PARABLES OF JESUS - THE (UN)FAITHFUL SERVANT

Our first week was the story of the wise and foolish builders. Wise upon hearing the Words of Christ, implants them in his heart and does them is on a solid foundation while the foolish person hears the words of God and ignores them.

Our second week we looked at the foolish rich man and how having his heart centered on the wrong things – made him distant from God. Jesus tells us to seek the riches of Heaven and not of earthly riches, and that seeking earthly riches can have eternal consequences.

This week we look at an Unfaithful Steward who is not ready for the master of the house, Jesus to come back.

God has made us stewards or caretakers of the talents and possessions He has given us. He requires faithfulness—

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 – This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

In today’s parable, the master has gone away

Acts 1:9–11 – And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

As servants are to expect His return. As Christians, we await our Lord’s return. Prophecies of both Old and New Testaments are being fulfilled. Christ will return.

The Parable of the foolish builder is verses 13-21 which we talked about 2 weeks ago and then Jesus tells us in verses 22-34 to not be anxious about anything in life – all nations, all people seek after food, wealth etc., that where you put your time, effort into – what you value is where your heart is verses 31-34 Jesus says, “Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also – Jesus then goes into this parable.

As we begin, Let us pray!

AN UNFAITHFUL STEWARD

Luke 12:35–40 – “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

God has made us stewards or caretakers of the talents and possessions He has given us. He requires faithfulness—

I. Ready for the Master—vv. 35–36

A. Attitude—v. 35 – “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning,

“Be prepared—all dressed and ready”—LB. Christ could return at any time—

Matthew 24:44 – Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

B. Acceptance—v. 36 – and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.

1. Foolishness—Luke 21:34 – “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.

Three things that keep people from being ready: eating, drinking, cares of this life.

2. Faithlessness—Luke 18:8 – I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

When Christ comes, will there be any faith on earth?

Hebrews 11:6 – By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Then Noah, Abraham, Moses etc. etc. etc.

II. Return of the Master—v. 37 – Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.

A. Preparation—v. 37. Different translations say: “Finds watching.” “Finds Awake” “Finds them awake and ready,” “Ready and waiting,”

1. Sobriety admonished—1 Thessalonians 5:6 – For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.

Be alert, awake! Be ready!

2. Suddenness forewarned—

Matthew 24:36, 42-44 – “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

We know not the day nor hour.

B. Pleasure—v. 38. Be ready — you don’t know when

Revelation 22:6-7 – And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.” “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

v. 12-13 – “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

III. Rejoicing with the Master—v. 38

A. Reality of His coming—v. 38a. “He may come at nine o’clock at night—or even at midnight”—LB. He will come again—

John 14:1–3 – “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Matthew 24:40–41 – Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.

B. Rejoicing at His coming—v. 38b. “But whenever He comes there will be joy for his servants who are ready”—LB. See

Revelation 21:4 – He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

no more death, sorrow, crying, nor pain.

IV. Return of the Master—vv. 39–40

A. Unpredictable—v. 39. Not knowing when the thief might strike caused the householder to be unprepared. “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no not the angels of heaven, but my Father only”—

Note also the comparison of Noah and the flood—

Matthew 24:37–39 – For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

B. Unexpected—v. 40. The Master will come at an unexpected hour

cf. Acts 1:6–7 – So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.

He doesn’t leave us unprepared, uneducated, unequipped – we still have to do His Work, His Will until He comes

1 Corinthians 15:52 – Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

Are you a faithful servant?

Luke 12:41-48 – Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

We are told to “occupy till He comes”—

Luke 19:13 – Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’

Though watching for His coming, we are to be busy living the Christian life and seeking to win the non-Christian. His coming will be unexpected; it will be as the lightning—

Matthew 24:27 – For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Are you being a faithful servant?

Are you conducting His business until He comes?

Are we keeping His House in order, ready for Him?

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