Parable Of The Serving Master.

PARABLE OF THE SERVING MASTER.

Luke 12:32-40.

Jesus reminds His “little flock” that “it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). The imperative of Luke 12:33, rightly understood, becomes a marker of where our heart lies (Luke 12:34). We must hold the things of this earth with a loose hand, and prioritise our lives in such a way as to give precedence to the kingdom of God (cf. Luke 12:31).

Another way of maintaining our present possession of the kingdom is to have an eye to the future: to what is about to happen (Luke 12:35). The allusion takes us back, first of all, to the first Passover, when the children of Israel had to eat the Passover in haste, dressed and ready to go (cf. Exodus 12:11). But the lit lamps point us forward to the five wise virgins of Matthew 25:1-13, and to the return of Jesus (Luke 12:36-38).

This little parable is calling us to an active readiness. First, we are cast as men waiting for their Lord, listening for the knock on the door that announces His return from a wedding (Luke 12:36). Second, we are cast as slaves already in possession of a present blessing, watching for His coming, and surprised to be waited upon by Him (Luke 12:37-38).

There are several layers of application for this parable. At the end of His message to the lukewarm church of Laodicea, Jesus paints the endearing picture of Himself standing at the door and knocking, with the promise that ‘if any man will hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him and sup with him, and he with Me’ (cf. Revelation 3:20). This speaks to each individual’s need to open his or her heart to receive Jesus.

The extended beatitude of Luke 12:37-38 points us to the present blessedness of those who are in Christ Jesus. It is because we are blessed that we keep watch, not the other way round. The seeming reward of being served by the Master is a reward of grace, not of merit.

The heart of the parable is found in the picture of the Master tucking his garments into his belt and serving his slaves. The parable took on an almost sacramental significance in John 13:4-5, when Jesus laid aside His garments, and girded Himself with a towel to wash the disciples’ feet. ‘For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life as a ransom for many’ (cf. Mark 10:45).

After the positive encouragement of the parable of the serving Master, we have a negative illustration (Luke 12:39). Paul and Peter both refer to the day of the Lord as coming ‘like a thief’ (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10).

‘Hold fast, and repent,’ says Jesus in Revelation 3:3. ‘If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.’

‘Behold I come as a thief,’ He says in Revelation 16:15. And he adds another benediction: ‘Blessed is he that watcheth.’

Jesus is present with us wherever two or three are gathered together in His name (cf. Matthew 18:20). He is manifest to us whenever we participate in the Lord’s Supper. But what is ultimately being anticipated in the parable of the Master who serves is the return of Jesus.

“Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not” (Luke 12:40).