Luke 12:41 kjv
Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
Luke 12:41 nkjv
Then Peter said to Him, "Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?"
Luke 12:41 niv
Peter asked, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?"
Luke 12:41 esv
Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?"
Luke 12:41 nlt
Peter asked, "Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?"
Luke 12 41 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 12:35-40 | Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning... | Immediate context: Parable Peter refers to. |
| Lk 12:42-48 | The Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager... | Jesus' direct answer regarding stewardship. |
| Mt 13:10-11 | The disciples came and asked, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" | Disciples' questions about parables. |
| Mk 4:10-12 | When he was alone... his companions asked him about the parables. | Jesus explains the mystery to insiders. |
| Lk 8:9-10 | His disciples asked him what this parable meant. | Disciples seeking deeper meaning. |
| Mt 24:42 | Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. | Call for general watchfulness. |
| Mk 13:33-37 | Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. | Vigilance required for all believers. |
| 1 Thess 5:6 | So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. | Exhortation to Christian vigilance. |
| Rev 16:15 | "Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake..." | End-time warning for readiness. |
| Mt 25:13 | Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. | Readiness for the Son of Man's coming. |
| Lk 12:32 | "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure..." | Implies disciples as a distinct, chosen group. |
| Mt 7:24 | "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them..." | Broad applicability of Jesus' teaching. |
| Jas 1:22 | But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. | Applies to all who hear the Word. |
| Jas 3:1 | Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we.. | Higher judgment for teachers/leaders. |
| Lk 12:47-48 | And that servant who knew his master's will... will receive a severe beat | Greater accountability for greater knowledge. |
| Dt 18:19 | I Myself will require it of whoever does not listen to My words... | Accountability to God's spoken word. |
| Lk 5:8 | But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart | Peter addressing Jesus as Lord. |
| Mk 8:29 | He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered... | Peter as the spokesman for the disciples. |
| Jn 15:15 | No longer do I call you servants, but friends, for all that I heard... | Disciples receive special revelation. |
| Lk 10:23-24 | Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many... | Disciples' privileged access to truth. |
| Jn 6:68 | Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words..." | Peter's frequent and direct interactions with Jesus. |
Luke 12 verses
Luke 12 41 Meaning
Luke 12:41 records Peter's question to Jesus following the parables concerning watchfulness and readiness (Luke 12:35-40). Peter asks if the message of preparedness for the Master's return, specifically for stewards, applies only to the disciples, a distinct group, or to everyone in general. This query seeks clarification on the scope and intended audience of Jesus' teaching on accountability and vigilance.
Luke 12 41 Context
Luke 12:41 occurs immediately after Jesus delivers a series of parables (Luke 12:35-40) emphasizing the need for His followers to be prepared and watchful, like servants awaiting their master's return or householders ready for a thief. The chapter as a whole calls for spiritual vigilance, warns against various dangers (hypocrisy, covetousness, anxiety), and encourages reliance on God. Peter, as often, steps forward to seek clarification on behalf of the group, a common characteristic of his personality, often trying to understand or seeking privileged information (Luke 8:45; Mark 8:29). His question marks a transition from a general warning to a more specific teaching on stewardship for those given greater responsibility.
Luke 12 41 Word analysis
- Εἶπεν (Eipen) - "He said": A standard Greek verb for speaking. Its presence signals Peter's direct engagement with Jesus' preceding words.
- δὲ Πέτρος (de Petros) - "Then Peter" / "But Peter": The conjunction
δὲoften indicates a shift in speaker or topic. Peter (from the GreekΠέτρος, "rock") acts as the spokesman for the disciples, highlighting his proactive and often vocal role in their interactions with Jesus. - αὐτῷ (autō) - "to Him": Refers directly to Jesus, establishing Peter's address to Him.
- Κύριε (Kyrie) - "Lord": A respectful address acknowledging Jesus' authority and Peter's position as a disciple. Peter frequently uses this term, showing deference and recognition of divine power (Lk 5:8).
- πρὸς ἡμᾶς λέγεις (pros hēmas legeis) - "are You speaking this... to us": The phrase "to us" (
πρὸς ἡμᾶς) clearly specifies the disciples.λέγεις(present tense oflego) signifies a present, immediate application of the preceding teaching. - τὴν παραβολὴν ταύτην (tēn parabolēn tautēn) - "this parable": Refers specifically to the teaching found in Luke 12:35-40, identifying it as a symbolic story that requires understanding and application. Peter implicitly acknowledges that parables may have different layers of meaning or target audiences.
- ἢ καὶ πρὸς πάντας; (ē kai pros pantas?) - "or also to all?":
ἢ(or) offers the alternative, andκαὶ(also/even) emphasizes inclusion. "To all" (πρὸς πάντας) encompasses the general crowd and the broader public, contrasting with the limited group of disciples. Peter’s question highlights a desire to know if the unique demands placed upon them are universal or specific to their role. This distinction foreshadows Jesus' later teaching on differing levels of accountability based on knowledge and responsibility.
Luke 12 41 Bonus section
Peter's question indirectly underscores the unique privilege and access the disciples had to Jesus' direct teaching. It suggests their awareness of being a "little flock" (Lk 12:32), separate from the larger crowds. The question itself prompts Jesus to elaborate on the principle of progressive revelation and its accompanying heightened responsibility: to whom much is given, much will be required (Lk 12:48). This distinction is a recurring theme in Jesus' ministry, where He reveals mysteries of the Kingdom to those who believe and follow Him, while speaking in parables to the broader public that obscure the truth for those not ready to receive it.
Luke 12 41 Commentary
Luke 12:41 is a crucial transitional verse that unveils the human side of the disciples' engagement with Jesus' profound teachings. Peter's question arises from a genuine concern about the personal applicability of the rigorous demands for watchfulness and faithful stewardship. Are these strict warnings meant exclusively for the inner circle of disciples, who receive special instruction and bear the future leadership of the nascent church, or are they a universal call to all humanity? This reflects a natural human desire to define boundaries of responsibility. Jesus' subsequent response (Luke 12:42-48) directly addresses Peter's query, clarifying that while readiness for His coming is a universal call, the expectation and accountability for those entrusted with more knowledge and responsibility (like the disciples or any spiritual leader) are significantly higher. This verse thus introduces a pivotal teaching on differentiated stewardship within the Kingdom, emphasizing that greater insight or position incurs greater obligation.