Luke 12:41-48
New English Translation
41 Then[a] Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?”[b] 42 The Lord replied,[c] “Who then is the faithful and wise manager,[d] whom the master puts in charge of his household servants,[e] to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that slave[f] whom his master finds at work[g] when he returns. 44 I tell you the truth,[h] the master[i] will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But if[j] that[k] slave should say to himself,[l] ‘My master is delayed[m] in returning,’ and he begins to beat[n] the other[o] slaves, both men and women,[p] and to eat, drink, and get drunk, 46 then the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not foresee, and will cut him in two,[q] and assign him a place with the unfaithful.[r] 47 That[s] servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or do what his master asked[t] will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know his master’s will[u] and did things worthy of punishment[v] will receive a light beating.[w] From everyone who has been given much, much will be required,[x] and from the one who has been entrusted with much,[y] even more will be asked.[z]
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- Luke 12:41 tn Grk “And Peter.” Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the connection to the preceding statement.
- Luke 12:41 sn Is the parable only for disciples (us) or for all humanity (everyone)? Or does Peter mean for disciples (us) or for the crowd (everyone)? The fact that unfaithful slaves are mentioned in v. 46 looks to a warning that includes a broad audience, though it is quality of service that is addressed. This means the parable focuses on those who are associated with Jesus.
- Luke 12:42 tn Grk “And the Lord said.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Luke 12:42 tn Or “administrator,” “steward” (L&N 37.39).
- Luke 12:42 tn This term, θεραπεία (therapeia), describes the group of servants working in a particular household (L&N 46.6).
- Luke 12:43 tn See the note on the word “slave” in 7:2.
- Luke 12:43 tn That is, doing his job, doing what he is supposed to be doing.
- Luke 12:44 tn Grk “Truly (ἀληθῶς, alēthōs), I say to you.”
- Luke 12:44 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the master) has been specified in the translation for clarity. See also Luke 19:11-27.
- Luke 12:45 tn In the Greek text this is a third class condition that for all practical purposes is a hypothetical condition (note the translation of the following verb “should say”).
- Luke 12:45 tn The term “that” (ἐκεῖνος, ekeinos) is used as a catchword to list out, in the form of a number of hypothetical circumstances, what the possible responses of “that” servant could be. He could be faithful (vv. 43-44) or totally unfaithful (vv. 45-46). He does not complete his master’s will with knowledge (v. 47) or from ignorance (v 48). These differences are indicated by the different levels of punishment in vv. 46-48.
- Luke 12:45 tn Grk “should say in his heart.”
- Luke 12:45 tn Or “is taking a long time.”
- Luke 12:45 sn The slave’s action in beginning to beat the other slaves was not only a failure to carry out what was commanded but involved doing the exact reverse.
- Luke 12:45 tn The word “other” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.
- Luke 12:45 tn Grk “the menservants and the maidservants.” The term here, used in both masculine and feminine grammatical forms, is παῖς (pais), which can refer to a slave, but also to a slave who is a personal servant, and thus regarded kindly (L&N 87.77).
- Luke 12:46 tn The verb διχοτομέω (dichotomeō) means to cut an object into two parts (L&N 19.19). This is an extremely severe punishment compared to the other two later punishments. To translate it simply as “punish” is too mild. If taken literally this servant is dismembered, although it is possible to view the stated punishment as hyperbole (L&N 38.12).
- Luke 12:46 tn Or “unbelieving.” Here the translation employs the slightly more ambiguous “unfaithful,” which creates a link with the point of the parable—faithfulness versus unfaithfulness in servants. The example of this verse must be taken together with the examples of vv. 47-48 as part of a scale of reactions with the most disobedient response coming here. The fact that this servant is placed in a distinct group, unlike the one in vv. 47-48, also suggests ultimate exclusion. This is the hypocrite of Matt 24:51.
- Luke 12:47 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
- Luke 12:47 tn Grk “or do according to his will”; the referent (the master) has been specified in the translation for clarity. This example deals with the slave who knew what the command was and yet failed to complete it.
- Luke 12:48 tn Grk “did not know”; the phrase “his master’s will” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the contemporary English reader.
- Luke 12:48 tn Grk “blows.”
- Luke 12:48 tn Grk “will receive few (blows).”
- Luke 12:48 tn Grk “required from him,” but the words “from him” are redundant in English and have not been translated.
- Luke 12:48 sn Entrusted with much. To be gifted with precious responsibility is something that requires faithfulness.
- Luke 12:48 tn Grk “they will ask even more.”
Luke 12:41-48
Common English Bible
41 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?”
42 The Lord replied, “Who are the faithful and wise managers whom the master will put in charge of his household servants, to give them their food at the proper time? 43 Happy are the servants whom the master finds fulfilling their responsibilities when he comes. 44 I assure you that the master will put them in charge of all his possessions.
45 “But suppose that these servants should say to themselves, My master is taking his time about coming. And suppose they began to beat the servants, both men and women, and to eat, drink, and get drunk. 46 The master of those servants would come on a day when they weren’t expecting him, at a time they couldn’t predict. The master will cut them into pieces and assign them a place with the unfaithful. 47 That servant who knew his master’s will but didn’t prepare for it or act on it will be beaten severely. 48 The one who didn’t know the master’s will but who did things deserving punishment will be beaten only a little. Much will be demanded from everyone who has been given much, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked.
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