Kingdom Principle: To combat our allegiances to this earthly realm Jesus challenges us to value those things that heaven values. As we do, we will store up treasure in heaven and we will treasure up heaven in our hearts. And we will serve faithfully waiting for the Master’s return.
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3 Examples of a ______________________ Servant
Luke 12:41 (ESV) — 41 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?”
Who is the “us” and who is the “all”?
4 Reasons the “us” are believers and the “all” are unbelievers:
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The audience to whom Jesus is speaking is mixed (crowd, disciples, Pharisees).
Luke 12:1 (ESV) — 1 In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
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The punishment the bad servants receive does not apply to believers.
The Lord might chastise his children (Heb. 12), but he does not punish them. He punishes the wicked. And some to a greater degree. (Luke 10:13-16)
Punishment of the unbeliever is the same in duration, that is that all who reject Christ suffer for eternity, but it is not the same in degree, not all will suffer in the same measure.
“For although all the reprobate suffer the same punishment, yet it will not be alike severe in all.” — Institutes of the Christian Religion, 3.25.12; John Calvin
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All must stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ.
Philippians 2:10-11; Romans 2:6-8
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This is similar to the parable of the soils.
Luke 8:5-15
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The ___________________________ Servant
Luke 12:45 (ESV) — 45 But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk…
There are things in this world that deserve the harshest of punishment and abusing those who are lesser than you is one of them. May it never be said of us!
Psalm 58:1–6 (ESV) — 1 Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods? Do you judge the children of man uprightly? 2 No, in your hearts you devise wrongs; your hands deal out violence on earth. 3 The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies. 4 They have venom like the venom of a serpent, like the deaf adder that stops its ear, 5 so that it does not hear the voice of charmers or of the cunning enchanter. 6 O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!
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The ___________________________ Servant
Luke 12:47 (ESV) — 47 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.
The reason this servant received punishment is not because he did not know, it is because he knew but did not do it. May we not be like the negligent servant.
James 4:17 (ESV) — 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
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The Un-________________________ Servant
Luke 12:48 (ESV) — 48 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.
Certainly to us who have been given much, much will be required, but also to us who have been given much, much more will be given. Might we be faithful with what the Lord has given us.
Question to Consider
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In what ways does the conduct of the bad servants call you to repent and walk with the Lord in faithful service?
