39aBut know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would1have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
40aTherefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
41 Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?”
42 And the Lord said, a“Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food1in due season?
43Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
44aTruly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has.
45aBut if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk,
46the master of that servant will come on a aday when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
47And athat servant who bknew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48aBut he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
Christ Brings Division
49a“I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!
50But aI have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is baccomplished!
Jesus says that exhortations to "watch" apply to everyone (Mark 13:35-37). In this case, the parable that follows shows that the apostles have a special responsibility. In it, the steward in charge of the servants is a servant himself, teaching the importance of faithfulness in doing the will of the master (I Corinthians 4:2). Not only does Jesus teach the certainty of His return at an unexpected moment, but he also implies that the church - His disciples - would continue serving God for an unspecified time until His return. As He says, "Blessed is the servant whom His Lord will find so doing when He comes."
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