Luke 17:10

“So likewise ye, etc.] This is the accommodation and application of the parable to the disciples of Christ, who whether ministers or private believers, are as servants, and should be as laborious as the ploughman, and the shepherd; and as their condition is, so their conduct should be like theirs: the employment of the ministers of the word lies in reading, prayer, meditation, and study; in preaching the word, and administering the ordinances; and in performing other duties of their office: and every private believer has business to do, which lies in the exercise of grace, as the work of faith, the labour of love and patience, of hope: and in the discharge of duty with regard to themselves,…”

“unprofitable--a word which, though usually denoting the opposite of profit, is here used simply in its negative sense. "We have not, as his servants, profited or benefited God at all." (Compare Job 22:2-3; Rom 11:35.)”

“Are unprofitable servants - We have conferred no favor. We have “merited” nothing. We have not “benefited” God, or laid him under “obligation.” If he rewards us, it will be matter of unmerited favor. This is true in relation to Christians in the following respects: Our services are not “profitable” to God Job 22:2; he “needs” not our aid, and his essential happiness will not be increased by our efforts. The grace to do his will comes from him only, and all the praise of that will be due to him. All that we do is what is our “duty;” we cannot lay claim to having rendered any service that will “bind” him to show us favor; and, Our best services are mingled with imperfections. We come short of…”

“When ye have done all, say, We are unprofitable servants - For a man cannot profit God. Happy is he who judges himself an unprofitable servant: miserable is he whom God pronounces such. But though we are unprofitable to him, our serving him is not unprofitable to us. For he is pleased to give by his grace a value to our good works, which in consequence of his promise entitles us to an eternal reward. Luke 17:20”

“Ch1 29:14-16; Job 22:2, Job 22:3, Job 35:6, Job 35:7; Psa 16:2, Psa 16:3, Psa 35:6, Psa 35:7; Pro 16:2, Pro 16:3; Isa 6:5, Isa 64:6; Mat 25:30, Mat 25:37-40; Rom 3:12, Rom 11:35; Co1 9:16, Co1 9:17, Co1 15:9, Co1 15:10; Phi 3:8, Phi 3:9; Plm 1:11; Pe1 5:5, Pe1 5:6 Luke 17:11”