SEV Biblia, Chapter 17:10
Así tambin vosotros, cuando hubiereis hecho todo lo que os es mandado, decid: Siervos intiles somos, porque lo que debíamos hacer, hicimos.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Luke 17:10
Verse 10. We 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 imperfect: for none of these can work righteousness, in the smallest degree, beyond those powers which God has given them; and justice and equity require that they should exert those powers to the uttermost in the service of their Maker; and, after having acted thus, it may be justly said, They have done only what it was their duty to do. The nature of God is illimitable, and all the attributes of that nature are infinitely glorious: they cannot be lessened by the transgressions of his creatures, nor can they be increased by the uninterrupted, eternal obedience, and unceasing hallelujahs, of all the intelligent creatures that people the whole vortex of nature. When ages, beyond the power of arithmetic to sum up, have elapsed, it may be said of the most pure and perfect creatures, "Ye are unprofitable servants." Ye have derived your being from the infinite fountain of life: ye are upheld by the continued energy of the Almighty: his glories are infinite and eternal, and your obedience and services, however excellent in themselves, and profitable to you, have added nothing, and can add nothing, to the absolute excellencies and glories of your God.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 10. So likewise ye , etc.] This is the accommodation and application of the parable to the disciples of Christ, who whether ministers or private believers, are as servants, and should be as laborious as the ploughman, and the shepherd; and as their condition is, so their conduct should be like theirs: the employment of the ministers of the word lies in reading, prayer, meditation, and study; in preaching the word, and administering the ordinances; and in performing other duties of their office: and every private believer has business to do, which lies in the exercise of grace, as the work of faith, the labour of love and patience, of hope: and in the discharge of duty with regard to themselves, in their families, the church, and the world; and these servants should be continually employed; and when one work is done, another is to be taken in hand: saints should be always believing, hoping, waiting, loving, and doing one good work or another; as preaching or praying, reading, hearing, and doing acts of benevolence and charity; and God and Christ are to be served by them in the first place, and then themselves: but some that would be called the servants of Christ, mind their own bellies, and not the service of Christ at all; others in the service of Christ, seek nothing but themselves; others are for the serving themselves first, and then Christ; but the true servants of Christ, serve him in the first place, and seek first his righteousness, and his kingdom, and the honour of it, believing that all other things shall be added to them: and when these have done all that are commanded them, they are not to think their service thank worthy: as for instance, if the service be preaching the word, a man so employed ought to be thankful to God, that has bestowed ministerial gifts upon him, and makes his labours useful, and uses him as an instrument, to do much good to the souls of men, and for his glory, and has put such an honour upon him; but he is not to expect thanks from God, for his most diligent and faithful performance of his work, or imagine that he merits any thing at his hand thereby: or if the business be hearing the word, a man should be thankful to God, for the word, ordinances, and ministers, for liberty of waiting upon God in such a way; for health of body, and inclination of mind, for such service; and for all the good, profit, and advantage, he gains hereby; but he is not to think that he lays God under any obligation to him by so doing, or deserves thanks, or a favour from him on account of it: or if the employment be prayer, a man should be greatly thankful to the God of all grace, that there is a throne of grace for him to come to; and for a mediator, who is the way of access to God; and for the assistance of the Spirit in prayer; and for all the blessings which are given, as an answer of prayer; but he is never to entertain such a thought, that God is obliged to him for his prayers, or should thank him for them: or if the work be doing of good with worldly substance, such should be thankful to God for their substance he has given them, and for hearts to make use of it; but ought not to conclude, that they hereby merit his favour, or that this is any gain to him: but on the other hand, Christ directs his disciples, saying, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you ; as preaching, or hearing, or reading, or praying, and every other act of divine and religious worship; or all acts of justice and benevolence among men; every duty both for matter and manner, as it should be, according to the will of God, from right principles, and to right ends, and by the assistance of the Spirit and grace of God: say we are unprofitable servants ; not in such sense as unregenerate men are, who are disobedient, and to every good work reprobate and unfit, ( Romans 3:12 Titus 1:16) or as the slothful servant, who did not what his Lord commanded, ( Matthew 25:30). Nor is this the sense, that they are unprofitable to men; for they may be, and are very useful and serviceable to men, and to the saints; but that they are so to God, by whose grace and strength they are what they are, and do what they do; and can give nothing to him but what is his own, and his due; and so can lay him under no obligation to them, nor merit any thing from him; no, not even thanks, and much less heaven and eternal life. The Persic version, quite contrary to the sense of the words reads, we are pure or clean servants, for we have done, etc. and the Ethiopic version leaves out the word unprofitable, and reads we are servants; we acknowledge ourselves to be servants: we have done that which is our duty to do; wherefore, as diligence is highly proper, and reasonable in doing the work of the Lord, humility is necessary, that a man may not arrogate that to himself, which do not belong to him; or boast of his performances; or place any dependence on them: or have his expectations raised on account of them; since when he has done the most and best, he has done but what he should, and what he was obliged to, and in that is greatly deficient: a saying somewhat like this, is used by R. Jochanan ben Zaccai f529 ; if thou hast learned the law much, do not ascribe the good to thyself; for, for this wast thou created.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-10 - It is no abatement of their guilt by whom an offence comes, nor will i lessen their punishment that offences will come. Faith in God' pardoning mercy, will enable us to get over the greatest difficultie in the way of forgiving our brethren. As with God nothing is impossible, so all things are possible to him that can believe. Ou Lord showed his disciples their need of deep humility. The Lord ha such a property in every creature, as no man can have in another; he cannot be in debt to them for their services, nor do they deserve an return from him.
Greek Textus Receptus
ουτως 3779 ADV και 2532 CONJ υμεις 5210 P-2NP οταν 3752 CONJ ποιησητε 4160 5661 V-AAS-2P παντα 3956 A-APN τα 3588 T-APN διαταχθεντα 1299 5685 V-APP-APN υμιν 5213 P-2DP λεγετε 3004 5720 V-PAM-2P οτι 3754 CONJ δουλοι 1401 N-NPM αχρειοι 888 A-NPM εσμεν 2070 5748 V-PXI-1P οτι 3754 CONJ ο 3739 R-ASN ωφειλομεν 3784 5707 V-IAI-1P ποιησαι 4160 5658 V-AAN πεποιηκαμεν 4160 5758 V-RAI-1P
Vincent's NT Word Studies
10. Unprofitable (acreioi). From creia, requirement; something which the master must pay. Not useless, but having rendered no service beyond what was due. "The profit does not begin until the servant goes beyond his obligation" (Meyer). "A servant owes all things" (Bengel).
Robertson's NT Word Studies
17:10 {Unprofitable} (acreioi). The Syriac Sinaitic omits "unprofitable." The word is common in Greek literature, but in the N.T. only here and #Mt 25:30 where it means "useless" (a privative and creios from craomai, to use). The slave who only does what he is commanded by his master to do has gained no merit or credit. "In point of fact it is not commands, but demands we have to deal with, arising out of special emergencies" (Bruce). The slavish spirit gains no promotion in business life or in the kingdom of God.
