LUKE 17:5-10

Luke 17:5-10

I suspect our study of God’s Word often presents significant, personal challenges. I know, because it often does in my life. I get to study it all week, preach it twice – and sometimes, I don’t always do it right – dare I say, obey it fully. Perhaps there are times you walk away encouraged, other times, discouraged? Maybe even thinking, who can do that? I can’t.

And now, in our study of Luke, as we’ve seen, Jesus seems to be upping the discipleship ante. He’s getting ready to leave, through the cross and resurrection, and His demands are becoming more stringent, challenging. Who can do that? He seems to be intentionally dividing the professors from the possessors – the pretenders from the genuine. True followers from the bandwagon who were just looking for a free lunch.

There was that time in John’s gospel when Jesus spoke of eating His flesh and drinking His blood – symbolically referring to trusting His cross-work, and we read many of His disciples walked away and followed Him no longer. You ever feel like that? Earlier in that same conversation, they said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?” And yet, you guys show up here week after week willfully. Well, unless your mom or spouse drags you out of bed. His teaching is hard, and think about this: when He did ascend back to heaven, after living here for thirty-three years, and after three years of ministry, He left 120 in the Upper Room. You see, He wasn’t really what they were looking for. 120 – not what many would call a successful stay.

Thinking about that, let’s take a brief aside. Did you know that 80% of churches in the US run a hundred or less? Is that successful? Did you know that 90% run 200 or less? Seems Jesus was right in the mix. Would you follow Him if after 3 years, this would-be Messiah had only 120 followers, and ended His life beaten, disfigured, crucified by the Romans? Oh, I know we do now – it’s 2,000 years later, lots of followers, lots of churches cleaned and sanitized, and we weren’t there to see the horror. Maybe it’s easier on this side of the cross – until we realize, these demands are still here.

In our contemporary culture where we think big churches, so called mega-churches which are all the rage, are considered the successful ones – maybe, they aren’t. Sometimes the accusation is leveled against us, because we’re the big church – well, they don’t preach the Bible, or the right Bible, or sing the right songs with the right instruments – they’re liberal. You know that’s not true – but is it a reasonable assumption? Come to Alliance to get cookies and ice cream. Is it possible some of those so-called successful churches aren’t teaching the Bible, the difficult words of our Lord?

End of aside. Truth is, Jesus wasn’t weak. He wasn’t wimpy. He was the Son of God – the Omnipotent God, the all-powerful and all-wise One. His words, His demands were not easy. Yes, grace is free, but it costs something to be a follower. Actually, it costs everything you’ve got. It wasn’t just tea and crumpets, coffee and croissants. It was difficult to follow. And it caused many to walk away. Maybe you’ve been tempted to walk away. Is this worth it?

Last time we were in Luke a few weeks ago, we began chapter 17. The first ten verses are gathered, put together by Luke, likely as Jesus spoke them at different times. Most then suggest there’s not an intentional flow or connection here. But maybe there’s a bit more than first meets the eye. You see, last time, we saw Jesus say to His disciples, listen, stumbling blocks are going to come – they’re inevitable. Those are false and sometimes heretical teachings and actions that cause others to stumble. Then He lowered the boom – but woe to those through whom they come! It would be better to tie a millstone around his neck and throw him into the sea than that he causes these little ones, My little ones to stumble. Makes you want to sign up for children’s ministry, right? We saw little ones doesn’t necessarily refer only to children, but includes other believers, new believers – those new to the faith. They are prime pickings for false teachers to pick off. Woe to you if you do.

And then He said this – this was fun. Be on your guard. In the context, be on your guard against sin in your own life; but also, be on your guard for your brother’s sin – your sister’s sin. You see, we are our brother’s keepers. If he falls into sin, rebuke him. Yes, we saw from Galatians that should be done gently, but rebuke him – expose his sin and call him to repentance and righteousness nonetheless. And if he repents, if she repents – and repentance, remember, includes contrition – that is, agreeing that you’re guilty of what you are accused of without excuse and explanation, sorrow over your sin, confession of your sin, and turning from your sin. That’s repentance. So, if your brother sins and you rebuke him and he repents, forgive him. Don’t hold it to his account – forgive him.

Okay, I think I can do that. But then, Jesus said these startling words. If he sins against you seven times in one day, and returns seven times, saying, I repent, forgive me – what do you do? Forget it buster – three strikes and you’re out. No, you forgive him seven times. In one day? Who can do that? How do you do that after being hurt again, betrayed again and again? Let’s be honest, that was hard to hear.

Which brings us to our text. Look at it with me, maybe there is a bit of a flow – Luke 17:5-10.

We don’t get proud when we obey His commands – we simply do what our Master commands. Again, maybe there is a loose flow here. How do you do that? How do you forgive, again and again? What should your response be to this incredibly difficult teaching? What was your response to these words of Jesus a few weeks ago? We see in these verses:

I. The Response of the Disciples (5)
II. The Response of Jesus (6)
III. Then, The Proper Attitude of True Disciples (7-10)

So here you go – this is how we as followers of Jesus respond when we read His word, hear His word, study His word, and are confronted by His word. We are servants, slaves, we simply do what is commanded. Verse 5, the apostles – notice not just any old disciple – the apostles – those who would be the sent ones upon whom the foundation of the church will be laid with Jesus Himself being the chief cornerstone – these are the all-stars. They exclaimed to the Lord – don’t miss that. This isn’t just a rabbi, a traveling itinerant teacher – this is the Lord. Being overwhelmed by His teaching and its demands, who can do this? Lord, increase our faith!” Exclamation point.

That’s how we respond to this and any demanding teaching of our Lord. This is God in the flesh. This is the Lord. This is His Word. He teaches and makes demands of His followers. We don’t throw up our hands in despair and anguish and hopelessness. Nor do you buck up, muster up the strength and say through gritted teeth, okay, I’ll do it. You don’t leave here on Sunday and say, I got this. You don’t got this. You need the Lord.

We cry out to the Lord, Increase my faith. You see, faith is not something you need just be to be born again – saved – redeemed. You need it every day to fight battles as fully devoted followers of Jesus. To be obedient. It’s okay, it’s even right to say to the Lord, I don’t have what it takes to obey these demands – because you don’t. Increase my faith – give me everything I need to be an obedient, faithful follower of Jesus. And here’s the good news – He will do just that. Faith is what we need to fight the battles; to live obedient and faithful lives. Faith, every day of our lives. The Christian life is a walk of perpetual faith.

But then notice Jesus’ response in verse 6. It’s not meant to be a put down, a correction, a “when are you guys going to get it?” No, it’s meant to be an encouragement. Do you understand how strong faith is? Oh, not because of the strength of your faith, but the strength of the object of our faith – the strength of the One believed. Do you know that? I want you to leave encouraged today.

Look at verse 6, “the Lord said, [you want more faith? Listen] ‘If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.’ And it would. Do you see the strength of faith? Jesus isn’t correcting their lack of faith. He isn’t correcting their request. He’s simply saying, you have faith, and it can do much. Because your faith is in Me.

We’ve seen this before – the mustard seed was the smallest of the seeds planted in gardens. Some of you have one in a pendent in some water to magnify it, otherwise you could hardly see it. The mustard seed was used proverbially to speak of that which was very small. If you have that much faith – it doesn’t take much – you can say to this mulberry tree – probably the black mulberry tree known to have massive and many roots such that it was known to live up to 600 years (rules about how close it could be planted to a water source like a well or a cistern] – be uprooted and go plant yourself in the sea – and it would. Now, Jesus isn’t giving permission here to use faith like a magic trick and do useless stuff. There’s no reason for a mulberry tree to be planted in the sea. He’s speaking hyperbolically, simply illustrating His point – this was a common practice of the day.

Brothers and sisters, you have the strength of faith empowered by the living God and His crucified and resurrected Son, and His indwelling Spirit to accomplish all that God and His word demands of us. Yes, His demands are great, stringent, strong – but we don’t throw up our hands in despair and exclaim, who can do this? We don’t walk away discouraged. Nor do we double down and say, okay, I’m going to do this in some misguided sense of personal strength. No, we rely on the One to empower that which He has demanded for His glory and our good and He will. I don’t know if I can forgive my husband, my wife, my mom, my dad, my brother, my sister, again. Yeah, actually you can – through the power of faith.

Which brings us to our third point and our response, our attitude to such demands – to such unearned, undeserved grace in verses 7-10. You have what it takes through the work of Christ, don’t get proud. Don’t get resentful. This parable is unique to Luke, and is a little difficult, but when we remember what Christ has done for us – who we are and whose we are, it’s not really that difficult at all. Look at it.

Which of you, having a slave – stop right there a moment. The word is doulos, and you may know Paul often referred to himself as a slave (servant) of Jesus Christ. Now, we must always remember slavery at this time was not the result of racism – that is, it wasn’t directed toward those of a certain race as it was in our Antebellum South. It was typically the result of war, conquest, and economics. Many slaves, while owned by their masters, were simply treated as employees – in some cases even as family members. They had tremendous responsibilities.

Yes, I don’t want to whitewash it – in many cases there was mistreatment as slaves were treated as chattel, property. But that wasn’t mostly the case, and while it was the economy of the day – as I recall, there were some 60 million slaves in the Roman Empire – it was also the practice of the day. And let’s also remember how Paul himself took slavery to task – not overtly – but in a veiled and clear way in his letter to Philemon.

Now, this particular slave seemed to be the only slave of this master. Did you notice, he did everything. We find he spends his day in the fields – plowing as a farmer or tending sheep as a shepherd. Either way, the field and its produce, the field and the sheep belonged to the master. The slave simply tended to his master’s holdings.

At the end of the day, he would come in from the field and whatever he was doing that day – presumably, he would come to the house. Jesus then poses the question, which one of you having this slave, when he came in from the field, which one of you masters would say to him, you must be bushed after a long day in the field. Come, have a seat at the dining room table and eat. The structure of the sentence is such that a negative answer is expected. In fact, the culture of the day would have expected a negative answer. No – he’s the slave, and he still has work to do. He still has responsibilities to fulfill.

Coming in from the field, he still has his domestic duties to perform. Again, he appears to be the only slave, so having worked in the field, it’s now time to work in the kitchen. Take off the boots and put on the apron. The master will say to him, “Prepare something for me to eat.” Not only that, make sure you’re appropriately dressed. No field clothes – no farmer or shepherd clothes – they’re dirty. Properly clothe yourself and serve me while I eat and drink. That sounds so harsh – but it was the practice of the day. It was the slave’s job. In our world of entitlement, this seems beyond the pale – but not then. No – the slave had his needs met – maybe differently than we expect – but he got his wages – at least a roof over his head and food to eat. It would have been better than the alternative. Slaves were actually better than freemen, who had to find work and often lived hand to mouth.

Further, the master doesn’t thank the slave, does he – because he did what he was supposed to – did what was commanded? Again, the negative answer is expected. Of course not – he’s just doing his job. He’s the slave – his job is to serve the master. The master doesn’t thank him – the slave simply does what is commanded. And in return, again, the master sustains his life – food to eat, clothes to wear, shelter in which to live.

Now, we haven’t gotten to the last verse, but at this point, you may be a little irritated. This doesn’t seem quite right. Your sense of justice is bubbling up. The slave works hard all day and still has to flip burgers? And the master doesn’t even thank him?

Careful, check yourself. Remember, we live in the land of the free and the home of the brave. We’ve developed our own cultural expectations. But the truth is, this slave simply did what was commanded. He did his work, and was given what was due him. He probably had no feelings of injustice or entitlement like we have hearing this story. Our problem is we think we have earned and deserve what we receive. And that master ought to be thankful.

Look at the last verse, “So you too, when you do all things which are commanded you (and I might add, rightly commanded) simply say, “We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.” That’s hard. Who can do this?

You can, because you see, our Master has redeemed us out of the slave market of sin. We deserve nothing less than judgment and eternal consequences. But He redeemed us at a steep cost – the blood of His own Son. And yes, it is because He loves us, and has known us from eternity past. Yes, He has redeemed us out of the slave market of sin and made us sons and daughters through the work of His own Son. Don’t develop an attitude of self-righteousness, of entitlement, of a false sense of justice, of earning or deserving what He has done for us. It should produce breathless gratitude for His kindness toward us. For Him to thank us, in that culture, would suggest He was indebted to us because of our service. Say thank you when you give me what I don’t deserve. This is the Master, the God of the universe. Oh no, my brothers and sisters – we are forever indebted to Him.

In a world, in a culture that teaches self-esteem this and self-esteem that – love yourself, think highly of yourself, remember who you serve. A sinner redeemed by God’s gracious, undeserved love. Not only has He redeemed us from the slavery to sin of our own making – He has made us His children. He has blessed us with every heavenly blessing in Christ. It should daily drive us to our knees in thanksgiving. We should be the ones offering thanks and eternal gratitude that we are privileged to serve Him. This is the problem with the contemporary and successful churches – they make it about you, instead of about Him.

And then, incredibly, maybe your mind is reeling with something familiar right now, and we remember the parable back in chapter 12. There, Jesus is challenging His disciples to be prepared for His return. He’s in heaven now, redeeming His people, giving us what we don’t deserve, and He says:
35 “Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit.
36 “Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks.
37 “Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them.
38 “Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
39 “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
40 “You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”

You, serve till He comes, so that He may find you faithful. You may remember when I taught that text, I was speechless, which doesn’t happen often. I didn’t know what to say that Jesus, the Master, suggested when He returns and finds us ready for His wedding feast that He will gird Himself to serve us. He will have us recline at the table and come up and wait on us. I still don’t know what to say about that.

This is not a contradiction – one parable is teaching one truth; the other another. One is teaching that Jesus will serve His brothers and sisters – His bride at the marriage supper of the Lamb. The other is teaching that we as His servants, indeed His slaves, should serve Him till He comes with gladness. We are unworthy slaves, and yet He has redeemed us and cared for us. There is no contradiction, but I would suggest we like first story better than the second. And perhaps we should have a right view of ourselves and a right view of our sovereign and gracious God which should produce joyful acts of service and love. This text should remind us who we are, and whose we are.

We must beware, watch out, check ourselves, and expect not gratitude from Him, but we should express breathless gratitude toward Him. Hold these two stories in speechless tension, and understand what a blessed people we are.