Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded? I think not.
Parallel translations
- KJV Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
- BSB Does he thank the servant because he did what he was told?
- NKJV Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.
- NASB He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he?
- NLT And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus notes the master does not specially thank the servant for merely doing what was commanded.
Overview
Doing one's duty earns no special credit; it is simply expected. The point is not that God is ungrateful but that we cannot put Him in our debt. Our obedience never becomes grounds for boasting, which underscores that salvation is by grace alone.
Cross-references & the web
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Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 17:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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