Luke 12:39-48 ASV

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 12:38-46

See the notes at Matthew 24:42-51.Second watch - See the notes at Matthew 14:25. read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 12:47

Which knew his lord’s will - Who knew what his master wished him to do. He that knows what God commands and requires.Many stripes - Shall be severely and justly punished. They who have many privileges, who are often warned, who have the gospel, and do not repent and believe, shall be far more severely punished than others. They who are early taught in Sunday schools, or by pious parents, or in other ways, and who grow up in sin and impenitence, will have much more to answer for than those who... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 12:48

Few stripes - The Jews never inflicted more than forty stripes for one offence, Deuteronomy 25:3. For smaller offences they inflicted only four, five, six, etc., according to the nature of the crime. In allusion to this, our Lord says that he “that knew not” - that is, he who had comparatively little knowledge - would suffer a punishment proportionally light. He refers, doubtless, to those who have fewer opportunities, smaller gifts, or fewer teachers.Much is given - They who have much... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 12:38-40

Luke 12:38-40. And if he shall come in the second or third watch, &c. This included all the time from nine in the evening to three in the morning; and was as if he had said, whether he come early or late. Here our Lord enforces “this constant watchfulness and habitual preparation for his coming, from the consideration of the uncertainty of the time of it; telling them, that as there is no master of a family but would make some preparation against a thief, if he knew of his coming, so it... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 12:41-44

Luke 12:41-44. Then Peter said, Lord, speakest thou this parable to us Who are thy constant followers, to us who are ministers; or even to all That come to be taught by thee, to all the hearers, and, in them, to all Christians? Peter, it appears, had been giving close attention to the whole of Christ’s discourse, and saw it to be very important; out was at a loss to know whether the latter part of it, namely, the parable of the watching servants, was spoken to the multitude in general,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 12:45-46

Luke 12:45-46. But and if that servant, &c. On the other hand, consider attentively the character and punishment of a bad servant, that you may avoid both. If any steward, who has the care of his lord’s family committed to him, yielding to the evil of his own disposition, shall take occasion from his lord’s long absence to behave unfaithfully in his duty; and shall begin to beat the men-servants, &c. Shall behave tyrannically toward his fellow-servants, and give himself up to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 12:47-48

Luke 12:47-48. And that servant which knew his lord’s will, &c. Lest the consideration of the strictness of the account, and the greatness of the punishment, described in the parable, might terrify men of honest dispositions, who are liable to err merely through weakness, Jesus showed them, that as offences differ greatly in their circumstances and aggravations, so shall they differ in their punishments also. To understand this part of our Lord’s discourse, we must suppose that the... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Luke 12:35-53

96. Be prepared at all times (Luke 12:35-53)The followers of Jesus must always be ready for whatever circumstances they meet. They are likened to household servants waiting for their master to return home after a feast. Whether the master arrives home earlier or later than expected, he will be pleased if the servants are ready and waiting for him. Though they have merely done their duty, he may give them an unexpected reward by serving them a meal (Luke 12:35-38).Another illustration of... read more

E.W. Bullinger