And to be ready at whatever hour he shall come. selves like unto men cometh and knocketh, him immediately, 37 Blessed are those servants, whom the 581 Master in heaven; and, that you may approve SECT. your diligence and fidelity to him, let your loins exiv. be still girded up, in a posture for active service, Luke and your lamps be continually burning in a rea- XII. 35. 36 And ye your- diness to receive him ;b And be you, on the 36 that wait for their whole, like men in a waiting posture, who, as Lord, when he will good servants left with a proper charge, attendreturn from the wed- ing to the work appointed them, wait for their ding, that when he Lord's return from a marriage feast, or any they may open unto other late entertainment; that whenever he comes and knocks at the door, they may immediately open it to him, and not be surprised in any disorder. Happy are those servants, whom, when 37 their Lord comes, he shall find thus watching for him and happy also will you be, if this shall be your case. for verily, I say unto you, So condescending is your Lord and Master, that, if you answer this character, he will reward you as graciously as if some great man, absent on such an occasion as I have supposed, finding his servants diligently waiting for him at his return, should gather up his clothes and gird himself, and cause them to sit down to supper, and should come forth himself and wait upon them. And, 38 at whatever hour the time of his arrival be, whether he shall come early in the second watch, or come late in the third watch of the night, and find [them] thus employed, blessed and happy are those faithful servants. Lord when he cometh shail find watching: verily, I say unto vou, that he shall gird himsit down to meat, and will come forth and self, and make them to serve them. 38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 And this know, : But do not think it is enough, if you would 39 that if the good man then be happy, to make some sudden preparation known upon notice of his coming; for the day of the of the house had b Let your loins be girded up, and your lamps burning,] As the Easterns wore long garments, it was necessary that, when they had any thing to do which required them to exert their strength or agility, they should tuck them up and gird them close; a practice to which there are frequent re. ferences, both in the Old Testament and the New. (See 1 Kings xviii. 46. 2 Kings iv, 29. Job xxxviii. 3. Jer. i. 17. Eph. vi. 14. and Pet. i. 13.)-That the lamps should be found extinguished, might be an inconvenient circumstance to the master, and would be a demonstration of the serpant's idleness.-The expressions, taken together, may intimate the care we should take to inform ourselves in our duty, and the resolution, with which we should apply to the performance of it. c From a marriage feast.] There is no particular mystery in this circumstance. VOL. VI. 4 B Lord Our Lord might probably instance in this, est hours. d And should come forth himself, and wait upon them.] It is true (as Grotius and many others observe) that the Roman masters did sometim s, during the Satur nalia, practise some condescensions like these to their slaves; but that was, perhaps, chiefly for their own diversion; and it is difficult to judge, how far Christ's hear ers might be acquainted with it; at least the words would be very intelligible without supposing any such reference. e In the second or third watch of the night.] This included all the time from nine in the evening to three in the morning: and was, as if he had said, whether he come early or late. f At 582 The faithful servant shall be greatly rewarded. would have watched, SECT. Lord so comes as a thief in the night; and you known what hour the know this, that there is none so negligent and thief would come, he Luke stupid, where a house is plundered, but if the and not have suffered XII. 39. house-keeper, who is entrusted with the care of it, his house to be broken had been aware at what hour the thief would have through, come, he would undoubtedly have watched at that time, and would not have permitted his house to be broke open; he then, that acts with prudence will be always on his watch, that, as he knows not when the thief will come, he may not find 40 him unprepared. Be you therefore also ready; for at such a season as you think not of, and may least of all expect it, the Son of man cometh ; and as the day of final judgment will be a surprise to the world in general, so the day, when particular persons are called out of this life, is often a sudden thing, and too frequently a fatal surprise to the persons most intimately concerned in it. (Compare Mat. xxiv. 43, 4. sect. clxiii.). 41 42 Peter then said unto him, Lord, dost thou speak this awakening parable & to us thine apostles in particular? or is it also unto all in general, that what thou hast been saying is directed? 40 Be ye therefore for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye ready also: think not. 42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his Lord shall make ruler over And the Lord said in reply, Though none are entirely unconcerned, yet you my ministers are more peculiarly to apply it to yourselves, and to consider me as asking each of you, Who is that faithful and prudent steward", [whom] his Lord his household, to give them their portion of shall set over all the servants of his family, to meat in due season? f At such a season as you think not, the Son of man cometh.] The coming of the Son of man often signifies his providential interposition for the destruction of Jer salem; (see Mat. x. 23, note g, p. 396.) But here I think it cannot be taken in such a sense, because our Lord speaks of an immediate reward to be bestowed on all faithful servants, and an immediate punishment to be executed on all that were unfaithful; and expressly declares this to be a matter of universal concern; all which particulars have very little sense or propriety when applied to the destruction of Jerusalem. It must therefore be understood of his coming to remove them from the capacities of service here, to give up their account. And, if we suppose it to relate to death as well as judgment (which, by a consequence at least it undoubtedly does,) it strongly intimates his having such a dominion over the invisible world, that every soul removed into it might be said to be fetched away by him. Compare Rev. i. 18. This awakening parable.] It may sig deal nify particularly the similitude of the Lord and his servants, or may extend to the whole of the discourse. h Who is that faithful and prudent steward] This interrogation had a lively force to turn their thoughts inward, that each might ask himself, Whether he was the man? The Prussian version therefore (and that English one which follows it so close) loses much of the spirit of the passage in rendering it, If there be any faithful steward, &c.— i The servants of his family.] So I render Spania, which (as Elsner shews at large, Observ. Vol. I. p. 235.) exactly answers to the Latin famulitium, all the servants of a family,; for which we have no one English word, any more than for ulgov, which strictly signifies a determinute measure of wheat, but here is put for all the daily food; see Erasmus here.) By such a version the distinction between this and the 44th verse is set in a clearer light than critics have generally given it. To be raised from the care of giving out food The Son of man comes at an hour we think not of. 583 cxiv. deal out to each of his domestics the stated allow. SECT. ance of food in its proper season? As the guilt of such an officer will be greater than that of a Luke common servant, if he prove negligent; so the XII. 42. reward of his fidelity will be proportionably 43 Blessed is that great. Peculiarly happy is that servant in so 43 servant, whom his Lord, eminent a station, whom his Lord at his arrival when he cometh, shall shall find thus employed in a faithful discharge of 44 Of a truth I say the trust committed to him. Truly I say to 44 you, that he will prefer him to a much higher station of honour and importance; as if a person finding his domestic steward thus faithful, should upon that, appoint him to take the care of all that he hath, abroad as well as at home. (Compare Gen. xxxix. 4, 5, 6.) find so doing. unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. 45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the men servants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken: in But, on the contrary, if that servant I spoke 45 should of before, as set over the family *, say his heart, My Lord delays his coming, so that I have nothing to apprehend from it; and, on that foolish presumption, shall grow so indolent and wanton, as to begin to beat and abuse the men and maid-servants, and to eat and drink in a riotous and extravagant manner, so as to debauch [himself] with it: I assure you, that the lord 46 of that servant will come upon him in a day when he does not expect him, and in an hour which he hour when he is not a- is not aware of, and will scourge him with such ware, and will cut him severity, that he will even cut him asunder'; and, point him his portion notwithstanding the profession he has made, God with the unbelievers. will appoint him his portion with the infidels; 46 The lord of that day when he looketh servant will come in a not for him, and at an nay, signification which is here given it by i. 8. Ezek. xxiv. 4, Septuag. m And appoint him his portion with infidels.] It has been suggested to me by a person of great worth and eminence, that aw significs unfaithful; and that had infidelity, or the disbelief of the gospel, been referred to here, the word would have been anisowy. But I must beg leave to observe, that amigos does in several places evidently signify unbelieving: compare John xx. 27. 1 Cor. vii. 12—¡5. x. 27. xiv. 22-24. (where there is an express opposition in ver. 22 between anisois and 1 Scourge him with such severity, that he will even cut him asunder.] Dr. Whitby has so clearly proved this to be the sense of διχοτομήσει, that I am surprised that any should since have coldly rendered it, shall separate him from the rest. But this is one SOG); 2 Cor. vi. 14, 15. 1 Tim. v. 8. instance of many, in which the version of And I cannot but think that the spirit of 1727 has followed the Prussian Testament this text is much better expressed by such in some of those parts of it which are the a rendering; especially when the next verse least judicious.-I know not on what au- is compared with it, which shews that, thority it has been asserted that the word though this wicked servant shall have his may only signify confiscating his estate. portion and abode with such (who, by the Wherever it, or any of its derivatives, way, had they not been unfaithful, would occur in the Septuagint, it has always the not have been unbelievers), yet his punish4 B 2 ment 584 SECT. CXIV. Luke XII. 47. Where much is given, much will be required. 48 But he that knew And that servant, who, like him I have been 47 And that servant speaking of, knew his Lord's will by a particular will, and prepared not declaration of it ", and, lisregarding the instruc- himself, neither did actions given him, did not keep himself readyo, nor cording to his will, set himself to do according to his will, shall have shall be beaten with the sorest punishment inflicted on him, and be any stripes. beaten with many [stripes] p. (Compare Deut. 48 xxv. 2, 3.) But he who, like the heathen, did not know the particulars of his duty by a clear not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, revelation, and yet, sinning against that degree shall be beaten with of light he had, committed things which deserved few stripes For unto stripes, shall be beaten indeed, but with fewer and lighter [strokes] than the other. For it is a received maxim among men, and God will make it the rule of his final judgment, that much improvement shall be required from every one to whom much is given; and where much is deposited, the more will be demanded in proportion to it. (Compare Numb. xv. 29, 30.) ment shall be more grievous; as there may be n Knew his Lord's will by a particular • Did not keep himself ready.] So Mons. L'Enfant renders the word proas, I suppose, to distinguish it from the following clause; and I follow him, though not without some hesitation. Perhaps both may be joined thus, Did not prepare or set himself to do according to his will.-But since I wrote this, I perceive a great emphasis in these words, which I did not before observe. The sense rises on that of the foregoing verse; as if our Lord had said, "Think not, that I merely intend to forbid such gross immoralities as drunkenness, riot, oppression, &c. but be assured, that sins of omission, where there have been fair opportunities of learning your duty, will expose you to the Divine correction."The opposition here and in the next verse is between a servant who receives an IMPROVE whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have com mitted much, of him they will ask the more. express message from his master, which he contradicts; and another who, though he receive no such express message, yet falls into such instances of misbehaviour as he cannot but know to be inconsistent with his duty and office in general; by which he exposes himself justly to some punisiment, though, other things being equal, he is less criminal than the former. p Shall be beaten with many stripes.] Scourging was a usual punishment for negligent servants; but I cannot find that hat is properly called giving the bastinado was in use among the Jews, though some suppose it to be referred to here -Brennaus thinks that these words have a peculiar reference to the case of ministers, who have such singular advantages for knowing Christ's will; so that they will certainly be in the number of the most happy or the most miserable of mankind. May they seriously consider it, and rejoice with trembling in those distinctions of their office, which will draw after them such solemn and weighty consequences! q Shall be beaten indeed, but with fewer strokes.] This strongly intimates that ignorance will not entirely excuse any, who have neglected God's service, since they might in general have known at least the main branches of their duty; as every servant may know in the main what kind of conduct his master will approve, though some may be much more fully instructed than others as to his particular pleasure. Reflections on the faithful and unfaithful servant. IMPROVEMENT. 585 MAY our souls be awakened by these awful truths! and may SECT. we be engaged to gird up the loins of our mind, to be sober, and cxiv. watch to the end! (1 Peter i. 13.) Ver. 35, 36 Great are our encouragements to diligence, on the one hand and, on the other, dreadful will be the punishment of our neglect. The time of our Lord's appearance is uncertain; let us therefore 40 always be ready; solicitous that, when he comes, he may find us so doing, as he has required; living not to ourselves, but to him, and employing ourselves about that particular thing, whatsoever 43 it may be, which, all circumstances considered, we are verily persuaded, may most promote the great ends of life, and the important purposes of his glory. How glorious are the rewards promised to such! How justly 42, 44 may they awaken our emulation! He will prefer them to stations of more honourable and important service. He will set them down 37 at his table, and minister (as it were) himself to their delight, bringing forth the choicest dainties of heaven, and spreading before them an eternal banquet. Lord, may we, through thy grace, be found worthy to taste of that supper! May the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne feed us, and guide us to fountains of living water! (Rev. vii. 17.) On the other hand, let us seriously consider the punishments to 45 be inflicted on the unfaithful servant. Let ministers, if such there are, who abandon themselves to a life of idleness and luxury; who stain their sacred character by intemperance; who proudly censure their brethren, and either call, or wish, for the secular arm to smite their fellow-servants, perhaps more faithful than themselves; let such hear and tremble. Their Lord may come in a very un- 46 expected hour; (as indeed, when do such expect him?) and what are the stripes they have given others, when compared with those which they shall themselves receive? stripes which shall cut them asunder, and pierce deep into their very souls! How much more tolerable will it be, even for the worst of Gentile sinners, than for such! Let all who are in any measure distinguished by the gifts of the Divine bounty to them, or by their stations, whether in civil or sacred offices, attentively dwell on this great truth, so solemnly repeated again and again; let them consider it with a view to their own account: To whomsoever much is given, of him will much be required. May Divine Grace so impress it on their 48 hearts, that they may be distinguished by present fidelity, and future rewards, in proportion to the difference, which Providence has already made in their favour! And may they never have reason to reflect with confusion and anguish on what is now their honour and their joy! SECT. |