The Parable of The Servants Good and Bad (12:42-48).
In reply to Peter's question Jesus tells a parable about an individual steward (although it expands to cover all level of servants at the end). It should be noted that again the parable is open to varied interpretation. The crowd could see the mention of the lord's coming as just a part of His comings and goings without reading into it the second coming. They would simply see it as a warning of the need to serve God faithfully, especially those of them who held positions of authority.
The disciples themselves who were in the know about His departure and second coming may have interpreted it of the second coming. But it is doubtful if even they did until much later. Originally they too probably saw it in terms of the lord's comings and goings, and as a warning of the necessity to be faithful and ardent in His service. They may have gone along with the crowd.
But there is little doubt that Jesus did in the end mean it to be understood of the Second Coming, and that the early church would have seen it like that. For Jesus was constantly trying to turn the thoughts of His disciples to the coming crisis and what lay beyond (Luke 9:22; Luke 9:44; Mark 8:31; Mark 9:12; Mark 9:31; Mark 10:45). It was part of the genius of Jesus that His parables could be multipurpose. We must not limit Jesus by our hidebound ideas and interpretations. He was both a genius and far-sighted.
Analysis.
a Peter said, “Lord, do you speak this parable to us, or even to all?” (Luke 12:41).
b 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? (Luke 12:42).
c “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he comes shall find so doing” (Luke 12:43).
d “Of a truth I say to you, that he will set him over all that he has” (Luke 12:44).
c “But if that servant shall say in his heart, ‘My lord delays his coming,' and shall begin to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken, the lord of that servant will come in a day when he does not expect, and in an hour when he does not know, and will cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the unfaithful” (Luke 12:45-46).
b “And that servant, who knew his lord's will, and did not make ready, nor did according to his will, will be beaten with many stripes, but he who did not know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes” (Luke 12:47-48 a).
a “And to whoever much is given, of him will much be required, and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more” (Luke 12:48 b).
Note than in ‘a' the question is as to whom the parable is addressed, and in the parallel it is to those to whom much has been given. In ‘b' the steward is set over the household, and in the parallel the punishment for such servants is described. In ‘c' the servant who is ready is blessed, and in the parallel the servants who are not ready are punished. And central in ‘d' is the fact that the faithful servant will be set over all that he has.