Luke 12:47,48 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And that servant which knew his lord's will, &c.— Lest the consideration of the strictness of the account, and the greatness of the punishment described in the parable, might terrify men of honest dispositions, who might err merelythrough weakness, Jesus shewed them, that as offences differ greatly in their circumstances and aggravations, so shall they differ in their punishment also. To understand this part of our Lord's discourse, we must suppose that the servant here spoken of had received full instruction from his Lord, either before his departure, or afterwards by letters, how he was to employ himself, and the servants under his care; wherefore if he neglected his duty, he was more to blame than the inferior servants, who had no knowledge of their Lord's will but from the steward or superior servant, who might conceal it from them, if he had a mind to serve any bye-end of his own. There is great emphasis in the words prepared not himself, neither did according to his Lord's will. The sense rises on that of the foregoing verse; as if our Lord had said, "Think not that I merely intend to forbid such gross immoralities as drunkenness, riot, oppression, &c. but be assured that sins of omission, where there have been fair opportunities of learning your duty, will expose you to the divine wrath."Scourging was an usual punishment for negligent servants. See Deuteronomy 25:2-3. Our Lord, by telling us that the servant who knew not his Lord's will, shall be beaten though with few stripes, if committing things worthy of stripes, strongly intimates, that ignorance will not entirely excuse any who have neglected God's service, since they might in general have known at least the main branches of their duty, as every servant may know in the main what kind of conduct his master will approve; though some may be much more fully instructed than others, as to his particular pleasure. We may observe further, that, as rational creatures, it is as much our duty to cultivate our reason, and to inquire into and know our duty, as it is to act through grace agreeably to the knowledge that we have. With respect to the distinctions above made, how fitly does this parable describe the aggravation of the sins of ministers and teachers of religion, who have such superior and singular advantages for knowing Christ's will! In this light it shews the justice of the more severe punishments here denounced, as to be inflicted on them for such wilful neglects and miscarriages as they are found to be guilty of in the discharge of their office. Indeed, all who are in any measure distinguished by the gifts of the divine bounty to them, or by their stations, whether in civil or sacred offices, should attentively dwell on the great truth so solemnly repeated in this 48th verse, and should seriously consider it with a view to their own account,—that to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required.