40 lines
		
	
	
	
		
			2 KiB
		
	
	
	
		
			Markdown
		
	
	
	
	
	
		
		
			
		
	
	
			40 lines
		
	
	
	
		
			2 KiB
		
	
	
	
		
			Markdown
		
	
	
	
	
	
|  | +++ | |||
|  | title = "Luke 12:35–48" | |||
|  | date = "2022-12-19" | |||
|  | +++ | |||
|  | 
 | |||
|  | ### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Lk12.35-48)
 | |||
|  | 
 | |||
|  | Part of the reason to store up heavenly treaure, to be working for God's | |||
|  | kingdom is so that you will be found doing the Lord's will when He returns. | |||
|  | Jesus compares His followers to servants that stay up all through the night | |||
|  | waiting for their master to return home so they can let him in his house | |||
|  | without delay. When he does come home and find the servants faithfully waiting | |||
|  | for them, he will reverse the roles and serve them instead. | |||
|  | 
 | |||
|  | I don't like verse 39. It makes sense on its own, but I don't see how it fits | |||
|  | in the context of the parable. Even if the master had left, wouldn't the | |||
|  | servants have defended the house from thieves? How does it relate to the return | |||
|  | of the Son of Man? | |||
|  | 
 | |||
|  | I do think it's funny that Jesus doesn't really answer Peter's question. The | |||
|  | answer is hidden in His response, though. Jesus expands on the description of | |||
|  | faithful service and says the faithful manager will be given greater rewards | |||
|  | and responsibilities. In contrast, the one that abuses his position in the | |||
|  | absence of the master will be treated very severely, being cut into pieces and | |||
|  | (here it is) put with the unfaithful. So, the answer to Peter's question, "Are | |||
|  | you telling this parable for us [your followers] or for all?" has some | |||
|  | subtlety. The parable applies to those who have God as their master, but it is | |||
|  | possible for someone to be in a position of authority over fellow servants and | |||
|  | end up not being a true servant of God after all. Beware of false teachers, but | |||
|  | know that they are heaping up harsh penalties for themselves for what they do. | |||
|  | 
 | |||
|  | In the same way, those who know more of the things of God will be held to a | |||
|  | stricter standard. Ignorance isn't an excuse, but if you know what you should | |||
|  | do and still don't, you are judged for both your inaction and your rebellion. | |||
|  | 
 | |||
|  | * * * | |||
|  | 
 | |||
|  | We need Your grace to remember all that You have commanded us, and also for the | |||
|  | will to do them in their proper time. |