Luke 12:42-58

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 12:41-42

‘And Peter said, “Lord, do you speak this parable to us, or even to all?” 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?” Jesus replies to Peter’s question with a question. In other words He says the choice is up to Peter and the other disciples what they apply to themselves. He is aware that it will be some time before they really appreciate its significance. In it He points to the... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 12:42-48

The Parable of The Servants Good and Bad (12:42-48). In reply to Peter’s question Jesus tells a parable about an individual steward (although it expands to cover all level of servants at the end). It should be noted that again the parable is open to varied interpretation. The crowd could see the mention of the lord’s coming as just a part of His comings and goings without reading into it the second coming. They would simply see it as a warning of the need to serve God faithfully, especially... read more

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

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 12:49

“I have come to cast fire on the earth, and how I wish it was already kindled.” Apart from the problem of translating the last part of the verse, which probably does not affect the meaning of the whole, the main question here is as to the significance of the ‘casting of fire on the earth’. The general impression gained by such a phrase would be that of causing disturbance and ferment and trouble, and finally of bringing judgment on those spoken of. For that is the usual idea behind the thought... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 12:49-53

The Future Will Not All Be Rosy (12:49-53). As Jesus contemplates the thought of the punishments which will be inflicted on the various unfaithful servants, it carries His thought forward on to what now awaits the world in terms of the severe treatment that is coming on those who called themselves His people, but were even now being unfaithful, and of those who were mistreating them and leading them astray (the chief priests, scribes and Pharisees in general), faithless servants all. They too... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 12:50

“But I have a baptism (‘an overwhelming’) to be baptised with, and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!” However, if that fire is to be effective redeemingly something extraordinary will be required, the baptism of suffering of Jesus, that is, the experience for Jesus of being ‘overwhelmed’ by suffering (the word baptizo is known to signify ‘overwhelm’ in secular Greek). For alongside the suffering of the world Jesus Himself must be overwhelmed by suffering, in order that He might... read more

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