Luke 17:5-10 · Bible study
Luke 17:5-10 Commentary: Faith, Forgiveness, and Unworthy Servants
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why did the apostles ask for more faith? Jesus answers with a mustard seed, a mulberry tree, and a parable about serving without entitlement.
Research Summary
- Meaning: True faith, even tiny, can accomplish great things, but our obedience puts God under no obligation. We are servants doing our duty.
- Key words: pistis (faith), prosthes (add to us), achreioi (unworthy/unprofitable), doulos (servant/slave), opheilō (owe/duty).
- Main debate: Does “unworthy servants” mean we are still sinful, or simply that we do not profit God? Commentators differ, but all agree no service merits reward.
- Theological theme: The relationship between faith, grace, and works: faith is a gift that empowers obedience, but obedience is the servant’s duty, not a source of merit.
- Best use: Teaching on humility in service, prayer for spiritual growth, and the assurance that God rewards by grace, not by debt.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
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?
10So you also, when you have done everything commanded of you, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”
WEB World English Bible 2000
5The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
6The Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
7But who is there among you, having a servant plowing or keeping sheep, that will say when he comes in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down at the table’?
8Wouldn’t he rather tell him, ‘Prepare my supper, clothe yourself properly, and serve me while I eat and drink. Afterward you shall eat and drink’?
9Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded? I think not.
10Even so you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.’”
KJV King James Version 1769
5And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
6And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
7But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
8And 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?
9Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
10So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
5And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
6And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye would say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou rooted up, and be thou planted in the sea; and it would obey you.
7But 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;
8and 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?
9Doth he thank the servant because he did the things that were commanded?
10Even so ye also, when ye shall have done all the things that are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which it was our duty to do.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
5And the apostles said to the Lord, `Add to us faith;'
6and the Lord said, `If ye had faith as a grain of mustard, ye would have said to this sycamine, Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea, and it would have obeyed you.
7`But, who is he of you--having a servant ploughing or feeding--who, to him having come in out of the field, will say, Having come near, recline at meat?
8but will not rather say to him, Prepare what I may sup, and having girded thyself about, minister to me, till I eat and drink, and after these things thou shalt eat and drink?
9Hath he favour to that servant because he did the things directed? I think not.
10`So also ye, when ye may have done all the things directed you, say--We are unprofitable servants, because that which we owed to do--we have done.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
5And the apostles said to the Lord, Give more faith to us.
6But the Lord said, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard [seed], ye had said to this sycamine tree, Be thou rooted up, and be thou planted in the sea, and it would have obeyed you.
7But which of you [is there] who, having a bondman ploughing or shepherding, when he comes in out of the field, will say, Come and lie down immediately to table?
8But will he not say to him, Prepare what I shall sup on, and gird thyself and serve me that I may eat and drink; and after that thou shalt eat and drink?
9Is he thankful to the bondman because he has done what was ordered? I judge not.
10Thus ye also, when ye shall have done all things that have been ordered you, say, We are unprofitable bondmen; we have done what it was our duty to do.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
5And the apostles said to the Lord: Increase our faith.
6And the Lord said: If you had faith like to a grain of mustard seed, you might say to this mulberry tree: Be thou rooted up and be thou transplanted into the sea. And it would obey you.
7But which of you, having a servant ploughing or feeding cattle, will say to him, when he is come from the field: Immediately go. Sit down to meat.
8And will not rather say to him: Make ready my supper and gird thyself and serve me, whilst I eat and drink; and afterwards thou shalt eat and drink?
9Doth he thank that servant for doing the things which he commanded him?
10I think not. So you also, when you shall have done all these things that are commanded you, say: We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which we ought to do.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Luke 17:5
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
The apostles have just heard Jesus command unlimited forgiveness (Luke 17:3-4). Clarke and Barnes agree that this duty seemed so difficult that the disciples felt they lacked the faith to obey. So they cry out, “Increase our faith.” Jesus replies with two pictures. First, a mustard-seed-sized faith can command a sycamine tree to uproot and plant itself in the sea, a hyperbole that any genuine faith, however small, has real power. Second, he tells the parable of a servant who works all day and then serves supper without special thanks. The point, Calvin stresses, is that God owes us nothing; even our best service is only what we owe. Vincent defines the Greek word achreioi as having rendered no service beyond what was due. Adam Clarke adds that “unprofitable servants” does not mean sinful, but that we have not benefited God. The passage therefore holds together faith’s power and the servant’s humility: faith enables obedience, but obedience never puts God in our debt.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Proper humility view: The apostles rightly felt inadequate; Jesus answers with a reassurance of faith’s power (v6).
- Anti-merit view: The parable (vv7-10) teaches that God owes us nothing; even the best service is only duty. This is the dominant Protestant understanding.
- Non-sinful imperfection view: Adam Clarke argues 'unworthy' means we do not profit God, not that we are sinful. Perfect obedience is impossible, but the text focuses on our status as servants.
What is clear: Faith is a gift we can ask for, and our service to God, however faithful, does not put him in our debt.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Reason for the apostles' request | Commentators agree the request was prompted by the difficulty of Jesus’ command to forgive repeatedly. | Some stress the apostles’ genuine humility (Barnes, Wesley), while others note they may have also expected rewards in the kingdom (Cambridge). |
| Meaning of 'unworthy servants' | All traditions agree that our service does not put God in our debt. | Adam Clarke insists 'unworthy' does not imply sinfulness, only that we have not benefited God. Calvin and the Reformed tradition see it as showing that even perfect obedience would merit nothing. The Anglican Article XIV (in Cambridge) rejects works of supererogation. |
| Literalness of the mustard seed promise | Virtually all see the tree-uprooting as hyperbole illustrating faith’s power, not a literal command to perform. | Some emphasize that the hyperbole encourages bold faith (Wesley); others emphasize that the parable immediately after keeps that faith humble (Lange). |
| Role of the parable in context | The parable tempers any pride that might come from seeing faith’s power. | Some view it primarily as a rebuke to those seeking rewards (Cambridge, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown). Others see it as a general lesson about God’s sovereignty and human dependence (Calvin). |
Historical & Cultural Context
This teaching takes place while Jesus is on his final journey to Jerusalem (Luke 17:11). The apostles, a title that in Luke often denotes the Twelve, speak up together. The Greek verb for their request is prosthes, an aorist imperative meaning “add to us faith,” as though faith is something that can be given in larger measure. Jesus points to a nearby sycamine tree, probably a mulberry or fig-mulberry tree common in Galilee (Gill, Cambridge). The mustard seed was proverbial for tiny things that produce large plants (Matthew 13:32). In first-century Palestine, servants were often slaves who had no personal rights. Their labour, plowing, shepherding, belonged entirely to the master. When the servant came in from the field, he was expected to cook and serve the master’s meal before eating himself. No master would thank a slave for doing what was required; that was the slave’s duty. Jesus draws on this familiar social reality to teach about our relationship with God. Earlier in Luke, the disciples had argued about who was greatest and looked for rewards in the coming kingdom (Luke 9:46, Acts 1:6). This parable rebukes any attitude that views service to God as earning special treatment. Even if you do everything commanded, you are still only doing your duty.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Luke 17:5-10. Some translations render the tree as “sycamine” (WEB, KJV) or “mulberry” (BSB, Douay), but this reflects different English terms for the same Greek word sukaminos. The phrase “I trow not” in KJV is an older English equivalent of “I think not” (Gill). None of these differences affect the passage’s meaning.
Reception History
Luke 17:7-10, the parable of the servant, is unique to Luke and has been especially influential in discussions of grace and merit. During the Reformation, both Protestant and Catholic theologians engaged it. The Anglican Article XIV (1563) cited this passage to argue that works done beyond God’s command cannot be called works of supererogation, since even complete obedience is no more than duty. Earlier, John Calvin and later commentators like Matthew Henry used the parable to teach that God is never in our debt. Adam Clarke (Methodist) later stressed that “unworthy” does not mean sinful, only that we have not profited God. In the broader church, the passage has been regularly read on the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost in traditional lectionaries, pairing the call to faith with a call to humility.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The honest prayer for faith (v5). The apostles felt the weight of forgiving others and knew they needed more faith. Their request shows that faith is not a static possession; it can grow, and we can ask the Lord for it.
- The powerful promise of faith (v6). Jesus does not scold them. He says even tiny, genuine faith can do what seems impossible. The example is deliberately absurd, a tree moving into the sea, to show that faith’s real power comes from God, not from size.
- The proper posture of faith (vv7-10). Immediately after the promise comes the parable: servants do not get thanked for ordinary duties. Faith does not make us VIPs. We serve, and then we say, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.” That is the posture of true faith.
Five-point outline
- Acknowledging our need: the apostles admit they cannot obey on their own.
- Trusting God for the impossible: Jesus promises that even small faith can do great things.
- Serving without entitlement: the parable cancels any thought that God owes us anything.
- Knowing our place: we are servants, not partners who can negotiate.
- Finding freedom in unworthiness: when we stop trying to earn God’s favour, we can serve freely and joyfully.
Illustration hooks
- An employee who works hard all week does not expect the boss to thank them for showing up every day. Doing your job is expected. How much more is faithful service to God our basic calling?
- Imagine someone lends you money and then you repay it. Do they thank you? No, repayment is what you owe. Our obedience to God is repaying a debt of love, not doing him a favour.
- A child who cleans their room after being told does not earn a reward for basic obedience. Parents may praise, but the child was supposed to do it. God’s grace is far greater, but the parable checks our attitude.
Questions your congregation is asking
- “If I cannot earn God’s favour, why bother trying hard to obey?”
- “Does this passage mean I should never expect any reward from God?”
- “How can I know if my faith is big enough?”
Leading a Discussion
This passage begins with the apostles feeling overwhelmed by Jesus’ command to forgive. They ask for more faith. Jesus gives them a surprising answer: a tiny faith can uproot trees, but even great obedience does not put God in your debt. As you discuss these verses, notice how Jesus holds together the power of faith and the humility of a servant.
Discussion questions
- What prompted the apostles’ request? Read Luke 17:1-4 to see what Jesus said just before. How would you feel if someone told you to forgive the same person seven times in one day?
- Why do you think Jesus responds with an example of uprooting a tree? What does that say about the kind of faith he is describing?
- In the parable, why does the master not thank the servant? What does this reveal about the relationship between a master and a servant in that culture?
- How does the parable connect back to the apostles’ request for more faith? What is Jesus teaching them about the purpose of faith and obedience?
- What does it mean to call yourself an “unworthy servant”? Does this mean your service is worthless, or something else? Look at how Adam Clarke and Vincent explain the Greek word.
- This passage can feel discouraging if you want to please God. But how might it actually free you from worrying about whether you have done enough?
- How can your small group encourage one another to ask for more faith while staying humble in service?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Mark 6:30 | The apostles gathered themselves together to Jesus, and they told him all things, whatever they had done, and whatever they had taught. |
| Mark 9:24 | Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, “I believe. Help my unbelief!” |
| Luke 7:13 | When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Don’t cry.” |
| II Corinthians 12:8 | Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me. |
| II Corinthians 12:10 | Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, and in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong. |
| Philippians 4:13 | I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. |
| II Thessalonians 1:3 | We are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers, even as it is appropriate, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of each and every one of you toward one another abounds, |
| Hebrews 12:2 | looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke stresses that calling ourselves unprofitable servants does not mean we are sinful or imperfect. Even the most holy angels cannot add anything to God's infinite glory. Our best obedience only does what we owe, and God's nature remains complete whether we serve or fail.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes observes that the disciples' plea for increased faith arose directly from the difficulty of forgiving others, a duty that cuts hard against natural resentment. He emphasizes that Jesus alone has the power to grant this increase, since genuine forgiveness requires a strength that comes only from the Author of faith himself.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin argues that even perfect obedience to God creates no claim or merit, because God owns us completely. Like an ancient slave whose every effort belongs to his master, we bring nothing of our own; God owes us nothing and we cannot put Him in our debt.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentary highlights the physical setting of Jesus teaching outdoors, pointing to a visible sycamore tree, and connects the command to uproot it with a rabbinic phrase for removing impossible obstacles. It stresses that even faithful service is only bare duty, and that no one ever does enough to deserve special reward.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes stress that even after believers have done everything God commands, they must still call themselves unprofitable servants. They have only performed what was their duty to do, and deserve no special thanks or reward from God for it.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill observes that the apostles' plea for increased faith arose from their awareness of weakness and the need for divine help. He stresses that faith is entirely God's gift—both its beginning and any increase come from Him, not from human effort. Even after doing everything commanded, believers remain unprofitable servants who deserve no thanks from God.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that this request for increased faith is the only instance where the Twelve asked Christ for a spiritual operation on their souls. He then ties this to the parable that follows: even when faith enables the impossible, believers must not think they have put God in their debt; they remain unprofitable servants who have not benefited him at all.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange draws attention to the sequence: the apostles pray for increased faith because they realize they cannot meet Jesus' demand to keep forgiving. Jesus answers first by encouraging them with the power of faith, then immediately humbles them with the parable of the servant, so that even extraordinary faith never becomes grounds for boasting.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent clarifies that the Greek word for "unprofitable" does not mean useless. It describes a servant who has rendered only what is owed, not extra service. True profit, he notes, begins only when the servant goes beyond obligation, because a servant owes everything.