Sermon text: Luke 17:1–10
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
“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.'”
So says our Lord Jesus Christ at the end of our Gospel reading this morning. And this is one of the hardest sayings in all of Scripture — not because it is hard to understand, but because it is hard to believe. For it cuts directly against everything our old sinful nature wants to believe about itself.
Our old nature wants to believe that we are worthy. That we have earned something. That God owes us. That when we have done our duty — when we have gone to church, when we have given our offerings, when we have lived a decent life — God should be grateful. God should reward us. God should say, “Well done.”
But Jesus says: “We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.”
Consider the parable. A servant comes in from plowing or keeping sheep. Does the master say, “Come at once and recline at table”? No. The master says, “Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink.” The servant does not earn the master’s gratitude by doing his duty. He has only done what was his duty.
So it is with us. When we have done all that we were commanded — when we have kept the Commandments, when we have loved our neighbor, when we have done every good work — we have only done what was our duty. We are unworthy servants.
This is the great leveling truth of the Christian faith. It levels the Pharisee and the tax collector. It levels the lifelong church member and the deathbed convert. It levels the pastor and the parishioner. All are unworthy servants. All have only done what was their duty — and none have even done that perfectly.
For who among us has done all that we were commanded? Who has loved God with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength, every moment of every day? Who has loved his neighbor as himself, without fail, without exception? None of us. We are not only unworthy servants who have done our duty. We are unworthy servants who have failed in our duty, again and again.
And this is precisely why we need a Savior. For if our worthiness depended on our doing, we would be lost. But our worthiness depends on Christ’s doing. He is the worthy Servant who did all that was commanded — perfectly, completely, without fail. And His worthiness is credited to us by faith.
“We are unworthy servants.” This is the confession that opens the door to grace. For only the one who knows he is unworthy can receive the gift. Only the one who knows he has not earned it can be grateful for it. Only the unworthy servant can be made a beloved son.
So say it with me: “We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.” And then hear the word of absolution: your sins are forgiven. For Christ’s sake, you are worthy — not by your doing, but by His.
May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.