(A)The apostles said to (B)the Lord, “Increase our faith!” But (C)the Lord said, “If you [a]had faith [b]the size of (D)a mustard seed, you could say to this (E)mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would [c]obey you.

“Now which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him after he comes in from the field, ‘Come immediately and recline at the table to eat’? On the contrary, will he not say to him, ‘(F)Prepare something for me to eat, and properly [d]clothe yourself and serve me while I eat and drink; and [e]afterward you [f]may eat and drink’? He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he? 10 So you too, when you do all the things which were commanded you, say, ‘We are [g]unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 17:6 Lit have
  2. Luke 17:6 Lit like
  3. Luke 17:6 Lit have obeyed
  4. Luke 17:8 Lit belt up
  5. Luke 17:8 Lit after these things
  6. Luke 17:8 Lit will
  7. Luke 17:10 I.e., possibly unworthy of praise

Faith and Obedience

Then the apostles told the Lord, “Give us more faith!”

The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of[a] a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you!

“Suppose a man among you has a servant plowing or watching sheep. Would he say to him when he comes in from the field, ‘Come at once and have something to eat’? Of course not. Instead, he would say to him, ‘Get dinner ready for me, and put on your apron and wait on me until I eat and drink. Then you can eat and drink.’ He doesn’t praise the servant for doing what was commanded, does he? 10 That’s the way it is with you. When you have done everything you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless servants. We have done only what we ought to have done.’”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 17:6 Lit. faith of