Throughout this address that started in verse 1 of Chapter 12, Jesus has focused on the next life as much as this one.  He warned about hypocrisy in verses 1-5, making His listeners aware that all things will someday become known.  He said that anyone who confesses Him before men will be confessed in front of angels and vice versa in verses 8-9.  And He ended the last section – verses 13-34 – with an admonition to store up treasure in heaven rather than treasure on earth.  Throughout He has made it clear that the actions and focus of the believer are to be radically different than the world.  We’re to live as citizens of heaven, not citizens of the temporal world we see.

In this passage, Jesus ratchets up the warnings and admonitions regarding the next life.  He talks specifically about His second coming and how His followers are to live in light of it.  We’re to live urgently ready lives looking for that day.  We aren’t to become complacent and to live as if the day won’t occur.  The world assumes He’s never coming back and there are thus no consequences to how they live.  As His children and disciples we know better, and that knowledge must impact our lives.  We live at the ready; always prepared for His surprising and utterly unpredictable return.  He’s been gone a long time, and it could be that He’ll be gone for a great while longer; regardless, we live every day as if it could be today.  If we don’t, if we as the world lives in the darkness the world lives in, then we can’t claim to be His and we’ll be judged as if we’re not.

35-40
The illustrations and parables that Jesus uses in these verses (and on into verse 48) are interesting because the more meditation and study that go into them, the more layers there seem to be.  It’s easy to get tied up in knots trying to figure out just who Jesus addresses and how far to take the characters in the story.  Does Jesus mean this mostly for Christian leaders or for all believers?  Does He reference wise and foolish Christians or Christians and non-Christians?  The answers aren’t entirely clear, although this study will attempt to answer them.  However, regardless of the answers, these questions don’t take away from the overall message to believers of the importance of readiness.

Verse 35 flows naturally out of verse 34.  He just told us to store up treasure in heaven and that God will give us the kingdom.  He now says that we need to live in readiness for the coming of that kingdom.  We’re to gird up our loins (ESV says to stay dressed for action, but the literal translation of the Greek is to ‘gird up your loins’ – pull up the bottom of the robe/tunic and tuck it into the belt (or tie the ends together), thus allowing for free movement of the legs and feet – it’s likely not a good look) and keep our lamps burning.  Both actions speak to readiness; we’re to be ready to work and move and run if necessary.  This is really the summary statement for the text.  If there’s only one takeaway from this study, it’s this admonition.

The rest of the passage elaborates on the statement in verse 35.  Why are we to be ready?  Because our Master is coming back.  Here Jesus uses a parable and says that we’re to be ready like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding feast.  Since the servants don’t know when the master will return – and it could be quite late – they must make sure to stay awake and be ready to immediately – note the urgency – open the door for him when he knocks (security would dictate that they can’t leave the door open for him).

If the master comes home and finds the servants ready and alert, he does something completely out of character for a man of his station (vs 37).  He comes in, girds up his own loins, and serves them as they recline at the table (in formal eating situations, the guests at a meal eat lying down with their feet pointed away from the table while they recline on their left elbow and eat with their right hand).  This is an amazing role reversal that likely shocks Jesus’ listeners (and has more of an impact in a society that’s steeped in slavery and servitude – See Lk 17:7-9).  

It’s not completely clear what Jesus means with this illustration, but what He said in verse 32 is revealing.  There He said the Father has chosen gladly to give us the kingdom.  If Jesus dies for us, the kingdom is ours; He serves us as our Savior.  That is likely what Jesus means here rather than trying to show that Jesus will serve us in the next life.  It’s not that He serves us in paradise; He serves us in making paradise available.  It goes along with what Paul says in Rom 8:32 – He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?  It’s also consistent with Jesus’ assurance in the prior passage (vss 23-31) that God will supply our needs.  God watches over us as a Father and serves us in how He provides for us – both now and in the next life.

In verse 38, Jesus offers commentary about the ready servants.  Whether the master comes in the second watch or even in the third (which, regardless of whether He references the Jewish watches which divide the night into three sections or the Roman watches that divide it into four, means that the master comes back very late at night), the servants who are ready are blessed.  By saying this, He makes it clear that His return will be at a time no one knows AND that the wait could be long.  For the servants who don’t lose hope and who stay ready to receive Him, there will be a great blessing.

Jesus jumps to another parable form in verse 39.  He says if the homeowner would’ve known when the thief was coming to break into his house, he would not have allowed it to happen.  It might be odd to use a thief as an illustration of Jesus’ actions, but the point is that He’ll come like a thief does in the night.  And since no one knows when the thief is coming, every homeowner must be diligent and on watch.  That’s how we as Christ’s followers must be; we don’t know when He’s coming back but it will be at an hour we don’t expect (thus showing that anyone who tries to predict it is by definition wrong).  So just like the diligent homeowner, we must be continually ready. 

41-46
Peter helps us out in verse 41 by asking a question.  He asks Jesus, “Lord, are You addressing this parable to us (meaning the 12 apostles), or to everyone else as well?”  Remember that Jesus speaks to the disciples in the hearing of a great multitude described as many thousands (12:1).  When He began this address (in verse 1), it seemed to primarily be for His disciples (“Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees”) but everything since could be applicable to all.  Thus Peter’s question is entirely reasonable.  Are the slaves in the preceding parable the disciples or are they all the followers of Jesus?  Who will Jesus serve and who is blessed and who needs to be diligently on watch?

Frustratingly, Jesus doesn’t seem to acknowledge Peter’s question and launches into another parable.  In this story, the focus isn’t on a group of servants but on a slave who’s been appointed as a steward (manager).  In Roman society, it’s not uncommon for a slave or servant to be elevated to a place of authority over the other slaves and sometimes put in charge of everything belonging to the master (think of Joseph and Potiphar in Gen 39:1-6).  Jesus tells first of a faithful steward the master appoints to take care of the other servants.  When the master comes home and finds the steward doing what he was asked and faithfully providing for the other servants, the master puts him in charge of all his possessions.

Conversely, the unfaithful steward is the one who says to himself that the master will be gone a long time, so he doesn’t need to worry about the ramifications of disregarding the master’s commands.  He begins to drink and feast (similar to the rich man in the parable of the barns – 12:19) and to beat the slaves – both men and women (thus showing that he has no concern for decency and respect) – who are under his authority.  He lives entirely for himself and cares nothing for anyone else.  He also lives wholly for today with no thought of tomorrow or of any impending judgment.  It’s all about what he sees, not what he knows.

Unfortunately for this slave, the master will come back at a time when no one expects and will catch the unfaithful slave in his debauchery and violence and will punish him severely.  He’ll cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful (which presumably won’t mean much if he’s been cut in pieces).

There are things to notice about the unfaithful steward.  First, he says to himself that the master will be gone for a long time.  From the standpoint of how long it’s been since Jesus ascended, this isn’t wrong.  The problem is that it causes him to become careless and selfish.  Secondly, his worldview is a perfect example of living by sight and not by faith.  What the master instructed him to do is meaningless to him because it has no effect on what he sees today.  What he can’t see isn’t important and what he knows about the master is forgotten in the face of gratifying his desires.  Every day is like the last and there’s absolutely no sign of the master’s return; why should he worry about what apparently is never going to happen?

The characters in this parable prompt some questions.  Why is it that Jesus responds to Peter by telling a parable not just about slaves but about slaves who are also stewards?  Does that mean that this IS in fact meant for the apostles and the leadership roles they’ll assume in the church?  Does this have lesser application for those of us not in formal leadership?  Also, what does it mean that the unfaithful steward will be assigned a place with the unfaithful (or, as the NASB puts it, unbelievers)?  Does that mean the slave was in the household of the master and then lost his place?  Is the unfaithful steward an unfaithful Christian or is he not a Christian at all?

What seems to make sense is that the steward illustration is meant for all of us.  We may not have a leadership position in the church, but all believers have responsibility for what God gives them.  It may be people they shepherd, it may be abilities they have, it might be spouses and children in their care.  Regardless of what it is or how much it is, all of us are stewards of what God entrusts to us.  Consequently, we’re charged with being faithful in that role.

That the unfaithful steward is assigned a place with the unfaithful must mean that he was an impostor.  It’s not that he was a believer and then forfeited his place in the household of God.  It’s that he was not a believer and his actions proved his status and determined his fate.  It’s revealing that in the Matthew version of this parable (Matt 24:51), Jesus uses the word hypocrites instead of unfaithful to describe who the unfaithful servant is assigned a place with.  He might look like a steward and initially act like a steward, but his lack of concern for the master’s will shows him to be a fraud.  He’s like the man Jesus describes in the Sermon on the Mount who claims to belong to Jesus but whose disobedience gives him away (Matt 7:21-27).  He does things that make him and those around him think he belongs to the master, but ultimately his lack of concern for the master’s will damns him.  Jesus will tell him on the great day, “I never knew you.”

47-48
Jesus finishes His parables with vital words about judgment and punishment.  He says that the servant who knows what to do and doesn’t do it will be punished much more severely than the one who disobeys out of ignorance.  This points directly to those who hear the gospel and reject it versus those who die without hearing it at all.  There will be degrees of punishment in hell.

Jesus sums up this teaching by saying that to those who are given much, much will be required.  He doesn’t say the corollary, that to those who aren’t given much not as much will be required, but it’s understood.  In this case, He’s not talking about abilities or resources as much as He means knowledge and opportunity.  Those who have access to the word and to the gospel message and to people willing to share it will be held more accountable in judgment than those without those things.  It’s a sobering statement for those we know who have heard the gospel and have easy access to God’s word and continually live as if neither impacts their life.

Lessons from the Text

Jesus will richly bless those who are ready.  In the first parable, the master dresses himself for work and serves his own slaves.  It’s a wonderful illustration of the privileges of belief.  The Savior of the universe serves His children.  When we live expectant lives ready for His return, we share in the divine nature (II Pet 1:4) and spend eternity in paradise basking in the love of our Master.

Jesus will be gone long enough that people will stop believing He’s coming back.  In both stories the wait for the master is longer than those waiting expect.  Because of the long wait some are totally unprepared for His appearance.  The wicked slave decides the master isn’t coming back and so lives as if the master doesn’t exist.  That can’t be true of the believer.  We must remember Peter’s words (II Pet 3:8-11): But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.  Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness…

Jesus’ return will be unexpected.  The homeowner has no idea what night the thief will break into his house.  The wicked slave is caught totally by surprise and in the middle of his debauchery when the master arrives.  Jesus makes it clear that no one knows when His return will occur and it will be at a time that NO ONE expects.  When some cult or religious leader says he knows when Christ is coming back we can be sure that it will not be on that date.  People will be living normally and doing the mundane things of life when He appears – His return will not be expected.

Jesus’ followers are to be faithful and ready.  The faithful servants are ready when the master comes home from the wedding.  The faithful steward works every day as if his master’s return is imminent.  We are to be expectant.  We are to be alert.  We are to live urgently always looking to the day.  We are to persevere regardless of the delay.  We’re to be DIFFERENT from the world in our outlook and live expectantly as citizens of another kingdom.

Jesus doesn’t allow for disciples who aren’t ready.  Those who are not ready for Jesus’ return are damned.  The evil slave is cut to pieces and assigned a place with the unfaithful.  Nothing is said about a steward who’s not ready but yet allowed to keep his place in the household (in the Matthew version of this parable, Jesus says the unfaithful steward will be assigned to a place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth – Matt 24:51).  The simple fact is that Jesus does not allow for the possibility that His followers will not be prepared; it’s their preparedness that proves their belief.  Only unbelievers will mourn His return and be caught off guard and suffer eternally.  We may well doubt whether we are true believers in Jesus if we are not ready at any time to have our faith changed into sight.   – JC Ryle

What does it mean to be ready?
Even though Jesus seems to say believers will be prepared for His return, He still admonishes His hearers to make sure they are alert.  What does that mean for us?  How do we ensure we live a life of readiness prepared for the coming day?  Paul addresses this exact topic in I Thess 5:1-11 (see also Rom 13:11-14). 

Paul first establishes certain truths in regard to the second coming.  He tells us the Lord’s return will be like a thief in the night – just as Jesus said in 12:39. He says unbelievers will be saying, “Peace and safety!” when destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs on a woman.  Paul describes the lost as asleep and drunk and living in darkness – completely deprived of sense and reason and unable to see what’s around them.  He says they will not escape the day of wrath.

Paul describes believers differently.  He says they are sons of light and sons of day.  Since they are of the day, they can see and understand what’s around them.  They are not drunk but sober.  They are not asleep but alert.  They do not live in darkness but in light.  They are radically different from a world living as if no return is imminent.

Based on these truths Paul gives us three commands to ensure our readiness:

• Be sober.  Sober carries with it the idea of self-control and single-mindedness.  Peter describes it in I Pet 1:13:  Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  This is active faith through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Our entire lives are centered around the hope of the grace that will be ours when Jesus returns.  We strip away all things in life that hinder our hope for His return.

• Put on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet of the hope of salvation.  Paul calls this the armor of light in Rom 13:12.  It calls to mind a soldier ready for battle – always alert and watchful for the enemy.  The armor is used to fight off darkness and to keep us from becoming bogged down in the cares of this world to where we start to sleep like the unredeemed.  No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier (II Tim 2:4).

• Encourage one another and build up one another.  We should continually encourage each other to persevere based on the expectation of Christ’s return.  Though we live in a dark world, we know all things will be put right in the next life and we will live in God’s presence forever.  We have the hope and promise of eternal glory in common – we should rejoice collectively in this and in each other.  The writer of Hebrews tells us to consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, and to encourage one another all the more as you see the day drawing near (Heb 10:24-25).

Gird up your loins and keep your lamps burning.