Parables no 38 Unprofitable Servants

“THE 41 PARABLES OF JESUS CHRIST”
28 general parables and 13 kingdom of heaven parables
Parable #38 – “UNPROFITABLE SERVANTS”
Luke 17:7-10
The 24^th of 28 general parables

In 445BC, with one Bible week equating to seven years (a prophetic year being 360 days), God commanded that seventy weeks each of 7 years, would be determined upon Israel, that is … 70 weeks x 7 years = 490 years (Daniel 9:24-27).

This time frame is broken into four time periods of (a) 7 weeks + (b) 62 weeks + (c) the mystery church age of about 2,000 years + (d) 1 week = 70 weeks and is explained as follows:

#1. Seven weeks of years is 7 x 7 = 49 years … the time it takes to restore and build Jerusalem from 445BC to 396BC.

#2. Sixty two weeks of years is 62 x 7 = 434 years … the time from the building of Jerusalem in 396BC to Christ being cut off at the cross in 32AD.

#4. One week of years is 1 x 7 = 7 years … this is the seven years of tribulation of God’s wrath upon the earth, that takes place after the rapture … called Daniel’s 70^th week.

Luke 17:7-10
This parable used by Jesus to caution his apostles becoming satisfied with their work and expectations of ongoing rewards.

This parable is set in the context of the apostles wanting their faith to be increased … as follows …

“And the apostles said unto the Lord, INCREASE OUR FAITH. And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.” (Luke 17:5-6)

But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. (Luke 17:7-10)

trow = is a combination of t(hink and kn)ow … that is … it’s not just a thought but of knowing a fact … it’s a certainty!

Lessons:
1. This parable comes under the kingdom of heaven dispensation of Christ on earth … but has applications to the kingdom of God dispensation with the following scriptural injunctions with following Pauline scriptures …

“Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.” (1 Corinthians 3:8)

“Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.” (2 Corinthians 5:9)

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
(1 Corinthians 15:58)

2. Keep your eyes on the Lord, trusting in his promises that are to come … and not to be like babies who are constantly wanting reassurance and comfort and rewards.

3. In the modern context, it’s like a boxer who doesn’t get the money until the fight is won. The mantra today is “Everything must be fun.” We tell children that school must be fun … which is wrong. It weakens the children as they are looking for gratification in an ongoing basis … you know as the song goes … “What About Me!”

4. No football team having won just one match relaxes … no, it does not build character.

“Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.” (1 Corinthians 3:8)

Dear Reader, do you want to increase your faith … take the parable to heart! Keep your eyes on the Lord

Australian Bible Ministries, PO Box 5058 Mt. Gravatt East 4122 Qld, Australia
www.AustralianBibleMinistries.com