Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come now and sit down to eat'? Will he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do?
Jesus seems to be teaching about duty and obligation, about not expecting reward for doing what you're supposed to do. The servant does the work. That's what servants do. You don't get extra credit for fulfilling your function. This feels harsh until I realize he's probably speaking to people who are constantly trying to earn God's favor through service. He's saying: you don't have to earn what's already yours. Do the work because it's right. Don't expect God to thank you as if you've gone above and beyond.
No comments yet. Be the first.