The songs of the Christmas season comprise some of the finest music known to man, and this hymn is certainly one of our universal favorites. It was used in Catholic churches before it became known to Protestants. Today it is sung by church groups around the world since it has been translated from its original Latin into more than 100 other languages. The vivid imagery of the carol seems to have meaning and appeal for all ages in every culture.
The original Latin text consisted of four stanzas. The first calls us to visualize anew the infant Jesus in Bethlehem’s stable. The second stanza is usually omitted in most hymnals, but it reminds us that the Christ-child is very God Himself:
God of God and Light of Light begotten, Lo, He abhors not the Virgin’s womb; Very God, begotten, not created—O come, let us adore Him.
The next stanza pictures for us the exalted song of the angelic choir heard by the lowly shepherds. Then the final verse offers praise and adoration to the Word, our Lord, who was with the Father from the beginning of time.
For many years this hymn was known as an anonymous Latin hymn. Recent research, however, has revealed manuscripts that indicate that it was written in 1744 by an English layman named John Wade and set to music by him in much the same style as used today. The hymn first appeared in his collection, Cantus Diversi, published in England in 1751. One hundred years later the carol was translated into its present English form by an Anglican minister, Frederick Oakeley, who desired to use it for his congregation. The tune name, “Adeste Fideles,” is taken from the first words of the original Latin text, and translated literally means “be present or near, ye faithful.” (1)
Luke 12:42–48 (NKJV) 42 And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. 45 But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47 And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
O Come All Ye faithful. This morning we will look at just who are the faithful.
Story about Marine Corps Gen Charles C. Krulak. Gen Krulak was Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1995 to 1999. In 1998 after then-Pres Clinton was caught in with an adulterous affair – the military services began examining the prosecution of Adultery under the UCMJ – perhaps to lessen the punishment. Gen Krulak, is an outspoken defender of the military's values in general and the Marine Corps' values in particular, a conservative Christian who said he would quit if the Pentagon ever eased its unequivocal prohibition on adultery as some officials had proposed. He essentially said “Not on my watch. What part of Semper fidelis – Always faithful – are we going to drop?" The UCMJ was strengthen in those matters due to the stand of Gen Krulak.
Who is the faithful? Jesus asked that question:
Luke 12:42a (NKJV) And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward . . .
Who is that faithful steward?
1 Corinthians 4:1–2 (NKJV) Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
Faithful. Always faithful. Being faithful only some of the time means nothing. Being faithful is some areas and not in others also mean nothing. It is the same as being unfaithful. Like Gen Krulak, what part of “Always Faithful” do we leave out?
Luke 12:42 (NKJV) And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?
Clearly here, Jesus addresses the overseers and leaders of Israel. But definitely in the deeper sense, Jesus is speaking to all the future leaders and overseers of the church. To put into context, Look at verse prior, verse 41, Peter asks who are you talking to, us or everyone. In typical Rabbi fashion, Jesus answers with a question. "Who is the faithful and wise steward whom his master will make ruler over his household?" This insinuates those that God has made rulers, whether governmental, or religious leaders. We in the church need to pay close attention to what follows.
"to give them their portion of food in due season?" Clearly, we are to be more concern with people than we are with material things. It is in the use of material things that we use to take care of people and in that we will be judged.
Do you remember, after the resurrection of Jesus and before He ascended in to Heaven, when Jesus met with His disciples by the Sea of Galilee. There Jesus restored Peter to the ministry in which he was called after he denied Jesus three times. What did Jesus tell Him to do three times?
John 21:15 “Feed My lambs.”
John 21:16 “Tend My Sheep.”
John 21:17 “Feed My Sheep.”
It is clear what Jesus wants his faithful stewards to do. Feed and tend the sheep. How faithful are we at that task.
Luke 12:43-44 (NKJV) Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has.
Blessed or happy is that servant – why, because the master will reward him. As we will see in a bit, there are degree of rewards as there are degrees of punishment. How faithful are we in the tasks the Master gives? Know this, if Master, God, has entrusted us with a task, He will have also given us the wherewithal to perform that task. The reward I’m looking forward to that day I enter into the presence of Jesus and hear Him say:
Matthew 25:23 (NKJV) ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
Will our faithfulness bring joy to the Lord? It should matter little in our eyes as to whether the task is large or small. How faithful are we in what has been given to us.
"Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has." Here is a Biblical principle. If a person is faithful with little, he can be faithful with much. Trustworthy with little, will be trustworthy with much. Jesus has called us to be faithful witnesses, to live faithful lives that that show our trust in in Word. We are not judged on results, that is up to God, but on our faithfulness.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (NKJV) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
We are called to be faithful. “O Come all Ye Faithful, joyful and triumphant” That is how we are to be. Jesus told the persecuted believers at the church in Smyna:
Revelation 2:10 (NKJV) Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Our call is clear, Jesus expects us to be faithful regardless of the situation or the opposition. Great are the challenges, but also great are the rewards. But let us consider the consequences of a lack of faith.
Luke 12:45–46a (NKJV) 45 But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware,
Here is a very terrifying theme repeated through the entire Bible:Jesus is coming again. The Master will return at time we are not expecting. Whether we meet Jesus through unexpected death, or by His unexpected return, what difference does it make. In what state will the Master find us?
Luke 21:34–36 (NKJV) “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
If we stop looking for His return, we will stop loving His people. Then we must examine ourselves to see if we are really in the faith? Let’s look at the last part of verse 12:46.
Luke 12:46 (NKJV) the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
Here is the tough part. Jesus says he will count the un-faithful with unbelievers. Looking at the corresponding verses in Matthew we can an even clearer picture:
Matthew 24:50–51 (NKJV) the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, 51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Hypocrates are just actors in the Greek, play at being someone they are not. Like many so-called Christians, Claiming to be believers yet have a lifestyle that says otherwise. The “weeping and gnashing of teeth” Jesus only uses for those condemned to eternal punishment. Those who live a sinful lifestyle are counted as unbelievers:
Ephesians 5:5–7 (NKJV) For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
You see nothing is hidden from God. God knows the condition of our heart.
Being a member of the visible Christian community (rather than the true body of Christ) does not guarantee reward; it does not even guarantee salvation. Not even being a leader in the Christian community guarantees salvation. (2)
O Come All Ye Faithful is a high calling. Many hear the call, and few truly follow it. It is not good enough to say you believe. Unless your life is faithfully lived according to those beliefs, Jesus counts you as an unbeliever. Scripture (James 2) tells that even the demon believe and shudder. James also tells us: Faith without works is dead.
Luke 12:47–48a (NKJV) And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few.
There are degrees of punishment. Those who live a sinful life knowing scripture will be held accountable for what they know. Remember this: What God has revealed to you, whether through the preaching of the Word, or reading of the word, we all will be held accountable for what we know. We have the Word in our hands, and in our homes. Will we be held accountable for for having the very Word of God, yet failing to read it? Notice that even those unknowing the scripture will be punished as well. Sin is still sin. The Bible clearly teaches that even those without the law, know the law that is written on their hearts (Romans 2:14-16)
In v. 41 Peter asked Jesus if the foregoing parable was intended for disciples or for outsiders. Here Jesus gives an answer: disciples—those “who know the master’s will” but fail to do it—will be judged by a harsher standard than those with less knowledge of it. Jesus’ answer echoes the teaching of Israel from the Talmud Midrasch and numerous OT teachings and on willful versus ignorant sin. The relevance of this teaching for Jesus’ disciples cannot be overlooked: those endowed with positions of authority and leadership in Jesus’ mission and church are held to a higher standard. Jesus voiced the same warning earlier in Luke 10:12–14, that it will be better for Sodom in the day of judgment than for those who have heard the gospel and refused it. (3)
James 3:1 (NKJV) My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
Teachers, Deacons, and yes even Pastors, we will be looked at more closely on that Day. We will receive a stricter judgement. Look at the remainder for verse 48.
Luke 12:48b (NKJV) For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
We have been entrusted with much. We have the revelation of God, given to men throughout the ages, all of it in our hands. What are we doing with it? Are we feeding the sheep? Are we faithfully taking the message of salvation and life to a lost and dead world? Therefore, How shall we live?
Titus 2:11–13 (NKJV) For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ
Live like Jesus is coming soon because He is. Look at the very last verse in the Bible:
Revelation 22:20 (NKJV) He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Come All Ye Faithful. Are we among the faithful?
(1) Kenneth W. Osbeck, Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1996), 367.
(2) Robert H. Stein, Luke, vol. 24, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 363.
(3) James R. Edwards, The Gospel according to Luke, ed. D. A. Carson, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos, 2015), 382–383.
