39 lines
2 KiB
Markdown
39 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.
|