Observation: Jesus is giving instruction about how servants are to be prepared for their master's return, on alert, and doing his will. In the middle of this lesson, Peter asks this question, which as actually quite vague when it comes to understanding who "us" and "everyone" are. At the very least, it seems Peter is considering "us" to be the core believers of Jesus as Messiah - maybe just the very core group, or maybe the ~100 or so traveling with Jesus - and he isn't clear exactly who should need to be prepared.
Jesus' answer isn't as clear as one would hope. He keeps talking about servants who should be alert for their master's return, and about the difference between those servants who do the will of the master when he is gone versus those who don't. However, in verses 47-48 he does clarify that there are those servants who know the will of the master, and those who don't, and the worst punishment is for those who know the master's will but act contrary to that will. It seems, perhaps, that this therefore answers Peter's questions.
This lesson isn't for 'us or everyone' ... it is for 'us AND everyone'. The most core believers are instructed to be prepared for Jesus return, and to be always doing his will. As for those who have no knowledge at all about master ... well, just because one doesn't know the master and his will does not mean there isn't a master or that he will come home one day.
Application: As I consider this idea - that believers will be held accountable for doing Jesus' work, and non-believers are still accountable but considered differently - one thought strikes me. If those who know the master model his behavior and his will, those who don't know the master would be more likely to be doing his will.
This speaks to the behavior of the Church. The more we align to society, the further we are from the work of Jesus. The more we simply do the work Jesus gave us to do, the more likely we are to influence society in a manner that more closely aligns to the kingdom of heaven.
There are days when I know my work - the activities I do throughout the day - are well-aligned to Jesus' assignments, and I can tell that I have had a positive on others even without 'preaching' or in any way instructing them about Christianity. There are other days when I know I have not done anything of the sort. I do hope, more and more, I have days where I am completely active in the work of the master.
Prayer: Lord, I thank you for your patient instruction. May my family and I remain on alert for your return, and all the more so as we see the day of the Lord approaching. Amen.
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