Luke 12:45

But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

But and {G1161} if {G1437} that {G1565} servant {G1401} say {G2036} in {G1722} his {G846} heart {G2588}, My {G3450} lord {G2962} delayeth {G5549} his coming {G2064}; and {G2532} shall begin {G756} to beat {G5180} the menservants {G3816} and {G2532} maidens {G3814}, and {G5037} to eat {G2068} and {G2532} drink {G4095}, and {G2532} to be drunken {G3182};

But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking his time coming,’ and starts bullying the men- and women-servants, and eating and drinking, getting drunk,

But suppose that servant says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and he begins to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk.

But if that servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

Commentary on Luke 12:45 (KJV)

Luke 12:45 is part of Jesus' teaching on watchfulness and stewardship, particularly within the parable of the faithful and unfaithful servant. This verse vividly describes the actions of a servant who assumes his master's return is distant, leading to a stark change in his behavior and responsibilities.

Context

This verse follows Jesus' exhortation for His disciples to be ready for the Son of Man's coming, comparing it to a master returning unexpectedly from a wedding feast (Luke 12:40). The parable, which begins in verse 42, illustrates the importance of diligent and faithful service while awaiting the Lord's return. Verse 45 focuses on the negative example: the servant who fails in his duty because of a perceived delay.

Key Themes

  • Complacency and Presumption: The core issue is the servant's internal belief, "My lord delayeth his coming." This presumption about the master's timing leads to spiritual laziness and a disregard for accountability. It highlights the danger of growing slack in one's faith or duties when the expectation of Christ's return diminishes.
  • Abuse of Authority: Instead of caring for his fellow servants, the unfaithful servant "begin[s] to beat the menservants and maidens." This illustrates a severe misuse of entrusted power, turning stewardship into oppression. It warns against the corruption that can arise when authority is not exercised with love and responsibility.
  • Self-Indulgence and Worldliness: The servant then turns to personal pleasure, "to eat and drink, and to be drunken." His focus shifts from duty to self-gratification, demonstrating a loss of self-control and a descent into worldly pursuits, characteristic of one who has forgotten their ultimate responsibility. This mirrors the behavior of the "evil servant" in the parallel account in Matthew 24:48-51.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "delayeth his coming" translates from the Greek mellei ho kyrios mou hekein (μέλλει ὁ κύριός μου ἥκειν). The verb mellei implies that the master "is about to" or "is destined to" come, but in the servant's mind, this anticipation is twisted into a perceived postponement, allowing for negligence. The act of "beating" (τυπτειν - typtein) signifies violent, abusive treatment, while "to be drunken" (μεθυσκεσθαι - methyskestai) indicates becoming intoxicated, highlighting a complete abandonment of sober living.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a sober warning to all believers and those in positions of spiritual leadership. We are called to live with a constant sense of readiness and accountability, not presuming upon God's patience regarding the Second Coming of Christ. Our stewardship, whether over spiritual gifts, resources, or people, must be exercised with integrity, love, and diligence, rather than being corrupted by self-interest or worldly indulgence. The true mark of a faithful servant is consistent obedience and service, regardless of perceived delays.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Matthew 24:48

    But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

  • Matthew 24:50

    The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for [him], and in an hour that he is not aware of,

  • Revelation 18:7

    How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

  • Revelation 18:8

    Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong [is] the Lord God who judgeth her.

  • Romans 16:18

    For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

  • Revelation 13:15

    And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

  • Revelation 13:17

    And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
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