Be Ye Therefore Ready
In Lk 12:35-48 Jesus taught his disciples, and those who would read these words, to be ye therefore ready, because they would not know the hour of his return at the Second Advent.
Concerning the Second Advent, Jesus gave an illustration of a lord who returns from his wedding, v.35-36. He said let your loins be girded and your lights burning, like Matt 25:8-10. “Yourselves like men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately”.
In this illustration, the lord is Jesus. The wedding is the marriage of the Lamb, Rev 19:6-8. The wedding takes place after the rapture of the church and before the Second Advent. Christians first go through the judgment seat of Christ, 2 Cor 5:10, and then we’re presented to the Lord as a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle, Eph 5:25-27. Then the wedding takes place.
The wedding is followed by the reception, the marriage supper of the Lamb, Rev 19:9. The Lord returns from the wedding, and the men are supposed to open unto him immediately. For a simple visual diagram of these events click on Marriage and Marriage Supper Diagram.
In v.37-38 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching. They are the ones who are ready for his return whenever he comes.
The blessing is that the Lord will gird himself, and make them sit down to meat and will come forth and serve them. Imagine the Lord serving these men at the marriage supper of the Lamb. This reminds of us of when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet.
He might come in the second watch, or the third watch. The servants are blessed who are ready for him whenever he comes. See Mk 13:35.
In v.39-40 concerning the Second Advent, Jesus refers to another event, a thief who breaks through the goodman’s house. In this illustration, the goodman of the house is the god of this world. And the thief is the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus will return as a thief in the night, 1 Thes 5:2, Matt 24:42-44. And he will come at a time when “ye think not” and at an hour when the goodman doesn’t know. So, he says, “Be ye therefore ready also”.
In v. 41-44 Peter asked to whom the Lord was speaking, the disciples or to all the multitude. Jesus answered him with a question. He asked, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season”? Jesus’s question contains the answer to Peter’s question. He’s addressing those whom he will make ruler over his household when he is away. See Matt 24:45-51.
This ruler is to be faithful, like Moses was, Num 12:7. Moses… who is faithful in all mine house. And like David was, 1 Sam 22:14, who is so faithful among all thy servants as David.
This ruler is to be a steward like the stewards over all the substance and possession of king David, 1 Chr 28:1.
As a ruler, he must be like Joseph’s ruler of his house, Gen 43:16, and like Azariah the ruler of the house of God, 2 Chr 31:13. Like Matt 25:21, 23 this person, if he will be faithful over a few things, will be made ruler over many things.
The Lord gives his people meat in due season, Ps 145:15. During the Tribulation, the Lord entrusts this responsibility to a ruler. He’s like the “they” in Rev 12:6 who feed the Jews in the wilderness. And he’s like Obadiah in 1 Ki 18:13. Because the Jews in Judea flee, Matt 24:16-18, God must provide for them. But getting food is going to be tough, See Lam 5:9-10.
In v.43-44 Blessed is the servant who is doing this when his lord comes. He’ll make him ruler over all that he hath.
In v.45-48 if that servant says My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken… This sounds like the treatment the WWII Kapos gave their fellow Jews. He acts as if he’s the master, not the servant.
The lord will come when this servant is not looking for him. And he will cut him in sunder (sever from his duty as ruler). And he’ll appoint him his portion with unbelievers, Matt 24:51 and Rev 21:8.
In v.47 concerning a different servant, if he knew his lord’s will and prepared not himself, neither did his will, he will be beaten with many stripes, like Deut 25:2-3.
In v.48 and another servant who knew not his lord’s will, but committed things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more”. There’s more required of those with greater responsibility.
Conclusion: As difficult as it’s going to be in the Tribulation to keep doing faithfully what these servants are given to do, the Lord will bless them abundantly for their faithfulness. Likewise, if they are not ready when he comes, he will seriously punish them for disobeying the command to be ye therefore ready.
To study the previous lesson, click on Possessions and Necessities. To study the next lesson, click on Three Things to Know.