The Warning of Jesus Matthew 12:35-48

The temptations facing church ministers and elders can be immense. Kong Hee was the Senior minister of a very successful Assemblies of God church in Singapore that had over 23,000 attendees. In 2015 he and five others in the church team were convicted of being involved in Singapore's biggest fraud case concerning the misuse of charitable funds. There were irregularities in the diesribution of at least $23 million in the church's funds, which were used to finance the secular singing career of Sun Ho, Kong Hee’s wife. There had been a concerted effort to conceal this movement of funds.. An appeal judge described Kong as ‘coloured by greed and self-interest’. How easy it is for power within churches to be abused and used for the leaders benefit and it is then simple to justify these wrongful actions.i

Jesus taught that being a Christian is not simply a matter of holding to correct theology but involves continued godly service. He said:

“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. Luke 12:35-38

Jesus was clear that he will be returning to his world at some time in the future and he expects all his people to be ready for this. Jesus’ return to judge ‘the living and the dead’ is a constant theme in Scripture, it is not a minor theological footnote but a major doctrine. There are one hundred and sixty chapters in the New Testament and Christ’s return as judge comes three hundred and eighteen times. Some Christians are greatly reassured by this doctrine, their judge is also their Saviour, and they are looking forwards to meeting him face to face. However, unfortunately some have become sceptical; ‘We have waited two thousand years and nothing has happened’, they think and this will affect how they live. Most are somewhere in the middle. They recite the credal statements about Christ’s return ‘to judge the living and the dead’ but this has little significance for their lives.

Jesus is again stressing that he really will be returning and it is vital that his people are living in the light of this.

In the popular television series ‘Downton Abbey’ the opening scenes depict the maids, cooks and butlers all scurrying around, busy in service. The reason is that Lord Grantham, (played by Hugh Bonneville) is returning. Everything must be ready because their Lord is returning.ii

The phrase in this passage, translated ‘dressed ready for service’, is literally ‘with loins girded’. In those days people in the middle East tended to wear long clothes that hung down to the ankle, so, if a person wanted to run and avoid tripping, they would have to pull up the lower hem of their clothes and tuck them into their belt. This would free the legs for running. The image is clear. The Lord expects his followers to be running about serving him. They are also to keep their ‘lamps burning’ which probably means, ‘Keep shining for the Lord Jesus by what you do and say’. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount:

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Christians are meant to be active in society with the clear intention that others will recognise that this is done because they are Christians so that they too may come ‘to glorify your Father in heaven.’

This service will not be easy, it may involve long hours of service and hard work.

“It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak.”

In this short paragraph Jesus repeats three times, ‘It will be good’ – wants his hearers to understand that serving him will definitely be beneficial. The reward Jesus then describes is striking and most unexpected - the master will become their servant.

“Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.”

They would recline because in those days the tables were very low and people lay on the floor, often on cushions when they ate. The master will make himself their slave, a complete reversal of roles. But is this so surprising? Jesus has already ‘emptied himself, taking the form of a servant’ (Philippians 2:6-7) when he came into his world to die for us, he took the form of a servant when he washed his disciples feet in the upper room (John 13:1-5), so is it out of character for him to continue serving those who have been faithful to him?

We need to cling to this as it will transform the way we live as we wait. When I was just seven years old I went to a boarding preparatory school. One day I received a letter from my mother saying that she would be coming to visit me on a certain Saturday. I still remember the excitement as I looked forward to that day. On that Saturday there I was, waiting enthusiastically, looking out of the window, waiting for her to walk up the school drive. Then there she was. To say I was thrilled would be an understatement. The certainty of my mother’s promise now became a reality. God wants all of us to know such a joy that stems from the promises of God. He is coming back to serve us and hopefully to say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’ (Matthew 25:21, 23).

The thief is coming

Jesus now gives another slant to his message that could be summarised as, ‘Be ready’. He moves from certainty to uncertainty. He refers to that awful feeling when you realise that your house has been broken into.

One morning our front door bell rang. There was a neighbour holding a wallet and asking if it was mine, it had been found in the road. This led to the discovery that a thief had broken into our home during the night, taken our television, removed our car from the garage having found the keys and wallet in my jacket. My wife and I were fast asleep – we had not realised this could happen to us. We had been given no warning, we were simply caught napping!

“But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Luke 12:39-40

Jesus uses this common illustration to emphasise the need for Christians to be constantly aware of the fact that the Lord will return one day. There will be no warning, there will be no cosmological precursor events, there is no hidden code in the Bible as some have suggested might tell us the date. Even Jesus himself did not know when this event would occur.

“But about that day or hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Matthew 24:36

What we do know is that we must keep preparing for his return. Jesus makes a final declaration right at the end of the Bible:

“Yes, I am coming soon” Revelation 22:20

The best way we can prepare for his return is by being active in his service, being godly ourselves and winning others for him. In my recent book, ‘The Duty of a Disciple’ I have summarised what the Bible emphasises about the need for all Christians to be involved in and trained in sharing the faith with others.

Earlier in Luke 12 Jesus had been addressing the crowds but then he spoke specifically to the disciples. It is no longer clear who Jesus was speaking to, when he told the parable about the need for the servants to be prepared for the return of their master. However, Peter helpfully asked Jesus a question,

“Lord, are you telling this parable to us or to everyone.” Matthew 12:41

Who needs to get ready, the masses or the disciples? Jesus replies by telling another story about a manager or leader. Although what he was saying is relevant for all Christians, Jesus clearly intends that their leaders or managers take these lessons to heart.

The faithful and wise manager

“The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. Matthew 12:42-46

In the Downton Abbey series, it was the role of the Head butler, Carson, to lead all the others as they prepare for Lord Grantham’s return. In Jesus’ parable the manager’s role is specifically said to be to ‘give them their food allowance at the proper time’. Perhaps this is why there is so much emphasis in the Bible for God’s leaders to be good teachers. When Jesus was tempted by the devil he answered by quoting Scripture,

“Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”” Matthew 4:4 and Deuteronomy 8:3

Today many church members are dying spiritually and they are dying from biblical malnutrition. Many church leaders focus on meeting physical and social needs, which in itself is good, but they neglect to feed them by teaching the Word of God. How we desperately need to raise up more and better Bible teachers. If we are parents, children’s group leaders, home group leaders, or preachers we have been entrusted to care for people and encourage them to remain faithful to the Lord. We can best do this by teaching Scripture and by convincing them that this really is the reliable Word of God.

Jesus again ends by emphasising that serving him faithfully will be well worth while:

“It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.”

The false managers

Unfortunately there will always be managers who are unfaithful concerning their commission.

1. The first group of church leaders are simply wicked:

“But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, 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 is not aware of. Luke 12:45-46

This Christian leader’s problems start with doubts that are not resolved - he no longer trusts the Word of God. Instead of being fruitful for Christ he uses his status to abuse others. Instead of feeding others he becomes a physical glutton. This rejection of the authority of the word of God over them leads first to selfish worldly thoughts and then to downright wicked behaviour. His perspective is only on this world – how foolish! He still sees himself as a Christian but in reality he has rejected his master and his master’s word and, according to Jesus has turned his back on the salvation Jesus offers.

How many church leaders of all denominations have slipped from doubt into pornography, promiscuity, homosexual practices, paedophilia, abuse of their position, bullying or theft. How the press loves to highlight and demonise Christian leaders who fall. What is worse is that they can then advocate these practices as ‘normal for this present age’ as if God’s likings and dislikes have ever changed. They will even persuade others to support them. For example, there are now some church leaders who want to change the doctrine of marriage and that it must be between one man and one woman. Even sexuality is in doubt, a person can be what they want to be and deny how they were created by God. One teenager is told her form teacher that she felt as if she was a zebra and wanted to be addressed as such! The reason for this fall is always, ‘Men have forgotten God’, they have turned their backs on what God has taught us in his Word as well as how god has made us. Such wicked managers are following the example Judas Iscariot in rejecting the authority of Jesus and he warns that they will face his fate in eternity.

“The wages of sin is death” Romans 6:23

The eternal fate of such leaders, ministers or elders will be awful, God will treat them at the judgment as unbelievers for that is what they are! Justice will be done.

“He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.” Luke 12:46

2. The second group of managers are lazy and disobedient.

“The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows.” Luke 12:47

This manager is doing little for Christ. He is not leading others to godliness, they are not caring for people, they are not reaching out to others with the gospel of salvation and are teaching people little of God’s Word. Such ministers are leading the easy life. Doubtless they will make excuses but their Lord sees through them. They like the prestige and status of being a leader but are not leading people to Christ.

One vicar with this problem was challenged by the church trustees over his behaviour. His response was simple,

“This is my church. I am the vicar. If anyone has a problem they can leave!”

Such an elder needs to remember that the church is not theirs, it belongs to the Lord Jesus; they are only the manager who will have to give an account to God for the way they have behaved. Jesus says, ‘They will be beaten with many blows’.

Paul recognised that there were such elders in the church of Corinth who were not acting effectively and he warns them,

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

Such managers or elders have not invested in anything worthwhile in eternal terms.

3. The third group are simply ignorant.

Many Christians in Britain or the United States have had the greta privilege of being taught the Scriptures faithfully for many decades but Jesus said that with this come great responsibilities. Elders who have not been taught the Scriptures cannot be expected to teach it well. It is likely that they have never had good ministry modelled to them either. This is why the ideal is for all future elders to be apprenticed to a firm godly minister who can set them on the right path. It is not possible to learn what is needed from books or college, people need to see ‘living for Christ’ in action.

“But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48

God is always fair, his judgment will fit the facts. However this is a salutary reminder for us who have been given so much, that God expects to see more from our service.

“. . . from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48

"With great power comes great responsibility" is a phrase popularized by Spider-Man in Marvel comics and films, and it was told by Uncle Ben when advising the young Peter Parker. The concept however goes right back to Jesus who warns us all about our responsibilities.

A good church will therefore major on teaching and training. People need not just to know the Bible stories but to be able to think through what is being taught and apply then this to how they live their lives in today’s world. There are many questions that people have and they need to be shown where possible answers lie.

In the evening of 2ist June 2015, my son Andy was ordained as a presbyter or elder in the Church of England. That morning he preached on this passage, Luke 12:35-48, and he emphasised the four options that lay ahead of him and asked people to pray for him. Few commit themselves to being ordained as an elder or church minister insincerely, but over time doubts can arise which if not addressed can lead into compromise and sin.

What really matters?

We will all have to give an account to the Lord and explain how we have used the gifts he has given us, in whatever area of life we have moved into. Those who opt to be church leaders must understand the seriousness of this decision. It is easy to think that this passage is really a passage for others but it does have much to say to all of us. However, it has much to say in particular to those who are church ministers or elders or are thinking about embarking on this course. It is no easy option to be a church leader; we like our Lord are called to be aflame for God and this will cause conflagrations! Jesus finished this section with these words,

“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” Luke 12:49

ihttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kong_Hee

iiThis article has been helped by the talk given by Rev Andy Palmer at Christchurch Balham. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH-wayXBOgU