The Unprepared Servant - Luke 12:47

The beloved physician Luke wrote how Jesus said, “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he comes shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he has. But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delays his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken. The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looks not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers”, and in chapter twelve and verse forty-seven of his book Luke shared how Jesus told what happens to, “that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself” where we read:

And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

The verse reads, “And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, ...” Luke began with the words, “and that servant” or “ and the man of servile condition, slave or bondman”, “which knew his lord's will” which means “who perceived, was aware, understood and was acquainted with the desire and wishes of the one to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah”, “and prepared not himself” or “and did not make ready, provide and secure his own self”, “neither did according to his will” which means “nor and not in any way did the servant perform, produce or attend to his lord's desire and wishes”. Luke shared how Jesus referred to the “servant” who “understood” that his “lord” would return but did not “prepare” nor “work” even though he knew the lord was coming.

The verse goes on to say, “... shall be beaten with many stripes.” Luke continued the words, “shall be beaten” or “will be trashed, scourged and smitten” “with many stripes” which means “with a massive and large amount of floggings or lashes”. Luke shared how Jesus said the “servant” who “knew” his “lord” was returning and yet failed to “prepare” himself or “perform” his duties would receive a greater punishment than the person who was “unaware” of his lord's return.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how there are different levels of negative attention given to people who know the Lord. Some people are unaware of the Lord's return and go on with their lives as though He is not coming, and then there are people who know the Lord but disregard their knowledge and do not look for Him nor “work” in His Kingdom. God desires to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus. When they yield to Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”, they are to expect His return (See Acts 1:11), and be busy about His Kingdom work. Those who are not wise will refuse God's invitation to have a relationship with Him, and people who know Jesus but do not look for Him while disregarding their duties should carefully rethink Jesus' words.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus tells what happens to, “he that knew not”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".