Luke 12:44 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.

NIV: Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

NASB: Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

CSB: Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

NLT: I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns.

KJV: Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.

NKJV: Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has.

Jesus wants His followers to remain diligent while He is gone: doing their work well as they await the fulfillment of the kingdom of God. Peter wants to know why Jesus is comparing all His followers to servants. He feels the disciples deserve more honor. Jesus explains that with honor comes responsibility (Luke 12:35–41).

First, the supervising servants are responsible for making sure the other servants are fed (Luke 12:42). In the context, this means the church leaders need to share the gospel and teach the churches (Acts 2:42; 6:4). They must not abuse their position by consuming the master's food and drink and beating the other servants (Luke 12:45). That is, they should not steal from the church or spiritually abuse their congregation. Because they are leaders, they will be held to a higher standard. Later, Jesus' brother James will warn, "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness" (James 3:1).

Those servant-leaders who faithfully care for Jesus' followers will receive more responsibility. When Peter points out how much the disciples have sacrificed to follow Jesus, Jesus replies, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Matthew 19:28). So it is that the Twelve will be set over Israel during the millennial kingdom.

Luke 12:41–48 records Peter asking if Jesus' exhortation to serve Him with integrity when He leaves applies to the whole jostling crowd (Luke 12:1) or just to Jesus' disciples. Jesus replies that the disciples will be held to even higher standards. They are the servants He places in authority over His followers—other servants. If the disciples abuse these other servants, they will be punished. Matthew 24:45–51 covers the same parable but probably at a different time.

Jesus teaches the disciples about proper priorities. This includes recognizing that God knows all things, even secrets. Believers should honor God more than they fear death, or than they worry about things like food and clothes. Christians are to remain ready for Christ's return, even as faith separates those who believe from those who do not. These ideas revolve around the central theme of verse 34: that a person's heart reflects what they value most.

Luke 12:1—13:9 compares the world with the kingdom of God. Jesus has condemned the hypocrisy of the Pharisees (Luke 11:14–54). He now instructs His disciples to reject the fame and security that Pharisees crave, and hold lightly to their lives, wealth, security, and even family. He then warns the crowd to be wise about their relationships with other people and with God. The next two units each include a miracle and teaching on God's kingdom and salvation (Luke 13:10—15:32). Then the final section in the "travelogue" repeats that three-unit pattern (Luke 16:1—19:27) before Jesus arrives in Jerusalem.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.