New Living Translation
Luke 17:10
10In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’”
Luke 17:10 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)So 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.
- New International Version (NIV)So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ ”
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.'"
- New King James Version (NKJV)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.’ ”
Context of Luke 17:10
8No, he says, ‘Prepare my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you can eat later.’ 9And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’” 11As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. 12As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance,
Read all of Luke 17Luke 17:10 word by word
οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς, ὅταν ποιήσητε πάντα τὰ διαταχθέντα ὑμῖν, λέγετε ὅτι δοῦλοι ἀχρεῖοί ἐσμεν· ὃ ὠφείλομεν ποιῆσαι πεποιήκαμεν.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
- likewiseκαίkai · andG2532
- yeσύsu · youG4771
- whenὅτανhotan · when(-ever)G3752
- ye shall have doneποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- those things whichὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- are commandedδιατάσσωdiatassō · to directG1299
- sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- We areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- unprofitableἀχρεῖοςachreios · worthlessG888
- servantsδοῦλοςdoulos · slaveG1401
- ·ὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- that whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- was our dutyὀφείλωopheilō opheileō · to oweG3784
Cross-references for Luke 17:10
- 1 Chronicles 29:14But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us!
- Job 22:2“Can a person do anything to help God? Can even a wise person be helpful to him?
- Job 35:6If you sin, how does that affect God? Even if you sin again and again, what effect will it have on him?
- Psalms 16:2I said to the Lord, “You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.”
- Psalms 35:6Make their path dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.
- Proverbs 16:2People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.
- Isaiah 6:5Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”
- Isaiah 64:6We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.
- Matthew 25:30Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
- Romans 3:12All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.”
- Romans 11:35And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back?
- 1 Corinthians 9:16Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!
- 1 Corinthians 15:9For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church.
- Philippians 3:8Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ
- Philemon 1:11Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us.
- 1 Peter 5:5In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Commentaries on Luke 17:10
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10We are unprofitable servants - This text has often been produced to prove that no man can live without committing sin against God. But let it be observed, the text says unprofitable servants, not sinful servants. If this text could be fairly construed to countenance sinful imperfection, it would be easy to demonstrate that there is not one of the spirits of just men made perfect, in paradise, nor a ministering angel at the throne of God, but is sinfully…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10Are unprofitable servants - We have conferred no favor. We have “merited” nothing. We have not “benefited” God, or laid him under “obligation.” If he rewards us, it will be matter of unmerited favor. This is true in relation to Christians in the following respects: 1.Our services are not “profitable” to God Job 22:2; he “needs” not our aid, and his essential happiness will not be increased by our efforts. 2.The grace to do his will comes from him only…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-10In Greco-Roman culture, servants were expected to serve their masters faithfully. Faith (17:5–6) includes obeying Christ and submitting to his commands.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 7-107-10. say unto him by and by--The "by and by" (or rather "directly") should be joined not to the saying but the going: "Go directly." The connection here is: "But when your faith has been so increased as both to avoid and forgive offenses, and do things impossible to all but faith, be not puffed up as though you had laid the Lord under any obligations to you."Read the comment
Topics related to Luke 17:10
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Luke 17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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