Luke 17:10

17:10 So you too, when you have done everything you were commanded to do, should say, ‘We are slaves undeserving of special praise; ¹  we have only done what was our duty.’” ² 

Luke 12:37

12:37 Blessed are those slaves ³  whom their master finds alert ⁴  when he returns! I tell you the truth, ⁵  he will dress himself to serve, ⁶  have them take their place at the table, ⁷  and will come ⁸  and wait on them! ⁹ 

¹ tn Some translations describe the slaves as “worthless” (NRSV) or “unworthy” (NASB, NIV) but that is not Jesus’ point. These disciples have not done anything deserving special commendation or praise (L&N 33.361), but only what would normally be expected of a slave in such a situation (thus the translation “we have only done what was our duty”).

² tn Or “we have only done what we were supposed to do.”

³ tn See the note on the word “slave” in 7:2.

⁴ tn Or “watching”; Grk “awake,” but in context this is not just being awake but alert and looking out.

⁵ tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

⁶ tn See v. 35 (same verb).

⁷ tn Grk “have them recline at table,” as 1st century middle eastern meals were not eaten while sitting at a table, but while reclining on one’s side on the floor with the head closest to the low table and the feet farthest away.

⁸ tn The participle παρελθών (parelqwn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

⁹ sn He…will come and wait on them is a reversal of expectation, but shows that what Jesus asks for he is willing to do as well; see John 13:5 and 15:18-27, although those instances merely foreshadow what is in view here.