Commentary – تفسير

41Then Peter said to Him, "Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?"42And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?43Blessed is the servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.44Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has.45But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk,46the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.47And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.48But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more."

Christ gives us another parable to illustrate his coming. Are you a steward made responsible by God for supplying spiritual nourishment for others? Do you take the fullness of nourishment for your hearers from the word of God? Do you pray faithfully for them? Your Lord will beatify you if you do so, and then he will increase your gifts, and put his authority in your hands if you continue in his faithfulness in small things.
But woe to you, if you lived for yourself, and did not care for those whom you are responsible for, having your honesty numbed and infiltrated with the poison of politics and the smoke of philosophy, forgetting your people, and not offering to them the body of Christ as bread and blood for eternal life. Then your Lord will condemn you on the day of his coming, and cut you in eternity, and you will be always disturbed, finding yourself in your deep-black darkness.
Woe to every believer who knows his Lord’s will and does not do it. Both of us represent this unprofitable servant, and will be beaten painfully on the Day of Judgment, unless we repent, become broken to our satisfaction, and ask Jesus what he wants us to do today, saying: "Strengthen me to do your will quickly." Then he forgives us our offences, and qualifies us newly for effectual service.
If you know nothing about Christ’s salvation and certain coming, and do not serve your brother man in love, your punishment will be certain, for God is love, and his love is the reason for your condemnation. However your condemnation will be less than that of the believers who became a stumbling stone to their brothers.
Do not aspire after great gifts, for then you will be much required. Be faithful in your existent state, and serve the Lord with all that you have of health, mind, money, and knowledge of God, for these are the gifts given to you by your Lord. You will give account of every idle word you may speak or write, of every penny, and every minute you spend uselessly. God has enriched you. So how do you redeem the time? What do you do for God with your strong muscles? Can you not employ your intelligence in teaching the ignorant the knowledge of God? Do you not wish to sacrifice your money for your Lord practically today? The Holy Spirit is shaking you. When are you going to do Christ’s will, and prepare his way? Your Lord is coming quickly. Are you vigilantly awake to receive him?

Prayer

O Lord, you are faithful, but I am lazy, living for myself, and rendered insensible by means of the world’s temptations. Wake me and make me conscious and extended to the day of your coming. Fill my cold heart with your love, purify me of my sins, and guide me in order that my life may become praise and thankfulness with all those who pray humbly to you and glorify you.

Question

How will Christ come to his church? What happens next?