12:42 Jesus answered Peter's question with one of His own. The answer to it gave Peter the answer to his question. Obviously the faithful and sensible steward pictures a disciple. Jesus' question also taught that He would give such disciples authority over other servants of His in the future (i.e., the kingdom). Evidently Jesus meant that faithful disciples would have authority over His other servants in the kingdom (cf. 22:30; Matt. 19:28). It was common in Jesus' day for some servants to have authority over other servants within a household (cf. Matt. 18:21-35). Jesus was speaking of the leaders of His servants.
12:43-44 Leading disciples who faithfully serve their fellow servants of the Lord during His absence can count on receiving greater responsibility after He returns. These faithful disciples will become Jesus' chief administrators in the kingdom (cf. Dan. 7:27). Authority in the kingdom is in view.
12:45-46 However the disciple who disregards Jesus' warnings to be ready for His return and who is unfaithful, abusive, self-centered, and self-indulgent will end up with unbelievers when Jesus returns.314The judgments at the beginning of the messianic kingdom immediately following the Second Coming are in view (Matt. 25:31-46). Since these disciples perish eternally they must be the religious leaders of their day who are unbelievers. Their horrible end is appropriate since they had great privilege and great responsibility but failed in their duty.
12:47-48 Jesus clarified the standard by which He would judge these unfaithful servants. The extent of their knowledge of their Master's will would affect their punishment (cf. Num. 15:30; Deut. 17:12; Ps. 19:13). Privilege increases responsibility (cf. Rom. 2:12-13; James 3:1). This fact should not discourage disciples from discovering God's will but should motivate us to maintain our faithfulness as we increase our knowledge. All God's servants have a responsibility to know their Master's will as fully as we can, since we are His servants, and to do it.
"This concern to admonish the leaders of the church also appears in Jesus' farewell discourse the night before his death (22:24-38) and in Paul's farewell address to the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:18-35). These passages mention various abuses of position by church leaders."315
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