LUKE 12:35–40
“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning”
(Luke 12:35).
Today we return to the gospel of Luke. Recall from our study on July 23 that Jesus told His disciples not to worry about the future, because the God of providence would take care of them. This leads our Lord to a discussion of His second coming.
Jesus tells His disciples to be “dressed in readiness.” What does this mean? In the ancient world the servants in a wealthy man’s house would wear long flowing robes, which were not well suited for heavy work or for rapid movement. If a person wanted to ready himself for action, he would put a belt around that robe and tuck it up so his knees would be ready for quick movements. Jesus also says to keep our lamps burning. This is a call to vigilance—to be on the alert.
Jesus adds to this a parable. His return is like a master who goes on a trip to a wedding banquet and leaves his servants behind. The servants need to watch for his return. “It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night” (Luke 12:38). Notice Jesus’ warning. People are enthusiastic and expectant when they are looking for something to happen. But if the event they await is postponed, their enthusiasm wanes and they may begin to think the event will never take place. Just so, Jesus warns them that His return may be a long time off, but they are not to stop being vigilant on that account.
We don’t know the day or the hour when Jesus will return, but we can be absolutely sure about two things. One, it is certain that He is coming; and two, it is certain that His coming is closer today than it was yesterday. It is not wise to speculate when Jesus will return. But whether He comes in our lifetime or not, it does not change the fact that we are to be awake, alert and actively involved in fulfilling the duties the Master has left for us.
CORAM DEO
Psalms 62–64
Romans 1
In the last couple of years, no small amount of publicity has surrounded precise predictions of the Lord’s return and the subsequent alterations and excuses when the day and hour had passed. From this study, how should you judge such predictions, regardless of their sincerity?
For further study: 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11; tape #B57INT.58/59
TABLETALK
from ligonier ministries and teaching and encouraging believers • august 1990
PARABLES
KERNELS OF TRUTH
Daily Studies From The Teaching Fellowship Of R. C. Sproul
publisher Ligonier Ministries executive editor Ralph D. Veerman editor Robert F. Ingram assistant editor Michael S. Beates
marketing Gretchen L. Suskovic production W. David Fox, Melissa A. Prichard, R. C. Sproul, Jr. design David K. Freeland
circulation Gwen Weber writer Sharon J. Anderson board of directors Bruce Fogerty, Robert Fraley, G. Richard Hostetter, Robert C. Legler, Stephen H. Leveé, Jr., C. G. Mills, Archie B. Parrish, James M. Seneff, Jr., R. C. Sproul, John Thompson, Ralph D. Veerman, Luder Whitlock, Charles Colson (Director Emeritus)
Published by Walk Thru the Bible Ministries, Inc. under license granted by Ligonier Ministries, Inc. Copyright 1990, Ligonier Ministries, Inc. This Bible study is based upon teaching material by Dr. R. C. Sproul. Unless noted, all Scripture quotations in this publication are from the Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishers.
member evangelical press association
Cover: Field of wheat, The Image Bank
Illustration Above and on Page 4 by Michael Mojher
robert ingram • editor
Coram Deo
Jesus spoke in parables. Jesus was crucified. Is there any correlation?
Yes. Parables comprise more than one third of the recorded teachings of Jesus. Mark records that Jesus “did not say anything … without using a parable” (4:34). Translated from the Greek as “to cast alongside,” parables are common teaching devices designed to illustrate more didactic portions of Scripture. Jesus seasoned His teaching by using these stories, analogies, and comparisons—each brilliantly suited to His audience at each particular moment.
Parables also were often used by Christ as offensive weapons—swords—to contest the growing spiritual opposition of the scribes and Pharisees who eagerly sought to destroy Him. Jesus’ dueling technique consisted of telling a parable which, upon first hearing, seemed to promote the “virtue” and “honor” of His opponents. However, upon further reflection, the stories had the effect of a time bomb.
The scribes and Pharisees were infuriated by the parables, which exposed their false piety and condemned their self-righteousness. Parables apparently had greater impact on them than doctrinal teaching because it penetrated even to their callous hearts. They hated truth and the One who spoke it. The Scriptures clearly teach that Jesus would have perished by their hands except that “it was not yet His time.”
How do you respond to God’s truth, especially when the Spirit brings It to bear with conviction in you own life? Do you respond like the scribes and Pharisees, chafing and bristling, even despising the truth? Or do you respond by living your life Coram Deo, by living in the presence of God and embracing the truth and the One who brings it? Do you delight in His teaching so much that you seek to live unto His glory and under His authority, honoring what is true and hating what is false? Unlike the scribes and Pharisees, we must remain faithful. We must continue to love Him even when the truth is hard to bear. ■
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