.

And so,

the first point here,

when we go into

our interpretation,

this will make more sense,

that obedience creates

no leverage.

It's not like

these servants

who are already

under the protection,

they're,

you know,

employed,

they're housed,

all these things,

it's not like they can do

something extra

that would make the master

owe them money.

Does that make sense?

And so,

in the same way,

for us being saved

by grace through faith,

we are called

to do good

in the name of Christ,

we are called

to grow in Christ,

but it's not like

we're going to have

leverage against God.

It's not like

we're going to

outperform God.

The Lord has us

covered through

the blood of the Lamb.

The Lord has us

covered.

And us,

like trees,

we are to produce

fruit,

we are to bear

good fruit,

that's part of

being in the vineyard,

being in the care

of the Lord.

So,

that first point there

when it says

obedience creates

no leverage,

even in the context

within this

parable,

even having

the mustard seed

like faith

or constantly

forgiving each other

doesn't create

leverage against God.

okay,

when you're in

the fold,

you are in,

amen?

So,

it's not like,

hey God,

I went above

and beyond

because that's

going to create

a works-based

system.

And that's not

what God is

going for.

Remember the point

when we think

of all of

Christianity

that we are

saved by grace

through faith

that whosoever

believes

shall not perish

but have

eternal life.

and yet

often at times

we still like

to go back

to the old

system

where

look at all

that I'm doing.

I want

extra things.

And what it's

saying here is

well,

you're still

a servant here.

And so,

in other words,

the things that you do

does not create

a debt

that God

can pay

because God's

already paid

the debt.

So,

you don't have

to,

you're still

called to do

things but

just understand

you're not

going to give

God a bill

when he's

already paid

it all.

The second

thing then

is that grace

empowers

our service.

This is a very

powerful thing

that the servant

again already

belongs to the

master.

So often in

scripture,

you see the

apostle Paul

saying that

he is a

slave or

a bond

servant or

he serves

the living

God.

The idea

being that

he belongs

to Christ

and that

he serves

the living

God.

Belonging

to the

Lord,

belonging

to the

master,

we are

protected,

we are

saved,

we are

secure,

and we

are called

to be

healed,

to be

transformed,

to grow,

and to be

moved to

produce fruit.

It's much

like how we

find in

Ephesians,

you are

saved by

grace through

faith,

not by

works so

that no

man may

boast.

It goes

on into

that verse

10,

we are

saved for

works.

We are

saved so

that we

can do

good for

God's

glory.

And so

whether you

are in

the field

or whether

you are

helping the

flock,

you can

see the

spirituality

in that.

When we

think of

the soil,

breaking

ground,

when we

think of

hardened

hearts and

how God

is working

through you

to change

hardened

hearts to

be soft,

or even

shepherding,

which is

ministering

to people,

showing care

and compassion

to your

neighbor,

your brothers

and sisters

in Christ,

those around

you,

those that

you interact

with.

We are

empowered

because we

can have

confidence in

the living

God,

because we

can have

full confidence

in our

salvation.

that should

be the

greatest

motivator

for us

to act,

to share

in the

gospel message

with others,

to share

in your

testimony.

How has

God worked

in your

life?

Have you

experienced

his healing

or a still

small voice?

Or maybe

just a simple

transformation,

maybe a

simple change

in how

you love

or how

you live

or how

you speak

to others.

Perhaps

it is

important for

you to

take inventory

of these

kind of

things.

The third

thing then

is humility

guards against

what church?

Entitlement.

Now,

it's very

important we

see so much

in scripture

where we

have to be

mindful.

we have

to check

our pride.

There's a

famous saying

that I like

when I first

heard it,

I've never

forgotten it.

It's you

got to check

yourself before

you wreck

yourself.

Right?

You got to

check your

pride.

In other

words,

you have to

check your

heart.

And so

when you

see here

the unprofitable

servants,

it's about

the heart.

Recognizing

that they

are serving

the master

and they

need him.

again,

that's hard

for us

nowadays to

understand.

But back

then,

that made

a lot of

sense.

In other

words,

think of

it as

without the

Lord,

we are

nothing.

We rely

on the

Lord as

the source

of life.

We rely

on the

Lord for

salvation in

Christ.

Christ.

We rely

on the

Lord,

or at

least we

should to

guide us

and to

help mold

us into

who he

wants us

to be.

How much

trust do

you put

in the

Lord?

I can't

answer that

for you.

But it's a

question to

think about.

If we are

to boast,

let us

boast in

the Lord

and not

boasting

in ourselves.

so when

you see

that last

thing,

when you

see that

last verse,

we are

unworthy

servants.

They are

recognizing.

They are

humbling

themselves

before God.

That is

what you're

seeing in

this scene.

We have

only done

what is our

duty.

We have

done what

you have

called us

to do.

It's a

posture

of humility.

They are

considering

their heart

before the

Lord.

Which leads

us then,

what do we

do with

this?

It begins

to make a

lot more

sense.

Because at

first you

read it and

you're like,

okay,

these servants

are just,

they're being

very humble.

But we

start to

see,

a servant

looking towards

his master

is realizing

he is,

in this case,

is thanking

the master

for being,

remember how I

talked about

previously,

you want to

be in the

vineyard?

You want to

be in the

protection of

the Lord?

Well, you

want to be

where God

is.

You want to

serve the

living God.

You want

your life

to reflect

and to

shine the

light of

Christ so

that others

can see.

And so,

what do we

do with

this?

The first

thing is to

develop a

servant's

heart in

prayer.

There's many

of us that

know someone

who has a

hardened heart.

Don't raise

your hand,

but do we

know someone?

You may

know someone

who is

resistant to

God,

is resistant

to Scripture,

is really

resistant to,

well,

any good

thing that

comes from

the Lord.

Hopefully,

it's none

of us here.

But even

if it is,

it is important

for us as

the body of

Christ,

Christ,

as the

church,

to pray

that hardened

hearts will

be softened.

Not only

should we pray

for one

another,

but we

should pray

for our

friends,

our families.

Think of

someone that

you know

who has a

hardened

heart,

and pray for

them.

And if you

realize that

you have a

hardened heart,

praise God.

let this be

a time for

you to

pray to

the Lord

and come

before Him

and ask

for that

heart

transformation.

Because God

is the God

of transformation.

So consider

some prayers

when you wake

up in the

morning.

Father,

show me

what you

have for

me today.

Or in the

evening before

you go to

bed,

the good

that I have

accomplished,

I thank

you for.

It is

yours.

I give

to you

what was

due,

what was

expected.

And I tell

you,

this is a

challenge.

This is not

an easy

thing to

preach upon,

let alone

to implement.

But how

beautiful is

it to

wake up in

the morning

and ask

God to

lead and

guide you?

What do

you want me

to do

today?

How can

I glorify

you in

the morning?

How can

I thank

you today?

Or at

the end

of the

day,

and look,

when we

think of

us today,

we may

not always

have a

perfect

day.

Let us

turn to

the Lord

in those

good,

those bad

days,

and of

course,

those ugly

days.

None of

us here

have had

an ugly

day

before.

We've

all had

ugly

days,

right?

We've

had bad

days.

You

still

give it

to the

Lord.

God,

I didn't

have a

good day

at all.

My AC

went out.

My tire

went flat.

My boss

was mean

to me.

Whatever

it is,

offer it

to the

Lord.

The second

thing,

then,

is to

serve

without

what?

The

expectation

of applause.

And Scripture

talks about

this so

much,

right?

To not

be like

the hypocrites,

for example.

There's a

famous

quote or

saying,

and if I

get it

wrong,

I apologize.

It's

basically,

character

is what

you do

when no

one is

watching.

Something to

that effect,

right?

Or

integrity.

What do

you do

when no

one is

looking?

Do you

steal the

five dollars?

when no

one's

there?

It's

five bucks?

Or do

you do

the

responsible

thing?

That's a

question.

In the

same way,

then,

even when

what you're

doing,

when you're

serving the

Lord,

or you're

giving it

all at

school,

or you're

performing

your best

at work,

whatever it

may be,

always remember

you do

your best

in excellence

for the

glory of

God,

and recognize

there will

be times

well,

how many

times have

we done

something and

not gotten

a pat on

the back

or an

applause or

an appreciation?

Please don't

raise your

hand.

But there

are times

where that

happens,

especially

like when I

think of

my own

children,

when we

think of

our own

kids,

the things

that we

do behind

the scenes

to make

life better

for our

family,

for our

friends.

things.

And so

it's a

call for

you to

consider,

just like

that first

point,

how is

your heart,

you know,

the first

point is

for you to

ask yourself,

what is your

heart posture

towards God?

Do you have

a soft

heart or

a hardened

heart?

For the

second one

is,

will I

still do

the right

thing even

when no

one is

looking?

That's a

way to

gauge your

heart.

Am I

still going

to serve

the Lord

even when

I'm not

appreciated?

Am I

still going

to do

the right

thing even

when no

one is

looking?

That's a

hard question

for sure.

Because a

lot of us,

let's be

honest,

we like

getting

appreciated.

We like

being thanked

for what

we do.

And certainly

we should

thank others.

Don't get

me wrong.

I'm not

saying don't

be appreciative

or thankful

for what

others do.

But when

you are

serving,

understand that

may not

always happen.

And so,

when we

think of

our time,

our talent,

and our

treasure,

give to

the Lord.

You are

serving him

and not

man.

And in

everything,

just know

that it

does matter

what you

do.

The final

thing then

is to

lead as

a servant

leader.

There's no

spacing there.

That's

all right.

It's to

lead as

a servant

leader.

What does

it mean

to be a

servant

leader?

Well,

first off,

it is

knowing that

you belong

to the

Lord,

right?

That you're

growing in

him and

you're

moved to

live like

him,

to love

like him,

and to

lead others

by Christ's

example.

example.

Doesn't

Jesus Christ

give us

an example

of how we

should live

our lives?

Doesn't

scripture tell

us that

we should

forgive one

another?

Showing

compassion,

love, but

also we

have the

love side

and we

have the

truth side

because we

stand on

the truth

of God's

word and

we deal

in love.

And so

it is

through your

words,

it is

through

your

actions,

how you

speak to

people.

How do

you speak

to your

neighbor?

How do

you speak

to your

family?

How do

you do

that?

And also

in your

actions.

How are

your actions?

I mean,

I know a

lot of

us,

we know

that actions

speak louder

than words,

but the

two should

be in

alignment.

Don't be

a hypocrite

in your

words and

your actions.

they need

to be

in

alignment.

Be

an

ambassador

for

Christ.

That's

what

matters,

is that

you represent

Christ.

In

knowing the

Lord,

in

believing

in

him,

recognize

that you're

saved,

and be

transformed

by him.

Show

others

through

your words

and your

actions

that you

are a

Christian,

that you

are saved.

And whether

you are out

in a

field,

preparing

the soil

or preparing

hearts,

or whether

you are

tending

the sheep,

whether it's

literal sheep,

or it's

tending

those that

know the

Lord,

the flock,

what matters

is that you

belong to

God,

and you

serve him.

we are

certainly

saved by

grace through

faith.

We grow

and we

do good

in his

name.

That is

our

calling.

That is

our

mission.

That is

our

objective,

to be

saved,

to grow

in his

name,

and to

do good

in the

name of

Jesus

Christ.

Certainly

the

setting

and the

situation

may

change,

but God

is

constant.

Who do

you belong

to?

And who

do you

serve?

Let us

remember

then,

that God's

grace

is enough.

God

supplies us

with all

that we

need.

What a

wonderful God

that we

serve.

Without

him,

we are

nothing.

And to

bring it

all home,

I want

to challenge

you.

I want

you to

turn your

Bibles

real quick

as we

close here.

I want

you to

go to

1 Peter.

It's

not on

the screen.

1 Peter

1 Peter 4:11

chapter 4

verse 11.

It's

on page

1206

in the

ESV

Pew

Bible.

I'll

start with

verse 8.

Are we

all there,

church?

So I'll

start with

verse 8.

Above

all,

keep loving

one another

earnestly,

since love

covers a

multitude of

sins.

show

hospitality

to one

another

without

grumbling.

As each

has received

a gift,

use it

to serve

one another

as good

stewards

of God's

varied grace.

When we

talk about

being a

servant,

part of

that is

stewardship.

As good

stewards of

God's

varied grace,

whoever

speaks,

as one

who speaks

oracles of

God,

whoever

serves as

one who

serves by

the what?

The strength

that God

supplies,

in order

that in

everything may

be glorified

through Jesus

Christ.

To him

belong glory

and dominion

forever and

ever.

Amen.

Do you see

that there?

it helps

us with

our

understanding

of the

parable

that whoever

serves,

God will

give you

the strength

and he

will supply

with what

you need

and in

doing this

that God

may be

glorified

through

Jesus

Christ.

And so

let that

truth,

let that

remain with

you today

as we

close and

we see

how powerful

this parable

is.

May it

stir

our hearts.

May we

have a

heart of

gratitude.

May we

seek God,

grow in

him,

and do

good in

his name.

Let's pray

together.

And Father,

we thank

you for

this time,

this opportunity

for us

to go

over your

word.

What a

very

unique

and very

deep

and very

heavy

parable

that you

have here.

And although

we may not

fully understand

it here

in 2025,

as we

know,

hundreds,

thousands of

years have

passed by,

may we

recognize

that these

servants

were dedicated

to you

in service.

And although

we may not

have slaves

or servants

today,

may we

at least

recognize

that the

servants in

this parable

relied on

you,

recognizing

who they

belong to.

May we

consider that.

May we

think about

it,

that we

belong to

you,

that we

serve you.

Father,

I pray

that if

there's

anyone who

has a

hardened

heart,

that it

may be

softened

I pray

that if

there's

anyone who

has not

had a

relationship

with you,

may they

repent the

changing of

mind to

believe in

you.

I pray

that we

may together

and individually

grow in

you,

continuing to

be molded

and transformed

by you.

And I

pray that

we don't

have an

inactive

faith,

but we

have an

active

faith,

living out

the gospel,

being that

ambassador

for Christ

in what

we say

and in

what we

do.

May you

stir our

hearts much

like you

stirred the

heart of

pagan kings

to act.

May you

stir our

hearts

to be

empowered,

to be

more like

you.

It is

in Jesus'

name that

we pray,

and we

all say

together,

amen.

Thank you

for listening

for this

week's

message from

Ontario

Community

Church.

I pray

that you

are encouraged

and strengthened

in your

walk with

Christ.

For more

sermons and

resources,

visit

Ontario

Community

Church

dot org.

May God

bless you

as you

live out

his grace

and truth

every single

day.

God

Thank you.