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