We did our duty (Lk 17:10-17:10)

“Thus,

You also,

When you have done

All that you were

Ordered to do,

Say.

‘We are worthless slaves.

We have done only

What we ought

To have done.”

 

οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς, ὅταν ποιήσητε πάντα τὰ διαταχθέντα ὑμῖν, λέγετε ὅτι Δοῦλοι ἀχρεῖοί ἐσμεν, ὃ ὠφείλομεν ποιῆσαι πεποιήκαμεν.

 

Luke uniquely indicated that Jesus said that then they had done what they were ordered to do (οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς, ὅταν ποιήσητε πάντα τὰ διαταχθέντα ὑμῖν), they should respond by saying (λέγετε) that they were only worthless slaves (ὅτι Δοῦλοι ἀχρεῖοί ἐσμεν) that did only what they ought to have done (ὃ ὠφείλομεν ποιῆσαι πεποιήκαμεν).  In other words, do not take any credit for doing what you normally should have been doing anyway.  We are like slaves to Jesus, doing just what he asked us to do, our Christian duty.  Should you be praised for doing what Jesus wanted you to do?

The Lord had compassion (Lk 7:13-7:13)

“When the Lord

Saw her,

He had compassion

For her.

Jesus said

To her.

‘Do not weep!’”

 

καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὴν ὁ Κύριος ἐσπλαγχνίσθη ἐπ’ αὐτῇ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ Μὴ κλαῖε

 

Luke uniquely said that when the Lord saw this widow (καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὴν ὁ Κύριος), he had compassion for her (ἐσπλαγχνίσθη ἐπ’ αὐτῇ).  He told her not to cry or weep (καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ Μὴ κλαῖε).  Jesus often showed compassion or was moved to be compassionate.  Notice that Luke used the term “Lord” (ὁ Κύριος) when he normally said Jesus.  This might be a giveaway that something important was going to happen.  Telling her not to weep without something happening would be cruel otherwise.  Has anybody ever told you not to cry?