Ready and Faithful
TRANSLATION
(35) “Stay dressed, ready for action, and keep your lamps burning. (36) And be like servants waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast so that, when he returns, they may immediately open the door for him when he comes and knocks. (37) Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake and watching for him when he comes. Truly, I tell you, that he will dress himself (for service) and make them sit down to eat and will come and serve them. (38) And if he comes in the second watch or even in the third, blessed are those servants whom he finds awake. (39) But understand this, that if the owner of the house had known when the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have left his house to be plundered. (40) You must be ready, for the Son of Man will come when you least expect him.”
(41) And Peter said, “Lord, are you giving this parable for us or for everyone?” (42) And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager whom his lord puts in charge of his household to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? (43) Blessed is the servant whom his master finds doing so when he comes. (44) Truly I tell you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. (45) But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master’s return is delayed,’ and begins to beat the other male and female servants and eats and drinks to excess, (46) the master of that servant will return on a day when he is least expected and at an hour not anticipated and will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with unbelievers. (47) The servant who knew his master’s will and did not prepare nor do what he required will be beaten with many blows. (48) However, the servant who unknowingly did what was worthy of punishment shall be beaten with fewer blows. To the one to whom much is given, much will be required, and from the one to whom they entrusted much, from that one will they demand even more.”
OBSERVATIONS
Luke opened this segment with two metaphors that captured its message regarding readiness: being “dressed for action” and keeping “our lamps burning.” Several repetitions reinforced the two themes of being ready for the Lord’s unexpected return and remaining faithful while he is absent: “master” (used eight times in vss. 36, 37, 39, 42, 43, 45, 46, & 47), “come/when he comes/coming” (twice each in vss. 36 & 37 and then in vss. 39, 40, 43, 44, & 46), “house/household” (twice in vs. 39 as well as in vs. 42), and finally “blessed is that/are those servant(s)” (vss. 37, 38, & 43) as well as additional uses of “servant(s)” (twice in vs. 45 and then in vss. 46 & 47).
Peter’s question (vs. 41) gave Jesus the opportunity to shift the emphasis to his second principle: the importance of being faithful to carry out the master’s will in his absence (vss. 41-48). Just as this segment opened with an exhortation to readiness (vs. 35), so it closed with a principle regarding faithfulness: “To whom much is given, much will be required” (vs. 48).
OUTLINE
I. We must be ready for the master’s arrival whenever he chooses to return. (35-40)
II. We must be faithful to carry out the master’s will while he is absent. (41-48)
IDEA STATEMENT (a subject completed)
The Lord requires of those servants who wait for his return…
– to be ready for the master’s sudden appearance at any moment.
– to be faithful to carry out the master’s will while he is still absent.
APPLICATION
Paul called it “the blessed hope” in Titus 2 and defined it in these terms: “the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” In this passage Paul taught that we are to be prepared for the Lord’s coming whenever he chooses to return. Theologians call this return “imminent,” that is, something that could happen at any moment without any intervening event on God’s timetable. While many Christians give lip service to this important doctrine, many live as though he will never return.
Jesus gave his servants two crucial ways to demonstrate faithfulness to their master in his absence. First, we must serve as if he could show up at any moment. Then we must maintain an unflagging commitment to doing what he commanded until he returns. He expects us to be in a constant state of readiness, serving with a commitment to faithfulness. If our service is characterized by these qualities, we will not be ashamed or unprepared for him whenever he returns.