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Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 12:43-44

“Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he comes shall find so doing. Of a truth I say to you, that he will set him over all that he has.” He now points out that the steward is a slave. He is not there to better himself but to serve. If the slave faithfully carries out his function he will be blessed. He will both prosper and be happy. For when his lord pays him a visit and discovers that he is looking after the feeding of the household well he will appoint him over everything. (We see... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 12:45

“But if that servant shall say in his heart, ‘My lord delays his coming,’ and shall begin to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken.” But far from being blessed is that slave if he takes advantage of his lord’s absence to maltreat his master’s property. Here is something totally unseemly, a slave behaving like a master and beating unnecessarily the other less important slaves, and using his master’s goods to excess. He is going outside his station.... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 12:46

“The lord of that servant will come in a day when he does not expect, and in an hour when he does not know, and will cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the unfaithful.” But the slave is so foolish that he has forgotten that his lord might come at any time. And when suddenly his lord does come he is caught out with nowhere to hide. And his lord is so angry that he has him decapitated, and sends him to join the unbelieving. He has proved himself to be totally unworthy to even be in the... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 12:47

“And that servant, who knew his lord’s will, and did not make ready, nor did according to his will, will be beaten with many stripes,” The question here is whether this is the same slave or another one. If the steward was decapitated it would certainly suggest that this is another one. This tagging on of an extra idea to a parable would also fit in with the way that Jesus suddenly tagged on an extra idea to the previous parable (Luke 12:39). It is a vivid way of stressing a point. And we must... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 12:48

“And to whoever much is given, of him will much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more.” And the final lesson drawn out is that the more that is given to someone, of position and authority and trust, the more will be required of them. Those who are given the most trust will be expected to deliver more than those of whom that is not so true. Note. It would be unwise to draw our theology from a parable. Parables illustrate theology not make it, for... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 12:35-38

Luke 12:35-Galatians : Three References to the Parousia. Luke 12:35-Zechariah : (with Luke 12:47 f.). The Need of Watchfulness.— These verses, like Luke 13:25, are clearly akin in thought to Mt.’ s parable of the Ten Bridesmaids ( cf. also Mark 13:33-Haggai :)* Loisy thinks we have here reminiscences and echoes of that parable; Wellhausen thinks Lk.’ s form the earlier; “ the fermentation in Lk. has in Mt. settled down and disappeared.” But it is quite possible that Mt. and Lk. are... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 12:39-48

Luke 12:39-Galatians : . The Faithful Steward ( Matthew 24:45-Colossians : *). Luke 12:39 is peculiar to Lk. The answer to Peter’ s question is that the injunctions to watchfulness are particularly applicable to the Twelve. This is emphasized by Lk.’ s use of “ steward” for Mt.’ s “ servant.” The other variants are not significant, but Luke 12:47 f. is found only in Lk.: it seems to refer to another affair, and may have been originally a continuation of Luke 12:35-Zechariah :. It contains a... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Luke 12:35-36

The first words of Luke 12:40, Be ye therefore ready also, expound Luke 12:35. In this sense we find the phrase used, 1 Kings 18:46; 2 Kings 4:29; 2 Kings 9:1; Job 38:3; Job 40:7; Jeremiah 1:17. In those Eastern countries both masters and servants were wont to wear long garments, which they were wont to gird up, either when they went to fight, or when they were to travel, Exodus 12:11 1 Kings 18:46; or when they went about any service; see Luke 17:8; John 13:4; this was a piece of their... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Luke 12:37-40

The duty which Christ is here pressing upon his hearers is watchfulness, which signifieth: 1. A negation of sleep; 2. An industrious keeping ourselves awake with reference to some particular end. The end here expressed is the happy receiving of Christ, coming to judgment; from whence is evident, that the watching here intended is a spiritual watching, which is a denial of ourselves as to our lusts, and the sleep of sin, which is compared to sleep, Romans 13:11; Ephesians 5:14, and an... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Luke 12:41-48

See Poole on "Matthew 24:45" and following verses to Matthew 24:51, where we met with the same parable, but here expressed more largely, and with more circumstances. Matthew hath not the introduction to it which we have here, Luke 12:41. It was occasioned from Peter’s saying to Christ, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or unto all? Doth this duty of watchfulness concern all thy disciples, or only us, that are thine apostles, the ministers of thy gospel? The substance of what our Lord... read more

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