Parable of the keeper of the door

Opening

What do you call someone who stands at the door of a place? (door keeper, bouncer, guard)

In this combined parable (Mark, Luke) put together we get a very strong message from Jesus. The gravity of the message, the purpose should not be taken lightly at all.

Some commentators do not believe these are parables and do not go together, but in the language they way it is, Womack in his book combined the two and the point of the parables together have one point you will see.

Open read: Mk13:31-37

Mark 13:31–37 NASB95

31 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. 32 “But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 33 “Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come. 34 “It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert. 35 “Therefore, be on the alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 “What I say to you I say to all, ‘Be on the alert!’ ”

then have everyone then turn to and read Lk12:35-40.

Luke 12:35–40 NASB95

35 “Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit. 36 “Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. 37 “Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. 38 “Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. 39 “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 40 “You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”

Ask the general questions like usual

Background:

Luke does not go into specifics as to the location of this parable, it is apparent that this is later in the ministry. Luke 12 is given to the masses (Lk12:1) and this comes as a part of a larger section on teaching, warnings when he gets to the passage on readiness (Lk12:35).

Mark, well Mark places this among Jesus teaching about the end of the age (AD70) and the return of the Christ.

Purpose of the parable is to be ready, to be in a state preparation for the return. Some were going to see the judgment on Jerusalem (a day of the Lord event) while still alive, all were to be looking for the return of the Christ.

This parable is spoken very strongly, with pointed warnings, and it is perfectly placed in the scripture just prior to His being handed over (arrest); sacrifice (Cross); Death (become a curse for us); resurrection (defeating final sin, death); and his Ascension (so can send the Comforter).

Wenham in his commentary is careful to emphasis: “the main point of the parable is unmistakable: it is about the importance of ‘keeping awake,’ and being ready to welcome the master when he comes and knocks.

Jesus was always about teaching, about preparing, remember there was a plan, a purpose, a scheme that was foreknown, preordained that was coming into place and Jesus needed the disciples to be prepare and to be waiting, looking for what was to come. And it would not be easy. Even though they did not understand it, even when He ascended

Turn to and read Lk24:50-52

Luke 24:50–52 NASB95

50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy,

then turn to Act1:9-11.

Acts 1:9–11 NASB95

9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. 11 They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

He lead them to see the ascension with the promise of the return; Yet they gazed intently when it happened not fully understanding yet of the return. First by the form of the Holy Spirit, second by judgment on Jerusalem giving the end of the Jewish age after the birth of the church, and finally the 2nd Advent, His final return in judgment after meeting the church in the clouds!

Explaining the text

Remember we are in discipleship parables, and this is a vital one for disciples.

Both parables use the language of a master returning for a wedding feast. Now Luke, well, there you can see the Master “serves” at the feast

Both texts show there are servants who were assigned tasks. “watching for the Masters return.”

He also tells those who are on the alert will be the ones served, ones reclining when the master returns (Lk12:37).

In Jewish culture there were 3-watches in the night, but in the Roman culture there were 4-watches, Jesus only addresses the 2nd and the 3rd watch. In Mark the wording will show evening (1st watch); midnight (2nd watch) crowning of the cock crow (3rd watch) and dawn (4th watch).

The point of both Luke and Mark is be ready regardless of the time, be ready in any watch.

Jesus is saying, “stay awake,” “stand in readiness”

Purpose and application

Standing in the ready: There is a need for constant preparedness.

We don’t know when He is going to return (Lk12:40)

In our world we do not know the days, hours of our own life. 16 murders a day here in the US. People got up going about their day not knowing this was the last day. - so we need to stand in the ready that way or for when Christ returns.

We need to remember that He is coming! His return is eminent. When He returns will he find us doing what we are to do, standing in the ready?

The time of the return is known only by the Father

As Jesus said at the time, even He, nor the angels in heaven, did not not know the hour.

Man has been trying to predict the year, the day that Christ was going to return and they all have been wrong. - So always be at the ready, in a state of readiness!

Jesus has set a task for us to keep watch over His house until He returns (Womack’s wording)

God has given us, talented us individually for the house, the kingdom of the beloved Son with tasks, each need to be at the task until He returns.

When He returns the one who stands in the ready will be blessed (Lk12:37) and the Master, the Lord will serve him!

Learning to live the parable

Do you think this parable is relevant to the church today, or only to those who heard it that were looking for His return then and AD70 came?

Jesus stepped out of the heavenlies, born, lived, taught, promised, died, rose again, ascended and will return again, that is a truth we be best not forget.

So, as keepers of the door as Womack had entitled this, we need to stand at the ready, be in a state of readiness, preparedness constantly, looking for Him and serving Him with the abilities He has given us until He returns or calls us home.

It warns us not to be caught sleeping (Mk13:36) when the Master returns

Simon Kistemaker:

“Once more the servants who have waited for their master to return are commended. The servants have fulfilled what was expected of them: to wait for their master’s return. Likewise, all believers, not just the disciples of Jesus, are told to be ready, to watch for and await their Lord’s return. If they are dressed and ready for service with their lamps burning brightly in the dark night. the Lord will not withhold his reward when He comes.”

Universally regardless of a way, place, time you may gather to worship as a believer we have same instructions

Know He is coming

Be ready for His coming

Serve while you are waiting

Share with others of the gravity of belief in God for the choice has eternal consequences. So, may we press on and carry out His work until the day of His return!