TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN MUCH WILL BE EXPECTED

Proclamation:

“The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows.  But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows.  From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”  Luke 12:47-48 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, as recorded by Luke, the physician, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this chapter Luke begins by repeating the warning which Jesus gave to His disciples regarding the Pharisees. (Luke 12:1-5)  Then Jesus tells them that whoever publicly acknowledges Him, He will acknowledge in heaven.  But whoever disowns Him before men, He will disown. (Luke 12:8)  He then tells them the parable of the rich fool who built new barns because he had so much. (Luke 12:12-21)  After telling them not to worry about worldly things (Luke 12:35-40) Jesus then tells them about the wise and faithful servant and compares him to the foolish one. (Luke 12:41-48) 

Application:

Those of us who know better should do better.  Ignorance is no excuse for doing wrong.  The uninformed wrongdoers will be punished.  However, the informed who still do the wrong thing will be punished much more severely than those who did not know that they were doing wrong.  Those of us who know that which is right will be held to a higher standard.  Additionally, much more will be expected from those who have been blessed with more than others have.  With great ability comes greater responsibility.  We have been blessed with more than others have in order to be a blessing to others.

When We Know What Is Right We Should Do It

"That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows.  But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows.  From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."  Luke 12:47-48 (NIV)

Under the influence and guidance of The Holy Spirit of God, Luke, the physician and frequent travelling companion of the Apostle Paul, recorded these words of Jesus, The Christ.  Although he was not one of those who walked with Christ, Luke had access to the eye witnesses and to their writings from which to draw upon.  Here he wrote that after Jesus had spoken to His disciples the parables of the rich fool who built new barns because he had so much to store, and the faithful and wise manager, He then told them about the servant whom the master left in charge of the other servants.  The two main points were, one, those who do wrong knowingly, will be punished more severely.  Two, those who are given much material goods or responsibility, more will be required of them than those who are given less or given little.

Those to whom much is given, much will be required.  We are blessed in order to be a blessing to others.  People in positions of responsibility, especially those who have responsibility for other people, will be held to a higher standard of accountability.  Those who know that which is right, and do otherwise, will be punished more severely than those who do wrong in ignorance.  When we know what is right, we ought to do it.  With the knowledge of The Word of God comes responsibility to share it with others, and with that responsibility comes the greater expectation that we will live by it.