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Wednesday Bible Study
Rev. Dr. Howard L. Woods, Jr.
Rev. Dr. Howard L. Woods, Jr.
Wednesday, November 23, 2022
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Warning (12:13–21)

Luke 12:25 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? :26 If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?

“(The expression “his stature” can also be translated “the length of his life”.)

Let’s use all our strength and time serving Christ, and leave the future to Him.

Luke 12:27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Luke 12:28 If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? 

We prove ourselves to be of little faith when we worry, fret, and rush around in a ceaseless struggle to get more and more material possessions. We waste our lives doing what God would have done for us, if we had only devoted our time and talents more to Him.

Luke 12:29 “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.

How do we deal with Scripture in our society?

Luke 12:30 For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.

Luke 12:31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

Luke 12:32 “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

The disciples formed a little flock of defenseless sheep, sent out into the midst of an unfriendly world. They had, it is true, no visible means of support or defense. Yet this bedraggled group of young men was destined to inherit the kingdom with Christ. They would one day reign with Him over all the earth. 

In view of this, the Lord encouraged them not to fear, because if the Father had such glorious honors in store for them, then they need not worry about the pathway that lay between. 

Luke 12:33 Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. 

Instead of accumulating material possessions and planning for time, they can put these possessions to work for the Lord. In this way they would be investing for heaven and for eternity. The ravages of age could not affect their possessions. Heavenly treasures are fully insured against theft and spoilage. The trouble with material wealth is that ordinarily you can’t have it without trusting it. 

Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

If we send our money on ahead, then our affections will be weaned from the perishing things of this world.

Parable of the Watchful Servant

Luke 12:35 “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; 

Not only were the disciples to trust the Lord for their needs; they were to live in constant expectancy of His coming again. Their waist was to be girded, and their lamps burning. In eastern lands, a belt was drawn around the waist to hold up the long, flowing garments when a person was about to walk quickly or run. The girded waist speaks of a mission to be accomplished and the burning lamp suggests a testimony to be maintained.

Luke 12:36 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.

The disciples were to live in moment-by-moment expectation of the Lord’s return, as if He were a man returning from a wedding.

Kelly comments: They should be free from all earthly encumbrances, so that the moment the Lord knocks, according to the figure, they may open to Him immediately—without distraction or having to get ready. Their hearts are waiting for Him, for their Lord; they love Him, they are waiting for Him. He knocks and they open to Him immediately. 

The Lord’s story was designed to teach one simple truth, namely, watchfulness for His return.

Luke 12:37 Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.

When the man comes back from the wedding, his servants are eagerly watching for him, ready to swing into action at his command. 

He is so pleased with their watchful attitude that he turns the tables, as it were. He girds himself with a servant’s apron, seats them at the table, and serves them a meal. This is a very touching suggestion that He who once came into this world in the form of a bondslave will graciously condescend to serve His people again in their heavenly home.

The devout German Bible scholar Bengel regarded verse 37 as the greatest promise in all God’s word. 

Luke 12:38 And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

The second watch of the night was from 9:00 p.m. to midnight. The third was from midnight to 3:00 a.m. 

No matter what watch it was when the Master returned, his servants were waiting for him.

Luke 12:39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.

Luke 12:40 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” 

The lesson is that the time of Christ’s coming is uncertain; no one knows the day or the hour when He will appear. When He does come, those believers who have laid up treasures on earth will lose them all, because as someone has said, “A Christian either leaves his wealth or goes to it.”

If we are really watching for Christ’s return, we will sell all that we have and lay up treasures in heaven where no thief can reach them. How do we do this?

Luke 12:41 Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?” :42 And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? 

At this point Peter asked if Christ’s parable on watchfulness was intended only for the disciples or for all people. The Lord’s answer was that it was for all who profess to be stewards of God.

The faithful and wise steward is the one who is set over the Master’s household and who gives food to His people. The steward’s main responsibility here concerns people, not material things. This is in keeping with the entire context, warning the disciples against materialism and covetousness. 

It is people who are important, not things.

Luke 12:43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. :44 Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has.

When the Lord comes and finds His bondslave taking a genuine interest in the spiritual welfare of men and women, He will reward him liberally. The reward probably has to do with governmental rule with Christ during the Millennium.

 

 

Hinson, E. E., & Kroll, W. M. (Eds.). (1994). KJV Bible Commentary (p. 121). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
MacArthur, J. F., Jr., MacDonald, Farstad, Believers Bible; Hinson, E. E., & Kroll, W. M. (Eds.). (1994). KJV Bible Commentary (p. 2195). Nashville: Thomas Nelson