The Parables of the Watching Servants and Wise Manager: Luke 12:35-40, 41-48
by Owen Borville
August 15, 2019
Bible
Jesus described the Parables of the Watching Servants and Wise Manager to his disciples as recorded in Luke 12:35-48. Jesus advised his disciples to be ready for His return and uses the example of servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet and their preparedness for his return. When he returned, they were ready to receive him with open arms.
36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. 38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. 40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. Luke 12:36-40 KJV.
Therefore Jesus encouraged his disciples to be ready for His coming in spirit and in faith. Those who are not spiritually ready to meet Jesus will not be able to receive him. Those who are spiritually ready and have made a commitment to the Lord through prayer, repentance, Bible study, and faith will be able to receive him. He will come quickly at a time when it is least expected, just like the thief in the night. True faith is believing God even when his time of return is unsure. True believers follow the Lord's commandments faithfully and do not wait until the end time or the perceived end time. True believers always seek God's guidance in their daily life through prayer and faith, while scripture study helps reaffirm faith and draws one closer to God.
After Jesus told this parable, Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”
Then Jesus told another parable to explain the answer, the Parable of the Wise Manager (Luke 12:41-48), who takes care of his servants and fulfills all of his obligations so that when the master returns, he places the manager in charge of all of his possessions. This is contrasted with an unwise manager who senses that his master is delaying his return and therefore the manager acts foolishly, mistreating his servants and getting drunk on wine. This manager will be unprepared when the master returns and the master will severely punish this manager upon his return and place this manager with the unbelievers. Jesus also explained that the servant who knows the master's will and does not do it will be punished much greater than the servant that does not know the master's will. In other words, those who know the Word of the Lord and don't follow it will be punished much harder than those who never knew of the Lord's Word.
41 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? 42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. 45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; 46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. Luke 12:41-48 KJV.
by Owen Borville
August 15, 2019
Bible
Jesus described the Parables of the Watching Servants and Wise Manager to his disciples as recorded in Luke 12:35-48. Jesus advised his disciples to be ready for His return and uses the example of servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet and their preparedness for his return. When he returned, they were ready to receive him with open arms.
36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. 38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. 40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. Luke 12:36-40 KJV.
Therefore Jesus encouraged his disciples to be ready for His coming in spirit and in faith. Those who are not spiritually ready to meet Jesus will not be able to receive him. Those who are spiritually ready and have made a commitment to the Lord through prayer, repentance, Bible study, and faith will be able to receive him. He will come quickly at a time when it is least expected, just like the thief in the night. True faith is believing God even when his time of return is unsure. True believers follow the Lord's commandments faithfully and do not wait until the end time or the perceived end time. True believers always seek God's guidance in their daily life through prayer and faith, while scripture study helps reaffirm faith and draws one closer to God.
After Jesus told this parable, Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”
Then Jesus told another parable to explain the answer, the Parable of the Wise Manager (Luke 12:41-48), who takes care of his servants and fulfills all of his obligations so that when the master returns, he places the manager in charge of all of his possessions. This is contrasted with an unwise manager who senses that his master is delaying his return and therefore the manager acts foolishly, mistreating his servants and getting drunk on wine. This manager will be unprepared when the master returns and the master will severely punish this manager upon his return and place this manager with the unbelievers. Jesus also explained that the servant who knows the master's will and does not do it will be punished much greater than the servant that does not know the master's will. In other words, those who know the Word of the Lord and don't follow it will be punished much harder than those who never knew of the Lord's Word.
41 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? 42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. 45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; 46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. Luke 12:41-48 KJV.
