“Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes.” Luke 12:37 ESV1
Read Matthew 24:45-51; Mark 13:32-37 & Luke 12:35-48
As Christ Followers, thoughts of the Rapture are almost exclusively pleasant. Though we may be troubled by the mass chaos and extreme difficulties that will be faced by those who are left behind, we usually don’t worry about our own state. We expect that Christ’s returning will be a glorious time when we are swept from this troubled Earth and deposited in Heaven where there will be nothing but peace and joy and comfort for the rest of eternity.
But Jesus made it quite clear that the Rapture won’t produce bliss for all who have chosen Him as their Lord. The Coming of Christ will include judgment on all who belong to Him. Jesus’ return will be a day of reckoning, “a time when one is called to account for one’s actions … to fulfill one’s promises or obligations.”2 This Day will be a time when each of us who have decided to follow Jesus will be held liable for how we have managed what He has placed in our care. If we have been good stewards, we will be rewarded. And if we have mismanaged our callings, we will face severe consequences. The way Jesus spoke to His closest disciples about The End of the Age and His return made it impossible for there to be any doubt concerning this truth.
“‘But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in Heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake’” (Mark 13:32-34). “‘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, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! … You … must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect’” (Luke 12:35-38 & 40). “‘Therefore, stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake’” (Mark 13:35-37).
Peter said, ‘Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?’
And the Lord said, ‘Who then is the faithful and wise manager whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions’” (Luke 12:41-44). “‘But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’” (Matthew 24:48-51). “‘And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. 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’” (Luke 12:47-48).
To whom was Jesus speaking?
We know that these warning parables were told for the benefit of Christians because Jesus shared them privately with His disciples. Matthew and Mark made a point of recording that the conversation began in this manner:
“As He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the End of the Age’” (Matthew 24:3)?
“And as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked Him privately, ‘Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished’” (Mark 13:3-4)?
Luke simply noted, “[Jesus] said to His disciples …” (Luke 12:22a).
According to Mark’s rendition of this conversation, Jesus did say, “‘What I say to you I say to all: Stay awake’” (Mark 13:37). To clarify what Jesus meant by all, Peter asked, “‘Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?’” (Luke 12:41), Jesus did not directly answer Peter’s question but He replied with an illustration that specifically applied to those who had devoted their lives to Him. We know Jesus was talking to Believers because of the Greek word He continued to use in His parable: doulos.
A doulos is a “slave [or] bondsman … one devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interest.3 It is used in Scripture as a metaphor for “one who gives himself up to another’s will and those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing His cause among men.”3 In this set of parables, the servants given positions of leadership are referred to by the Greek word doulos. Even the one first described as a manager (the Greek word oikonomos) is, in the next sentence, called a doulos.
Jesus was not talking about those servants who are like hired hands who work for a master for a period of time, take their pay, and go on their way. If He were, we could conclude that those receiving punishments weren’t really saved or sold out for Jesus. Unmistakably, Jesus’ warnings in this set of parables were directed toward those who have devoted their lives to Him as their Master. Yet, according to Jesus, some of those servants will face dire consequences.
Waiting isn’t for the Lethargic
In the first section of this set of parables, Jesus referred to those who were the servants of a master who was on his way home from a journey or a wedding feast. They were instructed to stay awake so that they could open the door to him at once when he came and knocked.
Later in Scripture, Jesus used the illustration of Himself waiting for a door to be opened to Him.
“‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me’” (Revelation 3:20).
Contrary to how it is sometimes portrayed, this verse in Revelation has nothing to do with someone coming to salvation. It was written to the church, the church at Laodicea, which was filled with already saved people, saved people who were told to repent because they had forgotten about their Lord.
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot … So, because you are lukewarm … I will spit you out of my mouth … You say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked … Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.’” (Revelation 3:15a, 16-17 & 19).
The Laodiceans had become so self-focused, self-righteous, and out of touch with their reason for gathering that they forgot about Jesus. Laodicea was a church whose congregants had once been on fire for Christ but they got tired of waiting and let that zealous desire for Him be reduced to a mere flicker so much so that they no longer remembered He was returning. As such, they left Jesus outside the church persistently knocking in hopes that someone would remember Him and let Him in.
The members of this church had gotten comfortable and apathetic. The doorkeeper of the Laodicean church had fallen asleep. And the eyes of the other servants in that church had likewise grown heavy. No one was available to open the door for Jesus because the doorkeeper was asleep at his post and none of the other servants had the fortitude to remain available to nudge him awake.
Lest we be too harsh on the Laodiceans, may we remember the criticism of them could equally apply to us. For two-thousand years, Christians have been waiting for the coming of The Son of Man. Anyone of us over the ages up until today could be tempted to give up on waiting.
Remaining Ready isn’t for the Fickle
In the second section of this parable, Jesus spoke about a household manager. This “faithful and wise manager, [who was] set over [the master’s] household, [was] to give [the other servants] their portion of food at the proper time” (Luke 12:42). This section was in response to Peter’s question, “‘Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?’” (Luke 12:41).
Jesus didn’t appear to directly answer Peter’s question. But, as we have discussed earlier, Jesus’ response did reveal that these parables were directed to all Believers. This particular example, though, about a doulos who was to make sure the other servants were fed, was also uniquely specific to Peter. Do you remember the charge Jesus gave Peter as they walked along the beach not long after Jesus had been resurrected?
“Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love [agapao] Me more than these?’ He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love [phileo] You.’ He said to him, ‘Feed My lambs.’ He said to him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love [agapao] Me?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love [phileo] You.’ He said to him, ‘Tend My sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love [phileo] Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ and he said to Him, ‘Lord, You know everything; You know that I love [phileo] You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep’” (John 21:15-17).
I would like to draw your attention to the Greek words I have placed in brackets next to the English word love. Agapao means “to have a preference for, wish well to, regard the welfare of; to take pleasure in the thing, prize it above other things, be unwilling to abandon it or do without; to welcome with desire, long for.”4 It has a much deeper meaning than phileo which is defined as “to love; to be friendly to one; delight in, long for; to do with pleasure.”5
While agapao is a self-sacrificing love, a love without moderation, that is totally devoted to the object of one’s love, phileo is more like an affinity for something or enjoying the presence of someone. Agapao has been described as Divine love, whereas phileo has been defined as brotherly love.
In our humanness, the best we can do for Jesus is phileo Him. But with the Holy Spirit, we can agapao Jesus. The night Jesus was captured, put on trial, and sentenced to crucifixion, Peter, filled with only phileo for Jesus, followed Him from a safe distance and ended up denying Him three times. But after Pentecost, Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gave him agapao for Jesus and for the “sheep” for whom Jesus had asked him to care. Peter was a changed man; with agapao, he now stood boldly for Christ in the face of those who had crucified Him. Peter’s powerful and convicting sermons stirred up trouble for him but also lead to the salvation of thousands. (Check out Acts 2:14-41 & Acts 4:1-31).
Waiting Faithfully is Impossible Without the Help of Christ
If a doorkeeper, a house manager, any other doulos is attempting to fulfill his calling without an agapao love for Christ and a Spirit-filled agapao love for others that spills out of his/her completely devoted love for Christ, he/she can burn out and/or become self-focused. Jesus addressed this possibility when He pointed out “that [a] wicked servant [might say] to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and [begin] to beat his fellow servants and [eat] and [drink] with drunkards” (Matthew 24:48-49). In this parable, for this unfaithful household manager, the wait had become too long and the weight had become too heavy. Because he was attempting to serve his master without agapao love, he succumbed to the temptation to look out only for himself. This led to the mistreatment of those under his care and the overindulgence in that which he was supposed to be pouring into them.
Anyone in a position of leadership can fall for the temptation to be consumed with pride and self-exaltation.
“Satan [prefers] the company of persons of power and intellect. He also delights to entertain those who have a reputation for holiness. What works as well as a live bird to draw others into a net? Such is the craft of Satan—and the frailty of the best among us—that the holiest men have been his bait to snare others … Oh, how this should make you watchful if you are one whose long travel and great progress in the ways of God have gained you eminence in the church! What you say and do, because you are a leader, causes others to look less at themselves and more to you to set the pace and make the rules.”6
“Everything rises and falls on leadership” (John C. Maxwell). When one is in a position of leadership, all of those under his/her influence are affected by his/her words and actions. If the doorkeeper from Jesus’ parable didn’t stay alert, the other servants would have seen no need to stay awake either. When the household manager, in Jesus’ parable, didn’t remain faithful in his position, the other servants became lax in their responsibilities. Everyone under the leadership of the wicked household manager suffered, both those who knew what to do and didn’t do it and those who never sought or received the necessary training to do their jobs properly. No wonder, James, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness” (James 3:1).
But there is a way that those who have the God-given responsibility to lead others can keep from falling into the traps that Satan sets for them and from drawing others into the same nets. By “putting on the whole armor of God, that [they] may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). This armor of God isn’t merely some random equipment; the Armor of God is Christ Himself. When Believers “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, [they are able to] make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires” (Romans 14:13), and they can “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might” (Ephesians 6:10). Sticking with Christ, in Him, in His Armor, protects them from falling into temptation and leading others astray.
Readiness, or Lack Thereof, Will Be Righteously Judged
“‘From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked’” (Luke 12:48b NIV7). Because Jesus has made His Help available to all of His servants, when judgment time comes, no one will have an excuse that the job was too difficult.
“His Divine Power has granted to [His children] all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called [them] to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to [them] His precious and very great promises, so that through them [they] may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire” (2 Peter 1:3-4).
In Christ, His devoted servants have everything they need to be effective in their calls. Doorkeepers can remain alert if they rely on the Spirit of the One frequently spent all night in prayer (see Luke 6:12). Household managers can continue to be faithful and wise if they stay connected to the Head of the Body, the Church (see Colossians 1:18). Shepherds can lovingly care for Jesus’ sheep if they continue to be in communication with the Good Shepherd Himself (see John 10:11).
Those who have remained in Christ as they fulfilled their callings will be rewarded.
“‘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’” (Luke 12:37).
“‘The faithful and wise manager whom his master … set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time … Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions’” (Luke 12:42-44).
Jesus will serve those who have served Him well. The agapao love faithful servants shared with Christ while they were on Earth will continue with an even deeper intimacy in Heaven. And those who have been faithful in the little they were given in this life will be given responsibility for much in the next (see Luke 16:10). It will have been proven that their work was completed in His Power; as they have been, they will be trusted to continue to abide in Him and produce even more abundant fruit.
But those who have grieved and quenched the Holy Spirit, by trying to do His work in their own power and for their own glory, will receive punishment (see Ephesians 4:30 & 1 Thessalonians 5:19).
“For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).
The quality of work of every Christ Follower will be tested. Everything that was done for Christ but without the Power of Christ won’t stand the test. Those who have built on the foundation of Christ with inferior materials won’t lose their salvation but their work will be proven worthless. According to Jesus in the parable above, such servants will be subject to the consequences of this faithlessness. Jesus’ punishments won’t be comfortable, but they will be appropriate.
According to our cultural understanding, the pictures of punishment in this parable seem intense.
“‘The master of [the unfaithful] servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’” (Matthew 24:48-51).
Though extreme, being cut in two was a form of punishment familiar to the Jews (see 1 Samuel 15:33). Jesus likely referenced this form of punishment to emphasize the seriousness of being so unfaithful in one’s calling. What was likened to physically being cut in two may spiritually mean the exposing of one’s duplicity. In the presence of a Holy God, the revelation of such a sin would be just as painful. As Jesus put it, being discovered a hypocrite, will cause great distress and be accompanied by “‘weeping and gnashing of teeth’” (Matthew 24:51b).
Jesus continued:
“‘And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating’” (Luke 12:47-48a).
Though not as harsh as the punishment of the servant who turned from his calling and abused those under his care, the one who knew but ignored his master’s desires, will also face consequences. “Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin” (James 4:17). Jesus said that this unfaithful servant will receive a severe beating. His counterpart who never knew what he was supposed to do nor made the effort to discover his responsibilities, will also receive an applicable beating. What is pictured as a physical beating could spiritually be a verbal chastisement by an All-Knowing God. Such tongue lashing might be worse than a whipping.
Will We Be Ready?
Once, when Jesus was in the middle of ministering on Earth, He lamented, “‘When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth’” (Luke 18:8b)? Jesus’ question reveals His concern if whether, upon His return, Believers will still be looking for Him.8
Any Christian has the potential to grow weary and spiritually nod off to sleep. Any Christ Follower can get weighed down by the responsibilities of this world, let his/her agapao love for Christ grow cold, and begin pursuing his/her own interests. There is a risk that any Believer could fail to take advantage of the benefits of being in Christ, miss out on being ready for His coming, and find him/herself experiencing the dreadful consequences of being an unfaithful doulos.
“‘Watch yourselves [therefore] lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that Day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man’” (Luke 21:34-36).
“Each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). It will be much preferred to be convicted here of our mismanagement and make course corrections while we still have the chance than find ourselves in need of punishment when Jesus returns. Let’s prayerfully strengthen our resolve to “‘stay dressed for action and keep [our] lamps burning” (Luke 12:35). Let’s determine to be faithful in abiding in Christ and He in us (see John 15:5) that may we “not growing weary of doing good” (Galatians 6:9). When Jesus comes may He find us awake and full of faith.
1 Scripture quotations marked with ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All Scriptures are taken from the ESV unless otherwise noted. To aid in understanding, I have capitalized references to God.
2 https://www.dictionary.com/browse/day-of-reckoning
3 https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1401&t=KJV
4 G25 – agapaō – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv) (blueletterbible.org)
5 G5368 – phileō – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv) (blueletterbible.org)
6 William Gurnall and James S. Bell Jr., Daily Readings from The Christian in Complete Armour (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 1994), February 5.
7 Scripture quotations marked with NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.
8 note on Luke 18:8 from the NKJV Study Bible, copyright 2018 by Thomas Nelson, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., pg. 1513