89
Pearce says, " We may gather from this verse that it was the custom in those days, as it was not long since among us, for the hridegroom at a wedding supper to wait upon the company as a servant"
38. — [Second watch,,. third watch."] These expressions are figurar tive. The night was divided into foiur watches. The second watch was from nine to twelve, and the third from twelve to three. The uncertainty of the time of the Lord's advent, and the duty of being always ready for it, are the lessons of the verse.
39. — [What hour the thief would come.'] This is a parabolic sen- tence, intended to teach us that the ** day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night;*' (1 Thess. v. 2.) and that there is no safety for Christians, excepting in constant readiness for it.
40. — [The Son of man cometh.] Let it be noted that the coming here spoken of, is the second personal advent of our Lord Jesus Christ, at the end of this dispensation. To apply the expression, as some do, to death, is an entire perversion of Scripture. The coming of the Lord is one thing, and death is another.
LUKE Xn. 41—48.
41 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakert thou this parable unto us, or even to all ?
42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faitfaAiI and wise steward, whom Am lord shall make ruler over his boodiold. to give them their portion of meat in due season ?
43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find ■0 doinp.
44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he wOl make him ruler over all that he hath.
45 But and if that servant say in hu heart, Hy lord delayeth his com- ing ; and shall begin to beat the men- aervants and maidens, and to eat and
drink^and to be drunken ;
46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sun- der, and will appoint >iini bis portion with the unbelievers.
47 And that servant which knew his lord's will, and prepared not him- self neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes, ror unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much re<^uired : and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
We leam from these verses, the importance of doing, in mtr Christiamty, Our Lord is speaking of His own second coming. He is comparing His disciples to ser- Tants waiting for their master's return, who have each their own work to do during His absence. '' Blessed/'