LESSON 6.—MAY 8.—WATCHFULNESS.
(35) "LET your loins be girded about, and your lamps burning; (36) and be ye yourselves like unto men looking for their lord, when he shall return from the marriage feast; that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may straightway open unto him. (37) Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and shall come and serve them. (38) And if he shall come in the second watch, and if he in the third, and find them so, blessed are those servants. (39) But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not have left his house to be broken through. (40) Be ye also ready: for in an hour that ye think not the Son of Man cometh.
(41) "And Peter said, Lord, speakest Thou this parable unto us, or even unto all? (42) And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall set over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? (43) Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. (44) Of a truth I say unto you, that he will set him over all that he hath. (45) 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; (46) the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not, and in an hour when he knoweth not, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the unfaithful. (47) And that servant, who knew his lord's will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes; (48) but he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more."
Golden Text.—"Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching." Verse 37. (1) With what striking figure does the Lord enjoin watchfulness upon His people? Verse 35. Note 1. (2) Unto what class of men are His vigilant servants likened? Verse 36. (3) What is said of those whom the Lord will find watching at His coming? How will He specially honor them? Verse 37. Note 2. (4) What is said in regard to the time of His coming? Verse 38. Note 3. (5) By what common principle does the Lord illustrate His lesson? Verse 39. (6) Then how does He further emphasize the lesson? Verse 40. Note 4. (7) In what was Peter's special interest manifested? Verse 41. (8) How did the Lord distinctly show to whom the lesson primarily applied? Verse 42. Note 5. (9) At what time will the faithful servant be especially blessed? Verse 43; 2 Tim. 4:7, 8. (10) What great honor will be bestowed upon such a servant? Verse 44. (11) How is the natural tendency of the unfaithful servant indicated? Verse 45. Note 6. (12) What will be the result of such conduct? Verse 46. Note 7. (13) What is said of the proportionate punishment of the delinquent servant who knew his lord's will but failed to do it? Verse 47. (14) What of him who was ignorant of his duty? Verse 48. Note 8. 1. From the first verse of this chapter we learn that it is an address especially to the Lord's own people. Verses 31-48, including the lesson scripture, have direct reference to the kingdom and second advent of Christ. The key-note of the lesson is watchfulness lest the coming of the Master take us unawares and find us unprepared. The loose clothing worn by the ancients was very comfortable and appropriate for leisure, but when action was required, the garments must necessarily be girded up securely to give freedom to the limbs. The lights trimmed and burning implies watching at all hours for the coming of one who is expected, but whose definite time is not known. See, also, parable of ten virgins, Matthew 25.
2. "Blessed."—The "Expositor's Greek Testament" says that "the Greek word here implies rare felicity, the reward of heroic virtue." This thought is carried out in the latter part of the verse, by the statement that the Lord will honor them by personally serving them at table.
3. The "watch" refers to the divisions of the night. The Romans divided the night into four watches, but the Jewish division was into three watches. The last watch, that which precedes the day, is usually deemed the most trying, the time when it is most difficult to keep awake. We are living in the last watch of the long, dark night, and the enemy would fain lull us to sleep with many vain assurances. Therefore it is a time to keep the loins of the mind (1 Peter 1:13) well girded with truth (Eph. 6:14), and the pathway well lighted by the inspired Word (Ps. 119:105).
4. That all time-setting theories concerning the Lord's coming are vain is manifest in His telling us that it will be in a time when we think not. For this very reason we are warned to be always ready and watching. This would not be so important if we could figure out the exact time. But He has given us signs by which we may know when His coming "is near, even at the doors" (see Matthew 24), and these signs are nearly all in the past.
5. The question of Peter's (verse 41) brought out even a more emphatic statement as to what people are especially addressed in this chapter. "Meat in due season."—What would be meat in due season at such a time? Would it not be [[FIGURE]] such instruction as would lead the people to prepare the way of the Lord, and to make His paths straight? Would it not be such a proclamation as preceded the first advent—"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand"? Matt. 3:2, 3; 4:17. Meat in due season would be calling attention to the prophecies concerning the coming of the Lord, and those pertaining to the investigative judgment preceding that momentous event. The study of this lesson would logically lead to a study of these themes. The prophecy (Rev. 14:12) shows a people at the coming of the Lord to judgment, of whom it is said, "Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Then meat in due season will develop such a people.
6. The servants, or teachers, who are not giving meat in due season to the "little flock," are the ones who are saying, "My Lord delayeth His coming," and otherwise acting accordingly.
7. Notwithstanding the profession, or the ardent labors, or the accredited wisdom, or even the "wonderful works," of those servants who neglect or refuse to give the meat in due season, they will be reckoned as unbelievers. See, also, Matt. 7:21-23.
8. The justice of the principle that requirement be according to that which is entrusted, is recognized among all rational beings. A knowledge of the everlasting Gospel and the gift of teaching it comprise a most valuable endowment, and the perversion of such endowment is to assume a fearful responsibility. But from Matt. 7:22, 23, cited in note 7, the final judgment will discover "many" of that class.