35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lamps burning; 36 and
be ye yourselves like unto men looking for their lord, when he
shall return from the marriage feast; that, when he cometh and
knocketh, they may straightway open unto him. 37 Blessed are those
servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily
I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them sit down
to meat, and shall come and serve them. 38 And if he shall come in
the second watch, and if in the third, and find _them_ so, blessed
are those _servants_. 39 But know this, that if the master of the
house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have
watched, and not have left his house to be broken through. 40 Be
ye also ready: for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man
cometh.
41 And Peter said, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or
even unto all? 42 And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and
wise steward, whom his lord shall set over his household, to give
them their portion of food in due season? 43 Blessed is that
servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 44 Of a
truth I say unto you, that he will set him over all that he hath.
45 But if that servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth
his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and the
maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; 46 the lord
of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not, and in
an hour when he knoweth not, and shall cut him asunder, and
appoint his portion with the unfaithful. 47 And that servant, who
knew his lord’s will, and made not ready, nor did according to his
will, shall be beaten with many _stripes_; 48 but he that knew
not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few
_stripes_. And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be
required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the
more.
Our Lord had been warning his disciples against allowing their minds to be
absorbed in the selfish acquisition of wealth, and against being anxious
about needed food and clothing; they were to be supremely concerned about
his Kingdom which would appear in glory at the time of his return. As to
the events preceding this return, as to its circumstances and results, he
taught them more definitely just before his death; here he simply enjoined
upon them the attitude of watchfulness, implying that if his coming was
occupying their thoughts they would be kept at once from worldliness and
from worry, and would be diligent in serving him.
He illustrated this attitude of heart and mind by two parables, the
parable of the Returning Lord and the parable of the Thief. In the former,
the master has been attending a marriage, his servants are awake and
clothed, the house is lighted, and all are ready to receive him. So
delighted is he on his arrival to find them faithful that he is ready to
give any expression to his joy; he even is willing to cause them to sit
down and to partake of the banquet they have prepared for him.
The second parable illustrates the truth that as the time when a thief
will come is unknown, therefore the only way to act is to be ready at all
times for his approach; therefore, our Saviour added, “Be ye also ready:
for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.”
The Master here as elsewhere indicated that his return was to be delayed;
his absence was to be like a long night; much must transpire, much be done
before he would reappear, but his followers must ever be prepared for his
return. This did not mean that they were to be nervously expectant nor
were they to be saying that the day of his coming was just at hand; rather
they were to be at their places of duty, faithfully performing their
tasks, and absorbed in the work which the Master had given them to do.
This attitude of watchfulness, and of interest in the return of Christ,
should particularly characterize teachers and leaders. This is the force
of the question which Peter now asked. He inquired whether all believers
would share equally in the blessings of the Lord’s return; would not
those, like the apostles, who had been most prominent in his service
receive from him a greater reward? Jesus replied that larger privileges
imply greater temptations and greater responsibilities. If a Christian
minister has been faithful in feeding his people with spiritual food, he
will be rewarded with even higher opportunities for service; but if the
long delay of his Lord’s return shall make him forgetful and unmindful of
its reality, if he shall use his high position selfishly or shall use his
power unkindly, then when the Master appears he will be punished with the
utmost severity.
The chief advantage of a religious leader lies in his opportunity for
knowing more fully the teachings of Christ; his superior knowledge,
therefore, will be the ground of his more terrible punishment in case of
unfaithfulness; the principle is abiding and applies in every sphere. “To
whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required.”
Thus Christ taught that in the future there will be degrees and gradations
both of punishments and rewards.