Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 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. 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. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 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. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” 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? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 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, 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. 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. 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.
Comment: We jumped ahead in Luke to cover the passage of Passion Week. Now we are back to where we left off before (on Sunday the 14th March, if you wish to refresh your memory).
That was all about not being anxious but trusting. Here we are warned in a story (parable) not to be laid back too far with our lack of anxiety. Remember coins have two sides and there are even more things to be considered above two! We must remember that in Jesus’ time wedding feasts went on for many days. In the story the workers haven’t been told where the newly married master has gone nor his return posted. Workers may continue faithful in their duties or almost seem as if they are on a honeymoon! On the master’s return the two groups will be treated differently – so make sure that you’re in the correct group!
Then Peter asks a question, you can check above, which Jesus doesn’t answer. It almost reads as if Jesus says
- ‘Use your brains, Peter.’
- ‘Peter, people will get what they deserve!’
- ‘You’ve been given much.’
Prayer: Thank you for not leaving us in doubt as to your planning Jesus – even if we don’t know the time!
As I read it! 