Take a few minutes to catch up and pray that God would bless you through the reading of His word.

Read Luke 12:35-59

[12:35] “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, [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. [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. [38] If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! [39] 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. [40] You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
[41] Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” [42] 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? [43] Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. [44] Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. [45] 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, [46] 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. [47] 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. [48] 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.
[49] “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! [50] I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! [51] Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. [52] For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. [53] They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
[54] He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. [55] And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. [56] You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
[57] “And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? [58] As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. [59] I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.”

Observation

• What two commands does Jesus give in v. 35?
• What are the servants waiting for in the parable that Jesus tells (v. 36)?
• Which servants are blessed (v. 37a, 38b)?
• What will the master do for the blessed servants (v. 37)?
• What would the master of the house do if he knew when the thief was coming (v. 39)?
• Why should the disciples be ready like that master of the house (v. 40)?
• What question does Peter ask (v. 41)?
• Looking at the story that Jesus tells in v. 42-48:
• What is the manager tasked to do by his master (v. 42)?
• What does the blessed servant do (v. 43)? What does that blessing look like (v. 44)?
• What does the other kind of servant do (v. 45)? What happens to him (v. 46)?
• What happens to the servant who knew his master’s will but didn’t act accordingly (v. 47)?
• What happens to the one that did not know (v. 48)?
• What conclusion does Jesus draw in v. 48b?
• What did Jesus come to do (v. 49-51)? What will be the result of his ministry (v. 52-53)?
• What things are the people in the crowd able to predict accurately (v. 54-55)?  What things are they unable to predict (v. 56)?
• What life situation does Jesus discuss in v. 57? What practical course of advice does he advocate (v. 58-59)? Why?

Interpretation

• How does the parable in v. 36ff serve to illustrate the commands in v. 35?
• What point is Jesus making in v. 39-40?
• In light of all of this, summarize what you think Jesus means in v. 35?
• Does the example in v. 42-48 answer Peter’s question in v. 41?
• To whom does Jesus apply his story in v. 48?
• Who does the master represent?
• Who do the servants represent?
• What event is represented by the sudden return of the master?
• What is Jesus teaching in v. 47-48?
• What does it mean that Jesus’ listeners are unable to “interpret the present time” (v. 56)?
• Do you think Jesus is giving advice on how to handle legal issues in v. 58?
• How does the fact that the master might return at any moment connect to the idea of being right with your accuser before you stand in front of the judge?  
• Why does Jesus say that he came to cast fire on the earth (v. 49)?
• What is the baptism that Jesus needs to undergo (v. 50)?
• Why does his ministry bring division instead of peace (v. 51-53)?

Application

• What does it mean for us to be ready for the return of Christ?
• Do you think that you are a “watchful servant”?
• How do you think you can cultivate a readiness for Jesus’ return?

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