With Sleeves Rolled Up & the Light On Luke 12:35-48
Hypocrisy Themes of Luke 12 Fear of persecution from men Holding our possessions loosely Covetousness Worry These can all be overcome by looking toward the Lord s return.
Luke 12:35-38 Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third,
Luke 12:38-40 and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (ESV)
An Exhortation (with instructions) Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for the master to come home (35-36)
One Command Employing Three Images (You) Stay! Dressed for action With lamps burning Waiting for your master
A Beatitude (with a twist) Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake blessed are those servants! Blessed is that servant (37, 38, 43)
Blessed (makarios) Blessed, happy, fortunate, deserving of divine favor It will be good for them, if They are found awake and watching. They are found ready to serve. They are found doing good.
Luke 12:38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! (ESV)
Luke 12:37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. (ESV)
A Reminder (and a warning) But know this You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (39-40)
The Lord s Return The time of his coming is deliberately unknown. But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. (Mt 24:36, ESV)
The Lord s Return The time of his coming is deliberately unknown. It is compared to a thief s robbing a house at night.
1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, There is peace and security, then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. (ESV)
2 Peter 3:9-10 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. (ESV) (See also: Mt 6:19; Rev 3:3; 15:15)
An Illustration (both good and bad) Who then is the faithful and wise manager? (42)
Manager (oikonomos) Steward, manager, administrator.
A Contrast of Four Servants A Faithful Servant (43-44) He will set him over all his possessions (44)
A Contrast of Four Servants A Faithful Servant A Blatantly Unfaithful Servant (45-46)
A Contrast of Four Servants A Faithful Servant A Blatantly Unfaithful Servant A Knowingly Disobedient Servant (47)
A Contrast of Four Servants A Faithful Servant A Blatantly Unfaithful Servant A Knowingly Disobedient Servant An Unknowingly Disobedient Servant (48)
Luke 12:48 Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. (ESV)
A Required Decision (not to be taken lightly) Luke 12:49-59
Three Related Sayings Baptism & Fire (49-53) Christ s death, burial, and resurrection will bring, not peace, but division. But one must choose who he is going to follow. Clouds rising and wind blowing (54-56) The people knew how to interpret the weather, but were unable to understand who Jesus was and grasp the arrival of the kingdom. Settling with your Accuser (57-59) It would be wise to settle accounts with the creator of the universe before it is too late.
Application We must be found ready and faithful with our work clothes on, our lamps burning, eagerly awaiting our Lord s return. We will each be held accountable for what we have done with what we have been given. We must make sure our account has been paid in full which is only possible through Jesus Christ.
With Sleeves Rolled Up & the Lights On Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. (37)