Luke 12:41 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?”

NIV: Peter asked, 'Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?'

NASB: Peter said, 'Lord, are You telling this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?'

CSB: "Lord," Peter asked, "are you telling this parable to us or to everyone? "

NLT: Peter asked, 'Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?'

KJV: Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?

NKJV: Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?”

In the "travelogue" Luke records (Luke 9:51—19:28), Jesus trains the disciples how to build the church. That doesn't mean they're always alone. Currently, Jesus and the disciples are surrounded by thousands of people. At least one has already interrupted Jesus' teaching (Luke 12:1, 13).

Jesus has given two different parables exhorting His followers to keep ready for the arrival of the kingdom of God. Jesus inaugurated the kingdom with His birth; He will fulfill it with the second coming. Jesus compares His followers to servants of a master who has gone to a wedding without telling the servants when he will return. Like these servants, Jesus-followers need to keep watch, tending to their duties, so they are prepared when Jesus returns (Luke 12:35–40).

Scholars debate as to the identities of "all" and "us." Is "all" the entire gathered crowd (Luke 12:1)? Is "all" the seventy-two disciples (Luke 10:1)? Is "us" just the Twelve? Is "all" the entirety of humanity and "us" Jesus-followers? The text seems to indicate a difference between the servants of Luke 12:35–40 and 12:41–48. That would make "all" every Jesus-follower and "us" the disciples—later to include anyone in church leadership.

In reply, Jesus tells a similar parable, this time focusing on the higher-ranking servants who have more responsibility. Peter wants a differentiation; Jesus' closest followers should receive more honor. Jesus gives three characteristics of servant leaders: they are responsible for the well-being of the other servants (Luke 12:42–44), they must not shirk their responsibilities or abuse the other servants (Luke 12:45–46), and they will be held to a higher standard than the other servants because they know what is expected of them (Luke 12:47–48).

Jesus' words here are like God's warning to faithless Jewish leaders who abuse the people in Ezekiel 34.

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.