Becoming “Worthless Slaves”

Lamentations 1:1-6; Luke 17:5-10

I’ve never heard anyone say that the parable I read from Luke 17 is their favorite parable. Never. In fact, I suspect most don’t even know this shocking story from Jesus. We call it The Parable of the Worthless Slave. Luke is the only one to record it. I wonder if Matthew and Mark found Jesus’ teaching about the worthless slave to be too shocking. The New International Version attempts to soften the language and uses the word “servant” instead of slave. The Greek word is doulos, and it is best translated as slave. Another Greek word, deaconos, is translated as servant.

Of course, our country, our region in particular, has a painful history with slavery. It is not a word we should use lightly. I too tried to modify this parable to make is more acceptable for today. At first, I thought I could change the slave-master relationship to an employee-employer relationship. But it just didn’t work.

Slavery in the time of Jesus was different than the slavery of the deep South in the nineteenth century. In the time of Jesus, someone might become enslaved temporarily. That could have happened if someone owed a debt he couldn’t pay. Or maybe someone was caught stealing. Instead of paying restitution from their income, they could agree to be a slave and pay their debt with their labor. When they paid all their debt, they were free again.

This was an arrangement Jesus and his apostles would have understood. Maybe they all knew a local farmer who had generously loaned money to someone. It wasn’t a big operation, just the farmer and maybe a son. He probably didn’t have enough cashflow to make the loan, but he was generous and did anyway. Besides, he was going to be repaid. The man who borrowed the money fully intended to repay his debt, but he met unfortunate circumstances. He couldn’t pay. So he went to the farmer said, “Look, I know I agreed to repay the loan today, but I just can’t do it. I’m sorry. I will agree to be your slave for the next twelve months to pay off what I owe you.” The farmer might have been angry, but he didn’t have many options. So he agreed to the arrangement.

Now, consider this shocking parable. Notice first to whom it is addressed. Not the scribes and Pharisees. Not the crowds. This parable is addressed to the apostles, referring to the twelve apostles. The word “disciple” is used in verse one. It refers to any followers of Jesus. The word “apostle” is used in verse five. It refers to the twelve apostles. “Who among you,” Jesus asked the apostles, “would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending the sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’?” No, that’s not the way it worked. The slave would come in from the field and then cook dinner for the master. He would serve the one to whom he was indebted, and then he would prepare his own meal and eat.

Then Jesus asked the apostles this question, “Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded?” In other words, do you thank him for doing what he agreed to do? No. He couldn’t repay his debt, so he agreed to be a slave for twelve months. He got no pat on the back. Jesus ends with this statement, which is difficult to hear. Remember, he is talking to the twelve apostles:

So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say,
‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done.’

Worthless slaves. That is how the twelve apostles were to think of themselves. Worthless slaves who should serve with no expectation of reward.

Let me point out something. Jesus had just told the apostles and all the other disciples to do three things: don’t deliberately cause a brother or sister to stumble, rebuke a brother or sister if they sin, and then be willing to forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times a day, if they repent, forgive them. That’s what it means for you to be my disciples, he said. The twelve apostles, fearing their faith was inadequate, asked Jesus to increase their faith. He assured them they had plenty of faith to do what he was asking them to do. And when you do these things, he told them, don’t assume you have done more than your duty. Don’t assume you deserve a pat on the back. This is what you agreed to do.

As we prepare to come to this table, let me make one other point. We owe a debt. One paid a price for us we could not pay ourselves. That is what we remember at this table today. Jesus paid a price we could not pay. Jesus did something we could not do. Our response to that gracious gift is to live our lives as gracious gifts to others, as if we’re slaves, as if we’re worthless slaves. An employee-employer relationship cannot hold that much weight; it’s just inadequate. We have been given a gift, so we give our lives as gifts to others. Not to get a pat on the back. Not to get any reward. It is simply because we are disciples of Jesus Christ.

Today Christians around the world gather around this simple meal. Today is World Communion Sunday. We join with believers in war torn Ukraine, Nigeria, California, Seattle, and across the state of Alabama. In Florida, some will leave their flooded homes to gather in church buildings still soaked from flood waters. Some will attend grand cathedrals, while others assemble in homes. We will all remember a hill outside Jerusalem. Two thieves were crucified on crosses. Between them Jesus of Nazareth, the most noble soul ever to walk this earth, gave his life on a cross too. Some of his final words were these, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” For over two thousand years, those words have lifted and challenged the human race. In a moment your deacons will serve you for the first time in two and a half years. No stale wafer today. The bread is homemade. Hold the elements until everyone has been served. While you’re waiting, think of their meaning. Hear those words echoing through history. A blessing will be said, and we will partake together. If you are not a member of this church but you consider yourself to be a follower of Jesus, you are our brother or sister in Christ. Please join us in this time of remembrance. If you are joining us online, feel free to use items you have in your home.

A Prayer of Confession is printed in your worship guide. Please join me as we confess our sins together.