Blessed is that servant ,.... Who is faithful and wise, rules well, and discharges his trust with integrity, and disposes of the provisions of the house, in his hands, with great discretion and prudence: whom his Lord, when he cometh ; to take vengeance on the wicked Jews, or by death, or at judgment: shall find so doing ; behaving as a good ruler, and as a wise and faithful steward. read more
Of a truth I say unto you ,.... This, with Christ, was a strong way of asserting the truth of any thing; and the sense is, you may assure yourselves of it, this will certainly be the happy case of such servant: that he will make him ruler over all that he hath ; as Joseph was made by Pharaoh. Such an one shall reign with Christ on earth a thousand years, and then in heaven with him to all eternity, where he shall enjoy all things; See Gill on Matthew 24:47 read more
But and if that servant say in his heart ,.... Not the same servant before spoken of as a wise and faithful steward, that gives to all in the family the portion of meat in due season, and shall be found doing, and be made ruler over his master's goods but another, who also, as he, is made by his Lord ruler over his household, and is in a like post, and in the same office, but is an "evil servant", as Matthew calls him, to distinguish him from the other; and so the Arabic and Ethiopic... read more
The Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him ,.... For, not coming as was expected, he gives over looking, and concludes he will not come at all; in which he will find himself mistaken, for he will come in the very day which is appointed, though men know not of it, and do not look for it: and at an hour when he is not aware ; for as neither the day, nor hour of Christ's coming are known to any man, it becomes men to look for it every day and hour, lest it come... read more
And that servant which knew his Lord's will ,.... Not his secret, but his revealed will; the will of God, which lies in the declarations of his grace and mercy in the Gospel, and in the commands and ordinances expressed in his word; and which are the good, perfect, and acceptable will of God; the knowledge of which is necessary, in order to practice: and where there is a spiritual and saving knowledge, there will be practice: but there may be knowledge, where there is no practice, and which... read more
But he that knew not ,.... His Lord's will; either not having the means of knowing it, as the Heathens; or through neglect of them, not attending to them, and making use of them, which is the case of many, where the Gospel revelation is: and did commit things worthy of stripes ; or punishment; as the Gentiles, by sinning against the law, and light of nature; and those who might have the advantage of a divine revelation, but neglect it: the Septuagint in Deuteronomy 25:2 have the same... read more
Let your loins - Be active, diligent, determined ready; let all hinderances be removed out of the way; and let the candle of the Lord be always found burning brightly in your hand. See on Luke 12:37 ; (note). read more
That wait for their lord - See the notes on Matthew 25:1 ; (note), etc. The wedding - How the Jewish weddings were celebrated, see in the notes on Matthew 8:12 ; (note); Matthew 22:11 ; (note). read more
He shall gird himself - Alluding to the long garments which were worn in the eastern countries; and which, in travelling and serving, were tucked up in their belts. That those among the Romans who waited on the company at table were girded, and had their clothes tucked up, appears from what Horace says, Sat. b. vi. l. 107: Veluti Succinctus cursitat Hospes , He runs about like a girded waiter. The host himself often performed this office. And ibid. viii. 10: Puer alle cinctus : and that... read more
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John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 12:42
And the Lord said, who then is that faithful and wise steward ,.... Christ does not directly, and in express words, answer to Peter's question, but suggests, that though he intended it as a caution to all his people, and in it spoke to them all to be upon their watch and guard, Mark 13:37 yet that he had a special regard to them, his apostles, and succeeding ministers of the Gospel, whose characters, office, work, dignity, and honour, are here described. Such are stewards in Christ's... read more