35 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
41 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” 42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 45 But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. 47 And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
Jesus told two parables looking forward to His ascension to heaven and instructing us to be ready for His return. We should be dressed for action. This phrase refers to having your loins girded which meant to have the bottom of the garment tucked into the belt to facilitate movement. This is similar to how God told the Israelites to eat the Passover in Exodus 12:11, ready to leave. We must be waiting for His imminent return, ready to receive Him as soon as He arrives. Those who are ready for Christ’s return will be blessed by the reward of being seated at the table and Christ Himself serving them—wow! He reminds us that we need to remain awake because His return could be sooner or later, we need to remain ready no matter how long the wait. Jesus switches to a second parable where He is no longer the master but speaks of a master who, if he had realised when a thief was coming would not have left his home vulnerable to entry. This parable should ring very true in our ears as we are unfortunately all too aware of the necessity of keeping our homes safe. Are we as alert to the Lord’s return as we are to the potential threat of a break-in? Be ready because Jesus is coming back when we don’t expect Him.
Peter wanted to know if this parable was for all believers or just for the leaders? Jesus’ answer indicates that it was for both but with a more severe warning for the leaders. Jesus expects that on His return He will find those leading the church doing what He has instructed them to do (1 Peter 5:1-4). Those who are found to be serving well will be rewarded with the responsibility of ruling in the future kingdom. Those who don’t take seriously the imminent return of Christ and think they can mistreat those under their care and instead serve themselves will find themselves facing consequence when He returns. The punishment is described as being cut into two pieces and then put with the unfaithful—those who were not faithful in waiting for the Lord’s return. Being cut in two is likely figurative because the person is then placed with the unfaithful, this may suggest being brought to bear by the cutting truth of God’s word (Hebrews 4:12-13). To those who knew God’s will and though they didn’t abuse those under them, still weren’t ready, they will receive a severe beating. To those who didn’t know God’s will, they are not innocent through ignorance, but their punishment will be lighter. Those who have been entrusted with much will have much to answer for and those who have been entrusted with little will face lesser consequence (see James 3:1).
This is a sobering passage because it makes it clear that when we get to heaven we will be rewarded or punished based on how we lived this life. Are you living in expectation of Christ’s return? And when He returns will you be found ready and actively doing His will?
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
Vashti Dethroned and Esther Becomes Queen: Esther 1-2