35"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. 39But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."
41Peter asked, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?"
42The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45But suppose the servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
47"That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (NIV)
41Peter asked, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?"
42The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45But suppose the servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
47"That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (NIV)
MAIN IDEAS FROM THIS TEXT
A. Believers in Christ must always be ready for His return.
35"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.
”be dressed ready for service” –- Commentary from the NET Bible: “Grk ‘Let your loins be girded’, an idiom referring to the practice of tucking the ends of the long cloak (outer garment) into the belt to shorten it in preparation for activities like running, etc.”
Wedding banquets at that time could go on for days.
It is the fact of Christ’s return, and the hope of it, that is the main goal of our sanctification (i.e. becoming more like Christ in our character):
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” (Heb 12:14)
”And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” (Rom 13:11-12)
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.” (2 Pe 3:10-11)
”Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.” (1 Jn 3:2-3)
B. The LORD will serve those who have faithfully waited for Him.
37It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night.
This is a shocking role-reversal that would be inconceivable for an earthly master to do.
“For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.” (Luke 22:27)
”Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” (Jn 13:3-5)
Discussion Question #1: What is your response to Christ’s action in verse 37?
C. The Lord's coming will happen without any warning.
39But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."
"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Mt 24:36)
Discussion Question #2: What things, concerning the return of Christ, tend to be emphasized among many evangelical Christians today? How would you compare and contrast this with what Scripture says about the Lord’s coming?
D. Among those who have been entrusted with leadership in the church, only those who have been faithful in carrying out their responsibilities will be blessed by the LORD when He comes.
42The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
“Accountability to the LORD is a major New Testament theme (1 Cor 3:10-15; 4:1-5; 1 Ti 4:12-16; 2 Pe 2:1-2, 13). Grace does not end accountability. Rather, the goal of grace is to create a people who are faithful and zealous in their service to God (Titus 2:11-14).” (Darrell Bock, NIV Application Commentary: Luke, 1996, p. 356)
E. Those who profess to be among the LORD’s people, and yet do not obey Him, will be rejected in the end. However, not all who are rejected will suffer the same degree of condemnation.
Not all who profess to be Christians actually are:
“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” (Mt 3:8)
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?” (Jas 2:14)
“Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (Matt 7:22-23)
“Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.” (1 Jn 2:9)
Verses 46 to 48 show that the LORD will not mete out exactly the same punishment to all who have rejected Him. A professing believer who lived a “good life” and yet never sought to understand the gospel may not be condemned to the same degree as, say, leaders who have used their position as a license to use and abuse the people they’ve been entrusted with.
But we should still be troubled by the reality of hell, and of the fact that many who claim to be Christians are on the path to destruction.
Discussion Question #3: In what ways can we increase our assurance that we are who we claim to be, and not a false professor of faith? Read Luke 18:9-14; 1 Tim 3:12-13; and 2 Peter 1:5-11.
F. Those who have been given more spiritual privileges by God have a greater accountability to God.
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
MEMORY VERSE: Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (Philippians 2:12-13)
Next week (Oct. 12): NO CLASSES – Thanksgiving Sunday
Following week (Oct. 19): Luke 12:49-59 – Accepting Divisions, Reading the Signs and Clearing the Debts…
A. Believers in Christ must always be ready for His return.
35"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.
”be dressed ready for service” –- Commentary from the NET Bible: “Grk ‘Let your loins be girded’, an idiom referring to the practice of tucking the ends of the long cloak (outer garment) into the belt to shorten it in preparation for activities like running, etc.”
Wedding banquets at that time could go on for days.
It is the fact of Christ’s return, and the hope of it, that is the main goal of our sanctification (i.e. becoming more like Christ in our character):
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” (Heb 12:14)
”And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” (Rom 13:11-12)
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.” (2 Pe 3:10-11)
”Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.” (1 Jn 3:2-3)
B. The LORD will serve those who have faithfully waited for Him.
37It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night.
This is a shocking role-reversal that would be inconceivable for an earthly master to do.
“For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.” (Luke 22:27)
”Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” (Jn 13:3-5)
Discussion Question #1: What is your response to Christ’s action in verse 37?
C. The Lord's coming will happen without any warning.
39But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."
"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Mt 24:36)
Discussion Question #2: What things, concerning the return of Christ, tend to be emphasized among many evangelical Christians today? How would you compare and contrast this with what Scripture says about the Lord’s coming?
D. Among those who have been entrusted with leadership in the church, only those who have been faithful in carrying out their responsibilities will be blessed by the LORD when He comes.
42The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
“Accountability to the LORD is a major New Testament theme (1 Cor 3:10-15; 4:1-5; 1 Ti 4:12-16; 2 Pe 2:1-2, 13). Grace does not end accountability. Rather, the goal of grace is to create a people who are faithful and zealous in their service to God (Titus 2:11-14).” (Darrell Bock, NIV Application Commentary: Luke, 1996, p. 356)
E. Those who profess to be among the LORD’s people, and yet do not obey Him, will be rejected in the end. However, not all who are rejected will suffer the same degree of condemnation.
Not all who profess to be Christians actually are:
“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” (Mt 3:8)
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?” (Jas 2:14)
“Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (Matt 7:22-23)
“Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.” (1 Jn 2:9)
Verses 46 to 48 show that the LORD will not mete out exactly the same punishment to all who have rejected Him. A professing believer who lived a “good life” and yet never sought to understand the gospel may not be condemned to the same degree as, say, leaders who have used their position as a license to use and abuse the people they’ve been entrusted with.
But we should still be troubled by the reality of hell, and of the fact that many who claim to be Christians are on the path to destruction.
Discussion Question #3: In what ways can we increase our assurance that we are who we claim to be, and not a false professor of faith? Read Luke 18:9-14; 1 Tim 3:12-13; and 2 Peter 1:5-11.
F. Those who have been given more spiritual privileges by God have a greater accountability to God.
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
MEMORY VERSE: Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (Philippians 2:12-13)
Next week (Oct. 12): NO CLASSES – Thanksgiving Sunday
Following week (Oct. 19): Luke 12:49-59 – Accepting Divisions, Reading the Signs and Clearing the Debts…
