lectionary.com

Pentecost Season · Year C

Proper 22

October 8, 2028

The Sower (Sower at Sunset), Vincent van Gogh
The Sower (Sower at Sunset), Vincent van Gogh, 1888Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo
The same subject as his other sowers, but here the sun is an enormous disc directly behind the figure and the field is laid in violet against it.The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground and would sleep and rise, and the seed would sprout, he does not know how.Vincent van GoghVan Gogh (1853-1890) trained first for the ministry and preached in a Belgian mining district before taking up painting, which he did seriously for only the last decade of his life.Kröller-Müller Museum, OtterloA museum in the middle of a Dutch national park, built on Helene Kröller-Müller's collection and holding the second largest group of Van Goghs.Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelLuke 17:5-10Lk 17:5-10
Epistle2 Tim. 1:1-142 Tm 1:1-14
Old TestamentLam. 1:1-6Lam 1:1-6Alt. OTHab. 1:1-4; 2:1-4Hb 1:1-4; 2:1-4
PsalterLam. 3:19-26Lam 3:19-26 orPs. 137Ps 137Alt. PsalmPs. 37:1-9Ps 37:1-9

Overview & Insights

"So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, should say, 'We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'" (Luke 17:10)

The apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith, and he answers first with a saying that even mustard-seed faith could uproot a mulberry tree, then with a parable about a servant who does his assigned work without expecting special thanks. Together the sayings reframe faith away from a quantity to be measured and toward simple, undramatic obedience.

From Sermons.com: Join Today to access the most scholarly & well written preaching resources anywhere.

Take it further: Luke 17:5-10

Commentary

Commentary on Luke 17:5-10Commentary on Lk 17:5-10 Working Preacher

Reads the mustard-seed saying and servant parable together as a lesson in the ordinariness of faithful obedience.

Luke 17:5-10 CommentaryLk 17:5-10 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Notes the request for faith follows Jesus' hard teaching on forgiveness, shifting focus from amount of faith to its object.

Luke 17 CommentaryLk 17 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse-by-verse notes on the disciples' request and the meaning of the servant parable.

Luke 17 CommentaryLk 17 Commentary Precept Austin

A detailed evangelical verse-by-verse walk through the chapter.

Luke 17:5 CommentariesLk 17:5 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregates classic commentators on the apostles' request for more faith.

Getting to Work, Proper 22 (C) – 2025 Sermons That Work · Episcopal Church

An Episcopal preaching resource applying the servant parable to ordinary faithful work.

Background & Word Study

Luke 17:5 Greek InterlinearLk 17:5 Greek Interlinear BibleHub

Shows the Greek text word by word for the disciples' request and Jesus' answer.

Luke Overview, Part 2Lk Overview, Part 2 BibleProject

A video overview of the travel narrative section of Luke that contains this teaching.

The Church Fathers

Luke 17 CatenaLk 17 Catena Catena

Patristic comments verse by verse on the mustard-seed saying and servant parable.

Worship & Prayers

Proper 22, Year C (RCL) The Lectionary Page

Gives the full set of collects and readings appointed for this Sunday.

Podcast

Sermon Brainwave Working Preacher

Weekly Luther Seminary faculty conversation on the coming Sunday's RCL texts.

Art & Music

Year C, Proper 22 Texts and Art Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt's curated artwork for each of this Sunday's readings.

Study Hub

Luke 17:5-10 Lectionary IndexLk 17:5-10 Lectionary Index Textweek

A broad link index of commentary, art, and worship resources for this passage.

Prep at sermons.com

Ready to write?

  • Full sermons on Luke 17:5-10
  • Illustrations cleared for use in worship
  • Commentary, quotes, and Bible dictionary
Open it at sermons.com →

Trusted by pastors since 1995.

Free every Tuesday

Illustrations & Sermon Prep in your inbox

The coming Sunday’s readings, a cleared-for-use illustration, and a sermon-prep head start. One email, free.