Luke 12:46 kjv
The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
Luke 12:46 nkjv
the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
Luke 12:46 niv
The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
Luke 12:46 esv
the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful.
Luke 12:46 nlt
The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful.
Luke 12 46 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 24:48 | "But if that wicked servant says... | Unfaithful servant's self-deception |
| Matt 24:50 | "the master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect him..." | Direct parallel: unexpected timing |
| Matt 24:51 | "and will cut him in pieces and assign him his portion with the hypocrites..." | Direct parallel: severe judgment, associated with hypocrites |
| Luke 12:40 | "You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour..." | Readiness and unexpected return |
| Luke 12:45 | "But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed... | The unfaithful servant's presumptuous heart |
| Luke 19:27 | "But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me." | Harsh judgment for rejection of authority |
| Rom 2:6 | "He will repay each person according to what they have done." | Divine recompense for deeds |
| 2 Cor 5:10 | "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ..." | Universal accountability at judgment |
| Heb 10:30 | "The Lord will judge His people." | God's judgment of those within His household |
| Heb 10:31 | "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." | Gravity of God's wrath |
| Rev 3:3 | "Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief..." | Sudden, unexpected coming if unready |
| Rev 16:15 | "Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked..." | Exhortation to readiness, warning of shame |
| James 2:13 | "For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful." | Judgment severity linked to actions |
| James 4:17 | "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." | Knowing duty increases accountability |
| Deut 28:15 | "But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes..." | Consequences of disobedience to God's commands |
| Psa 5:5 | "The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers." | God's intolerance for the wicked |
| Matt 25:30 | "And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness..." | Punishment of an unfaithful servant |
| Rom 1:18 | "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness..." | Divine wrath against unrighteousness |
| Luke 12:47 | "And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will..." | Accountability based on knowledge |
| 1 Thess 5:2 | "For you yourselves know full well that the Day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night." | Suddenness of the Lord's Day |
| Prov 29:1 | "He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing." | Persistent defiance leading to sudden destruction |
Luke 12 verses
Luke 12 46 Meaning
Luke 12:46 reveals the swift and severe judgment awaiting any servant who abuses their entrusted authority and behaves unfaithfully during their master's absence. The verse emphasizes the unexpected timing of the master's return, ensuring that the unfaithful servant will be caught off guard. The consequences for such betrayal are portrayed as extreme separation and punishment, aligning their destiny with those who have no faith or loyalty whatsoever. This is a profound warning about accountability in stewardship, especially for those entrusted with spiritual oversight.
Luke 12 46 Context
Luke 12:46 is a culminating verse within the parable of the faithful and unfaithful servant (Luke 12:42-48), which Jesus shares as a response to Peter's question about the audience of His teaching on readiness (Luke 12:41). The broader context of Luke chapter 12 focuses heavily on watchfulness, being ready for the master's return, and proper stewardship in anticipation of the Kingdom of God. Jesus warns against covetousness (Luke 12:15-21), encourages trusting God for provisions (Luke 12:22-34), and then transitions to the urgent call for spiritual preparedness (Luke 12:35-48). The parable highlights the severe consequences for those entrusted with responsibility who abuse it in their master's perceived absence. Historically, master-servant relationships in the ancient world involved significant power disparities, where a master's authority was absolute, and harsh punishments for disloyal servants were not uncommon. This vivid imagery underscores the severity of God's judgment on unfaithful spiritual leaders and nominal believers.
Luke 12 46 Word analysis
- The master (ὁ κύριος, ho kurios): Refers to the authoritative owner or lord. In the allegorical context, this represents God or Jesus Christ Himself, underscoring divine sovereignty and ultimate authority over those entrusted with stewardship.
- of that servant (τοῦ δούλου ἐκείνου, tou doulou ekeinou): Points specifically to the unfaithful steward previously described in the parable. This servant had been given authority and privilege but betrayed the master's trust. The term doulos emphasizes their duty and submission to the master.
- will come (ἥξει, hēxei): A future tense verb, conveying certainty and inevitability. The master's return is a sure event. This directly refers to the return of Christ, also known as the Second Coming or the Day of the Lord.
- on a day when he does not expect him (ἐν ᾗ οὐ προσδοκᾷ, en hē ou prosdokā) and at an hour when he does not know (καὶ ἐν ὥρᾳ ᾗ οὐ γινώσκει, kai en hōrā hē ou ginōskei): This phrase underscores the sudden, unpredictable, and unknowable timing of the master's arrival. It directly mirrors Jesus' warnings about His own return, emphasizing the need for constant readiness. Prosdokā means "to look for, expect," and ginōskei means "to know" by experience or understanding.
- and will cut him in pieces (καὶ διχοτομήσει αὐτόν, kai dichotomēsei auton): A very strong, vivid, and possibly literal ancient punishment for serious transgressions, involving severing the body into two parts. In this context, it functions as a metaphor for extreme, utterly devastating spiritual or eternal punishment, complete separation from all privilege and blessing, and an irreversible judgment. It signifies the undoing and utter ruin of the servant, far beyond a simple dismissal.
- and assign him a place (καὶ τὸ μέρος αὐτοῦ θήσει, kai to meros autou thēsei): Implies a definitive allocation of destiny. "Meros" refers to a portion, share, or lot. The master definitively assigns his portion.
- with the unfaithful (μετὰ τῶν ἀπίστων, meta tōn apistōn): Apistois (ἀπίστων) literally means "without faith," unbelieving, faithless, or disloyal. This is a critical distinction. The servant was within the master's household, implying a form of nominal or presumed allegiance. However, his actions prove him to be truly apistois—not merely lacking knowledge of the master, but disloyal and faithless to the trust placed in him. His internal status of "unfaithful" is revealed and results in his ultimate destiny being aligned with those who were never truly associated with the master, rather than with the faithful servants.
Words-Group analysis
- "The master of that servant will come": This phrase firmly establishes the judicial authority and inevitability of accountability. It signifies that divine oversight is active and judgment is certain.
- "on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour when he does not know": This dual expression highlights the element of surprise and the human inability to predict the exact timing of divine reckoning. It's a call to perpetual vigilance, as delay leads to complacency, which leads to catastrophe.
- "will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the unfaithful": This passage graphically portrays a twofold consequence: first, an utterly devastating and agonizing punishment ("cut him in pieces")—an absolute severing from the master and all that he represents. Second, it signifies a permanent and defined placement among those who never belonged or utterly rejected the master ("assign him a place with the unfaithful"). It underlines the idea that the nominal connection of being a "servant" is voided by unfaithfulness, leading to the same destiny as those completely outside the household of faith.
Luke 12 46 Bonus section
The parallel account in Matthew 24:51, "and will cut him in pieces and assign him his portion with the hypocrites," is remarkably similar but uses "hypocrites" instead of "unfaithful." While both terms imply a severe judgment for the same unfaithful behavior, "hypocrites" in Matthew emphasizes the deceitful pretense of service or loyalty, whereas Luke's "unfaithful" focuses on the underlying lack of true faith and loyalty. Both highlight that outward profession without inward devotion and faithful action leads to catastrophic spiritual outcomes. The severity of the punishment also points to the heightened accountability of those who have been given greater knowledge and responsibility, confirming that privilege, when abused, incurs greater condemnation.
Luke 12 46 Commentary
Luke 12:46 issues a stark warning about the consequences of spiritual negligence and willful unfaithfulness among those entrusted with responsibility in God's Kingdom. The "master" represents Christ, and the "servant" embodies anyone to whom the Lord has given charge, whether leadership within the church or simply the calling to live a faithful Christian life. The unexpected return of the master signifies Christ's Second Coming, which will catch the complacent and disobedient off guard. The judgment, described as "cutting him in pieces," is not merely a harsh dismissal but represents a profound and utterly devastating spiritual and eternal ruin. This powerful imagery underscores complete severance from the master's favor and blessing. Furthermore, being assigned a place "with the unfaithful" implies that despite any superficial or positional status as a "servant," one's true loyalty and internal state are revealed by their actions. Ultimate unfaithfulness leads to a shared destiny with those who have no part in the master's household, signifying exclusion from the blessings of the Kingdom. The verse teaches that stewardship demands active, humble, and vigilant obedience, and the penalty for its absence is severe and definitive, highlighting that true discipleship is proven not by profession, but by enduring faithfulness and diligent service until the Lord's return.