LUKE 12: 35-40. [PARABLES IN LUKE]
THE WATCHFUL SERVANTS
[Matthew 25:1-13 / John 12:23-26]
Jesus has been teaching principles for kingdom living. He is preparing them for His departure and their ministry. He would be leaving His followers but He promised to return again for them at a future time (John 14:1-4; Mt. 25:31). His followers would then be on their own without His direct supervision. The delay in His return might cause His disciples to grow weary or lazy. So here Jesus teaches that His disciples should be ready because the Son of Man will come at a time when they are not expecting Him.
The parable describes a scene in which several servants were waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet. The point was that they are to remain vigilant for the master arrival [Walvoord, John & Zuck, Roy. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983, S. 239]. Jesus wants us to reflect on what we want to happen when He returns and to prepare our self for it right now. If you want to be prepared for Christ’s return you must prepare yourself through faithfulness (CIT).
I. PREPARED FOR THE MASTER’S RETURN, 35-36.
II. BLESSED BY THE RETURNING MASTER, 37-38.
III. CALLED TO EXPECTANT FAITHFULNESS, 39-40.
This section begins in verse 35 with a command to be ready and have a lamp already lit in preparation for the master’s return. “Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit.”
Two word pictures immediately appear. The servants are told to belt their robes and keep their lamps burning. The long robes of the Middle East [worn by men and women] nearly touch the ground. They were and are worn without belts. The hot climate makes loose-fitting clothing the nearly universal preference. Any strenuous activity requires the wearer to tie a belt or rope around the waist and then tucking in the bottom edge of the robe into the belt to keep it off the ground and out of the way. [Bailey, Kenneth. Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes. 2008. Inter Varsity Press, Dover Grove, IL. p.369]. Tey were then freed up to be about their duty (1 Pet. 1:13-15).
The command also includes keeping the lamps lit. Only those who have lived without electricity know the difficulty of preparing a lamp with oil and a wick after it is dark. It is best prepared before hand in the light. (Lk. 8:16, 11:33; Ex. 27:20; Lev. 24:1-2).
Having loins girded and lamps burning depict activities of preparation and watching (Mt. 25:1-13).
Verse 36 complete the story by telling us the master is away at a wedding banquet. “Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks.”
The story seems to be of a master who went off to get married [Wiersbe, Warren. The Bible Exposition Com. Victor Books. Wheaton, IL. 1989. Vol 1. p. 222]. Because of the heat Middle Eastern weddings were held late at night [and could last a week]. The picture is of the new husband coming home with his bride. Most certainly he would not want to be kept waiting on this special night.
Applied spiritually the sense is to be ready for the Lord Jesus when He returns from the marriage feast of heavens glory. Jesus wants you to be watching and ready for Him not needing to be aroused from spiritual slumber.
Dean Frederic Farrar was a personal friend QUEEN VICTORIA of England. On one occasion he told of a conversation he had with Her Majesty after she had heard one of her chaplains preach a message on Christ's return. She said, "Oh, Dean Farrar, how I wish the Lord would come during my lifetime!" When he asked why she desired this, her countenance brightened, and with deep emotion she replied, "Because I would love to lay my crown at His blessed feet in reverent adoration!"
There are at least two ways in which Christians "wait" for the Lord's return. Some are completely unmoved by this coming event because they have only a cold, theological knowledge of the facts. This attitude is superficial - a mere mental assent to a doctrine that does not cause them to be faithful to the Lord. Other believers, however, look expectantly as did Queen Victoria, longing for the Savior's second advent with holy zeal. They are living for His glory and want to give Him praise and adoration for all He has done for them. This way of thinking touches the heart and motivates a person to godly living with a hopeful expectation of seeing Jesus face to face. We need to be ready for the last moment by continually keeping the light of our devotion to Jesus trimmed and burning bright (Lk. 8:16, 11:33; Ex. 27:20; Lev. 24:1-2).
II. BLESSED BY THE RETURNING MASTER, 37-38.
Verses 37 & 38 pronounce a blessing on servants who are ready for the coming of the Christ and His kingdom. Verse 37 illustrates the great reward God has in store for those He finds ready for His return. “Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them.”
The incalculable blessing that comes to those servants who are watching and ready is that their master will serve them. Jesus always placed a high premium on humble serve and here He depicts that He will honor faithfulness by serving those who served Him. The one prepared and watching for the Lord’s coming will be blessed because Jesus will [gird Himself with a towel and will] serve him, take care of him, bless him.
It was to a cold, weary Peter that Jesus served a hot, hearty breakfast. Thus, even at a time of disobedience in his own life—even when Peter was fishing when he was supposed to be in Jerusalem waiting, he found in the hand of the Lord the very thing he had been searching for all night long (John 21:9).
This text encourages my heart because Jesus doesn’t say, “Blessed are those servants who, when the Lord comes, He shall find working, witnessing, praying, preaching or studying.” No. Jesus says, “Blessed or fortunate is the one who the Lord finds “alert” or “watching.” Such a person realizes this life is not where it’s at, that life is empty apart from Jesus.
If you are reeling from a relationship that is not working out, finances that are not coming in, or physical pain that is eating you up, blessed are you, for you are acutely aware of the emptiness of this world—and you look forward to heaven all the more. [Courson, Jon: Jon Courson's Application Commentary. Nashville, TN : Thomas Nelson, 2003, S. 362]
In verse 38 Jesus again proclaims that the watching servant will be blessed. “Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.”
Uncomprehendingly blessed will be those servants Jesus finds prepared and watching when He comes home. 2 Timothy 4:8 says, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
The crown of righteousness is given to those who love His appearing. It’s given to those who say, “Lord, I realize that this world is not really where it’s at. There’s got to be more. Therefore, I’m looking for Your coming.”
Why did Jesus wash feet and serve His disciples in John 13? Why, in John 21, did He cook fish and feed them? Why does Jesus bless those who are simply looking for His coming? Because those whom the Lord serves realize that life is not about them, but about Him. Those whom the Lord serves understand it’s not due to their greatness, but solely to His graciousness that they are blessed. We are blessed solely because of our response to what Jesus He did on the Cross when He died for our sins. [Courson, 362]
[The Jewish night had three watches. The second watch was from 9 p.m. to midnight, and the third watch was from midnight to 3 a.m.] Even if the master comes in the third watch or in the early morning, be hoping for His return. The blessing of verse 37 is so astoundingly wonderful it is repeated at the end of verse 38; “blessed are those slaves.”
III. CALLED TO EXPECTANT FAITHFULNESS, 39-40.
In verse 39 Jesus enhances the call to readiness by comparing His return to a thief’s robbing of a house. “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
The need for preparation and the unexpectedness of Jesus’ return is furthered portrayed by the image of a thief who breaks into the house catching the owner off guard. The point of the words about the thief is that Jesus disciples must “be ready” for “the Son of Man will come” unannounced and unexpected (Mt. 24:43; 1 Thess 5:2; Rev. 16:15)
[The uncertain time, the night thief is a familiar motif (1 Thess. 5:2-11; 2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 3:3).]
The point of readiness for Jesus certain return is punctuated again in verse 40. “You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”
To watch means to be alert, to be ready, and not to be caught by surprise. Jesus, the Son of Man, will come suddenly, and then there will no longer be opportunity for further preparation.
I am always disappointed when someone predicts the Lord’s return, setting dates using on some calculation based on an interpretation of prophecy. Right here Jesus told us that “the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.” So once someone sets a date, it’s almost certain that it won’t happen then.
How about today or tomorrow? Do you think Jesus will come today or tomorrow? No? That’s interesting, because Jesus is coming when we don’t expect Him, like maybe today or maybe tomorrow. [Smith, Chuck. The Word For Today Bible. 2005. NKJV Nelson Publishers. p. 1342]
[There are those who say that Jesus cannot come back this hour because the church hasn’t yet gone through the Tribulation as described in Revelation 6–19. Yet in this passage Jesus is telling His disciples to watch, to be constantly alert for the possibility of His coming at a time they didn’t expect it. If, on the other hand, the church were indeed to go through the Tribulation, we would know precisely the hour of His coming: exactly 1,260 days after the day Antichrist goes into the rebuilt Jewish temple and demands to be worshiped (Daniel 12; Revelation 12–13). Thus, His coming would not be “at an hour we think not.” I believe one of the keys to overcoming hypocrisy and covetousness is to live in constant anticipation that today could be the day Jesus comes back. [Courson, S. 363] ]
I heard of a person in California GOES TO SLEEP every night with her shoes and a flashlight under the bed. When she was a child, her father required every family member to be ready to leave the house if an earthquake were to come during the night. She says that during a tremor windows shatter and electricity is lost. With shoes she can walk on broken glass and with a light she can find my way in the dark. She never go to bed without them. She’s ready."
When Jesus spoke to His followers about His return, He said, "Be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (Luke 12:40).
What does it mean for a Christian to be ready for Christ's return? Jesus said that instead of worrying about material things, we are to trust God's provision and make His kingdom our priority (vv.22-3l). Instead of fear that grasps, we are to demonstrate faith that gives (vv.32-34). Like faithful servants, we should expect our Master at any time, because He will return at an unexpected hour (vv.35-40).
There are things we know we should be doing, and we are not to be lulled into inactivity by the fact that the Lord has delayed His coming. Every day we are be preparing for eternity, not frantically or desperately but responsibility.
A man commented, “I hope I don’t die suddenly. I want to have time to straighten out some relationships.” A second man promptly spoke up, “Well, why don’t you do it anyway? If it’s worth doing, do it now.” The point is, if there are things you need to straighten out, do it now in a thoughtful fashion. Don’t wait until the doctor tells you you’ve got three weeks to live. One day while St. Francis was hoeing his garden, he was asked, “What would you do if you knew you only had one day to live?” “I would keep on hoeing my garden,” was the reply. Our longevity ought not to determine our day-to-day agenda. We are daily to do those things which seem right, diligently and without panic. [Larson, Bruce. The Preacher's Commentary Series, Vol. 26: Luke. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1983, S. 214]
Jesus promised to return and told us how to live as we wait for His coming. Our lives, more than our lips, are to say, "I'm ready!"
IN CLOSING,
A teacher told his class that he would be GOING AWAY for several weeks, and he offered to give a prize to the student whose desk he found in the best order when he came back. But he didn't tell them what day he would return.
Because the prize was big, each child was determined to get it, including a little girl whose desk was normally quite messy. Her classmates jeered, "Mary, you'll never win, Your desk is never neat."
"Oh, I plan to clean it the first of every week from now on."
"But," someone said, "suppose he comes at the end of the week?"
"Then I'll clean it every morning,"
"But," another classmate persisted, "He may come at the end of the day."
For a moment the child was silent in thought. Then she said decidedly, "I know what I'll do. I'll just keep it clean!"
If we want to receive our Lord's approval at His return, we must always be ready. Jesus did not tell us to "get ready," but rather to "be ready" (Mt. 24:44). We are to live constantly in a state of spiritual preparedness, anticipating the moment when He will appear and ask us to give account of our stewardship. [Henry G. Bosch. Our Daily Bread. Radio Bible Class]
Jesus is coming. Are you ready?
Jesus is coming, I do not know when;
But of this I am sure, He's coming again;
So you'd better get ready, no time for delay,
For Jesus is coming, it may be today! -Smith
