Luke 12:47

"then the lord of that servant will come in a day when he isn’t expecting him and in an hour that he doesn’t know, and will cut him in two, and place his portion with the unfaithful."

Key Reflection

In Luke 12:47, Jesus speaks of a master who will return unexpectedly to evaluate his servants' actions. This unexpected arrival symbolizes divine judgment, where even those who were given much responsibility and opportunity (and thus should have performed well) will face severe consequences if they fail in their duties. The imagery of "cutting the servant in two" vividly portrays the harshness of this judgment, suggesting a splitting or division that reflects both punishment and finality. This teaching underscores the idea that accountability is not limited to the quantity of responsibility one has but also includes the quality of stewardship demonstrated.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 47. Which knew his lord's will. Who knew what his master wished him to do. He that knows what God commands and requires. Many stripes. Shall be severely and justly punished. They who have many privileges, who are often warned, who have the gospel, and do not repent and believe, shall be far more severely punished than others. They who are early taught in Sunday-schools, or by pious parents, or in other ways, and who grow up in sin and impenitence, will have much more to answer for than those who have no such privileges.

Related Verses

More from Luke 12

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60

Go deeper with Bible.talk - your AI Bible study companion