5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
Unworthy Servants
7 “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? 8 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’? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 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.’” Luke 17: 5-10 ESV
Luke 17: 5-10
…23“If You can?” echoed Jesus. “All things are possible to him who believes!” 24Immediately the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!” 25When Jesus saw that a crowd had come running, He rebuked the unclean spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” He said, “I command you to come out and never enter him again.”… Mark 9: 23-25
Increase our faith - This follows Christ's teachings on being a stumbling block and also on our commission to forgive, even to the number of perfection, seven times a day, every time that your brother comes to you in repentance. The Apostles, who are disciples, but the inner circle, the pillars of the church, the twelve, are recognizing that they are not up for this. They don't meet this standard. James will later write that faith without works is dead. Where faith has been planted, in everyone who is born again, the fruit of that saving faith will be produced, and it is seen in obedience to what God has said. Do you believe in God? Do you believe the Bible is His word? Do you do what He says? Examine yourself to see whether you are in the faith.
Steven Cole on increase our faith - The disciples instantly realized that these were tough demands. To walk uprightly so as not to cause a new believer to stumble and to forgive someone who has wronged us are not automatic behaviors! Forgiveness especially is tough because our feelings are involved. So the disciples respond by asking the Lord to increase their faith (Lk 17:5). It was an honest request stemming from the right motives. They saw that if they wanted to fulfill these demands, they would have to have God’s strength and enabling to do it. But Jesus’ answer (Lk 17:6) indicates that more faith is not really the issue. Faith is not measured by its quantity, but simply by its presence. A mustard seed sized faith will accomplish impossible things. The real need, Jesus says (Lk 17:7-10), is for more obedience and humility. We should view ourselves as God’s slaves who owe Him simple and unquestioning obedience. And, when we have done what He requires, we should not get puffed up with pride in our great obedience, but should simply say, “We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.” (More Faith or More Obedience) - Precept Austin
Brian Bell - The demands of discipleship are great (ED: I WOULD GO SO FAR AS TO SAY THEY ARE IN FACT IMPOSSIBLE...IN RELIANCE ON OUR OWN RESOLVE, OUR NATURAL FLESHY POWER!). The disciples recognized they needed divine help to fulfill such demands. No wonder the disciples cried out to Jesus, “if we have to live like that with people, then, Lord, increase our faith!” You would expect the disciples to say, “Increase our love!” But forgiveness comes from faith in God’s Word. A grenade doesn’t ask for “more power” it just says, “pull the pin”! To make an Atomic Bomb you don’t need bigger atoms, just to split them! - Precept Austin
…12I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need. 13I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. 14Nevertheless, you have done well to share in my affliction.… Philippians 4: 12-14
If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed - In agriculture, this would be one of the smaller seeds they dealt with in this area of the world. The point is, it is a small thing, but from it, inside of it, is all the information and potential needed to make something greater, something that can be seen from much further away, something that birds may even come to nest in. A seed is something that grows from ground that is cultivated, it spreads not only branches above but also roots below. There is always some confusion here for new believers, the stagnant, and those who are not of the faith. There are a host of bad teachings on what faith is, and most try to express it as blind trust or as something you muster up, not mustard up, as though it comes from inside you, but the Bible teaches something else. It teaches that faith is a gift, not of yourself, that it grows from knowing God's word, and produces fruit evidenced by obedience to God's word, we do what we believe. The object of it is Christ.
…16But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. 18But I ask, did they not hear? Indeed they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”… Romans 10: 16-18
…7in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not by works, so that no one can boast.… Ephesians 2: 7-9
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.… Hebrews 12: 1-3
You would say to this mulberry tree - This difficulty, and what was the difficulty for them? Forgiveness and being stumbling blocks, they were not prone to the first and were very prone to being the latter. God's expectation is higher than our ability and own means. How can inadequate people accomplish God's commands?
Morris explains that "The rabbis held that the roots of the tree with this name would remain in the earth for 600 years (SB). Clearly it was very firmly rooted, so that removing it would be difficult. Jesus is not suggesting that his followers occupy themselves with pointless things like transferring trees into the sea. His concern is with the difficulty. He is saying that nothing is impossible to faith: ‘genuine faith can accomplish what experience, reason, and probability would deny, if it is exercised within God’s will’ (Miller)." (The Gospel According to St. Luke: An Introduction and Commentary - borrow)
MacArthur - Jesus was not speaking of literally moving a tree; He was speaking metaphorically. The point is that those who trust Him will receive supernatural power to do what they could not do in their own human strength (cf. Mt. 17:20; Mk 11:23; Jn 14:12-14; 2Co 12:10; Ep 6:10). Humble people are powerful people because they understand their weakness and depend completely on “Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us” (Eph. 3:20). (See Luke Commentary) - Precept Austin
…5By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. 7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.… Hebrews 11: 5-7
Will any of you who has a servant plowing - Now here He addresses spiritual pride. We realize well when we understand that we cannot please God of our own, that it requires faith in Jesus Christ. So once that mulberry tree is uprooted, we do not have cause to glorify in ourselves, but in God Who grants the faith. It is not time to write a self help book on how I attained enlightenment, and then all the steps a person can take in their "own" will and means to reach that same end. Remember, God's standard is impossible for us to achieve in our own flesh, and we did not create ourselves. So now with the servant (slave) He brings them back down to earth.
…19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20
Come at once and recline at table - Take the rest of the day off, you pulled up the mulberry tree that I told you to pull up, so relax. No.
Will he not rather say, "Prepare supper for me, and dress properly" - His day is not done, he's the servant, and part of his job is to prepare the meal, but he also has to clean up before he serves it. I am the slave of the One Who purchased me, and my duties do not end in the field.
Spurgeon - This world is the place of service; we are not to be expecting to have the festival here. The great supper comes at the end of the day. This is the time for us to serve, even as Jesus did when he was here; and we are to serve right on till the close of the day, even as Jesus did......See, brethren, our position as believers; we are here as servants. It is not the time for feasting yet. Whatever work we have done, even if it is getting towards the evening of our life’s day, we must not think of sitting down yet, and expecting our Master to wait upon us. No, we must go on with our service, and reckon it to be our highest privilege still to gird ourselves, and wait on him. This is not the place of resting or of feasting; this is the day of our holy servitude. Let us work on, ploughing while we have strength for it; and when the sun goes down at eventide, then waiting like servants at the table of their Lord. (Luke 17 - exposition) - Precept Austin
…43But it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”… Mark 10: 43-45
Does he thank that servant - No, not for what is expected, and especially in our case for what He had to walk out before us, and by grace give us the faith to do. There is no room for pride.
Bock - The service of God's servant is not a matter for negotiation but is a duty. The ancient household servant was responsible for many activities, from working the fields to preparing the meals. A ancient servant's work never seemed to be done. Such is also the case here. Jesus pictures a servant coming in from a long day of farming or shepherding, only to be asked to prepare the owner's dinner. The servant will not get a meal until the master is served. Not only that, the servant will not be thanked as if he had done something special. Rather, he will do it because it is his duty - Precept Austin
We are unworthy servants - Some render this "unprofitable", showing this was the minimum expectation, no "exceeds" on your review. The bar is Christ, infinite perfection.
…24The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. 25Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.… Acts 17: 24-26
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