Luke 12:48

48. Knew not Who had no access to revelation. The case, as it squares with the parable, would be that of a servant whose lord was absent to a night feast, but who has not been informed of his lord’s orders to wait and watch for him. Did commit things worthy of stripes The servant now supposed is one who, nevertheless, commits any things worthy of stripes which he knows, without special revelation, by the light of common sense and conscience, are contrary to his duty as a servant. If what he does is committed through unavoidable mistake, without possibility of learning the right and wrong, he has done nothing worthy of stripes, save in the esteem of a very unreasonable and tyrannical master.

Shall be beaten Unless he repent before God.

With few stripes Few in comparison with what the sinner in the broad light of revelation would suffer. He is beaten because he sinned against light; he is beaten less because he had less light. But he is beaten according to his sin and light, in the same proportion as sinners under the dispensation of revelation. So that there is an equalization of responsibility and penalty in the entire administration of God.

Much given… much required This is the just and universal law lying at the bottom of the principles just laid down.

Men This principle of God’s government is the principle on which men judicially act. It accords with the universal conscience and common sense. And if men universally know the principle, it is right that they should be judged as knowing it. How responsible would be our Lord’s present auditors, if they rejected him and his Gospel, and preferred the leaven (Luke 12:1) of the scribes and doctors, he leaves them from these principles to determine.

VII. The crisis of decision between the hierarchy and Christ, 49-55.

A cold shudder now seems to pass our Lord in view of this crisis. The fire is the strife which is to divide the world and terminate only in the trial and delivery by the last Judge. (Luke 12:58.)