Some Christians have an egalitarian view of salvation. That is, they believe every saved person will be equal in the afterlife. Since salvation is by grace and Jesus paid it all, they reason, works will have little bearing on our future judgment.
Followers of this ministry know that while we agree with those premises, we do not agree with the conclusion. In fact, we find it difficult to pick up the Bible without coming across strong evidence to the contrary. Today’s passage is a prime example.
Those He Will Reward
“Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.
“Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”
Peter asked, “Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?”
And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful.
“And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.
We’ll break down this illustration in a moment. But first…
In today’s reading, Peter asks a version of a question we raised last week: “Is that illustration just for us or for everyone?” Or as we put it more generally: For whom is this illustration meant?
Below is how Pastor Whipple, the founder of our ministry, answered that question with regard to last week’s illustration concerning a demon-possessed home. Writing in his second book, The Matthew Mysteries, about the Matthew 12 version of the story, Pastor Whipple explains:
In closing this chapter, we see Israel rejecting Christ and thus rejecting the kingdom. Because of this willful rejection of Jesus as the Christ, verse 43 through 45 liken Israel to a house that has a demon. When the demon goes out of the house to find rest, Israel cleans itself (through reformation; i.e. works of the law). When the demon returns and finds the house empty (Christ not living in it) and it swept and garnished (under legalism), he goes out and invites seven demons worse than himself to come and live with him. The result is that the house (Israel) was much worse in the last state than it was in the first. So it was with the house of Israel at the close of the twelfth chapter of Matthew.
As for our last question from last week — Is there a message for Kingdom-seekers? — we think the answer is both yes and no. It seems clear this particular story was directed at Israel at a critical point in its history (when their Messiah was there among them). However, while this story is not told to us, it is certainly for us — that is, for our edification. We also have legalism among God’s people today. Indeed, we have too many claiming the title of “Christian” who attempt to make an orderly house that does not have Christ in it, leaving that house vulnerable to infiltration by evil spirits.
One example that comes to mind are the (too many) tales of famous Christians and Christian ministries that have gone down because of sexual scandals. Perhaps you can think of other examples?
Returning to our topic for today, Luke 12:22 reveals the audience (A) for this particular illustration: “Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said…” Phrases like that should immediately make your spiritual ears ‘perk up’ since whatever comes next will be both for and to anyone whose Lord and Master is Jesus. So what does He say next?
The Master will come when He is least expected (v 38, 40, 46)
Those who are ready and waiting for His return will be rewarded (v 37)
Those leading & feeding other servants of His will earn a specific reward (v 43)
That reward: Being put in charge of all He owns (v 44)
By contrast, lazy and wicked servants will be punished (v 46-47)
The more a servant is given, the more is expected of that servant (v 48)
Now comes the biggest morsel, the one for you to chew on during your devotional time this week. If servants are disciples in the illustration, then point #5 cannot be about unsaved people, can it? It also cannot be about losing one’s salvation because Jesus also said:
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me.
So what is the logical conclusion we must draw? Is there any other conclusion that fits? Feel free to use the button below or email us your thoughts.
Until next time, may “the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.” (Colossians 3:16)
MOTK arrived in my email box. Who are Jordan and Andy ?