Luke 12:39-48
But know this, that if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an unexpected hour.” Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, `My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, 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 does not know, and will punish him, and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master’s will, but did not make ready or act according to his will, shall receive a severe beating. But he who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, shall receive a light beating. Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required; and of him to whom men commit much they will demand the more.
Homily:
The part of this passage that speaks about severe beating and light beating always cracks me up.
Though the beating is given by the giver, the severity of beating is usually not determined by the giver, but the receiver, based on capacity for pain. The master knowing each servant delivers the beating to match capacity for pain.
I also laugh when people say all sin is sin and weighed equally. Usually those that say this are those swimming in the worst kinds of sin and do not want to be called out by anyone. If all sin is sin and weighed equally, then judgment will not be required.
Sin is incremental. It starts with disobedience, then lying, stealing, and finally cover-ups.
But let us return to the main message in the passage.
I have met many people that joke about the concept of “the kingdom of God is at hand”, saying the kingdom has been at hand for so long, it cannot possibly be on a hand. But think a little deeply about it, and you will find that in every waking moment we are on a thin line between life and death. The kingdom of God does not come to all of us at the same time, we meet our Creator in our own time. Too many miracles come together to stack up our days. No one knows the day of their death. The kingdom of God is always at hand for the living. Better to always be prepared.