Luke 17:7
But which of you having a servant ploughing…
In
order to keep the disciples humble in the performance of such
miraculous works; and that they might not imagine they could have any
thing at the hands of God by merit; and to excite them to go on from
one duty to another; and never think they have done, or done enough,
or more than what is their duty, Christ delivers the following
parable.
Which of you having a servant ploughing, or feeding cattle;
or
"sheep", as the Syriac and Persic versions render it; or a
"ploughman", or a "shepherd", as the Ethiopic version; which are both
servile works, and done in the field: not that the disciples had any
such servants under them, though the words are directed to them, for
they had left all, and followed Christ; nor were they brought up to
husbandry, but most of them in the fishing trade; Christ only puts
this for instance, and supposes such a case:
will say unto him by and by;
or straightway, immediately,
directly,
when he is come from the field;
and has done ploughing, and
feeding his cattle, sheep, or cows, or whatever they are; as soon as
ever he comes home; or "first", as the Persic version; the first
thing he shall say to him, upon his return from thence,
go;
to the other side of the room, and to the table there ready
spread, and furnished; or "go up", as the Arabic and Ethiopic
versions render it; go up to the upper room where they used to dine
or sup; see (Luke 22:12) or "come in", as the Persic version renders
it; and which some learned men observe, is the sense of the Greek
word here used; come into the house,
and sit down to meat?
or fall, and lie down on the couch, as was the
custom in those countries at eating.
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