Sermon Tone Analysis

*LUKE 12:35-40  *

The theme of this whole section [12:1-13:9] is the challenge to be ready for the coming judgement.

the section [12:35-48] is made up of a collection of smaller units united by their shared interest in the imagery of a householder and his slaves, and by their focus on the need to be in some state of readiness for an expected “coming” whose timing is unknown.

The entire 12th chapter of Luke pertains to stewardship.

§         Verses 1-12 have addressed the disciple’s stewardship of the gospel.

The disciple must make good use of the gospel by boldly living and proclaiming it.

§         Verses 13-34 have addressed the stewardship of possessions.

Our preoccupation must not be with material things, but with true “life.”

We need not worry about our life, but we should use things to minister to men’s need now, which is laying up treasure for ourselves in heaven.

§         In verses 35 and following our Lord turns, as I understand it, to the stewardship of time.

He will instruct us as how we are to view and use the time which remains until he comes.

The theme of the section [12:35-40] is an exhortation to readiness.

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*THE EVENT *

The awaited event is the coming of the Son of man.

*1.        **The Son of Man *

*a.        **The Identity *

The identity: “/the Son of man comes/…” [12:40].

§         ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου - “/Son of man/” [12:40],

*i.        **The Daniel Figure *

The interpretation of the title arises out of the prophecy of Daniel:

§         The eschatological figure: “/I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days/…” [Dan.7:13].

§         The everlasting kingdom: “/they brought him near before him.

and there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom/…” [Dan.7:13-14].

*ii.

**Jesus’ Self-Consciousness *

Jesus identified himself with this title: “/The Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath/” [6:5].

§         The question of identity: “/Who do you say that I am/?” [9:20].

§         Peter’s response: “/The Christ of God/” [9:20].

§         Jesus’ self-consciousness: “/the son of man must suffer/…” [9:22].

*b.        **Luke’s Portrait of The Son of Man *

Luke gives us a full portrait of the “/Son of man/” through his gospel:

§         Jesus’ life and ministry: “/But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins/…” [5:24]; “/The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man/…” [7:34];

§         Jesus’ passion: “/The Son of man must suffer many things, be slain…and be raised the third day/” [9:22];

§         Jesus’ departure: “/Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God/…” [22:69];

§         Jesus return: “/of him shall the Son of man be ashamed when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels/” [9:26];

*2.        **The Certainty of His Coming *

*a.        **The Absence *

The coming of the Son of man: “/the Son of man comes/…” [12:40].

§         ἔρχεται - “/comes/” [12:40], ‘to come, go’; ‘to move up to or towards’;

*b.        **The Return *

The “/Son of man/” is pictured as being absent: “/when he will return/…” [12:36].

§         ἀναλύσῃ - “/return/” [12:36], aorist active, ‘to come back from’; ‘from /aná/, ‘back again’ or denoting ‘separation’, and /lúō/, ‘to loose’;

§         The ancient Greeks used the word to indicate loosing the anchor of a ship in order to sail from a port’; ‘to depart and hence to return’;

*c.        **The Uncertainty of the Time *

The timing is uncertain: “/in an hour when you think not/” [12:40].

§         ὥρᾳ - “/hour/” [12:40],

§         οὐ δοκεῖτε - “/think/ /not/” [12:40], ‘to suppose, think, consider’; ‘expresses the subjective mental estimate or opinion formed by man concerning a matter’;

*Application*

The “coming of the Son of man” points here to the hour of decisive accountability to God: the eschatological judgement.

§         If we are required to wait, then you and I had better learn how to do it right.

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*THE GOOD WAITING [35-36]  *

There are three distinct characteristics of the good waiter as described by the Lord.

*1.        **The Preparation *

The first element in the waiting is preparation for the event.

*a.        **Readiness for Action  *

There must be readiness for action: “/let your loins be girded/…” [12:35].

§         Ἔστωσαν - ”/let be/” [12:35], present active imperative, ‘to be’; ‘to exist’;

§         ὀσφύες - “/loins/” [12:35], ‘waist’; ‘lower region of back’; ‘lumber region’; ‘the locus of the organs of reproduction’;

§         περιεζωσμέναι - “/girded/” [12:35], perfect passive participle, ‘to tuck and hold clothing with a buckle, belt or sash’.

§         The /perfect participle/ with the /imperative/ gives the sense ‘to be the kind of person who never needs to be told to gird up the loins because they are always girded up’.

*b.        **The Everyday Dress *

The typical long robe of ancient dress was worn loose when one was at leisure in private.

§         The robe was tied in place whenever one needed to be ‘dressed for the occasion’.

§         This includes ‘to be ready for activity in work, travel, warfare, to exert or display their strength.

*c.

**Biblical Examples  *

This metaphor borrows language from the instruction given to Israel with regard to the Passover:

§         Israel was to eat the Passover with their long robes belted up in order to free the feet for action: “/thus you shall eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand/…” [Exo.12:11].

§         Paul uses the expression with regard to the soldier and the warfare: “/having your loins girt about with truth/…” [Eph.6:14].

§         Peter used a similar expression: “/wherefore gird up the loins of your mind and be sober, and hope to then end/…” [1Pet.1:13].

*Application*

One could hardly work with a flowing robe in the way, so it would be tucked in.

§         Cultural and generation differences; in our culture we might say, ‘having your sleeves rolled up’.

§         In this context: “/seek first the kingdom of God/…” [12:31].

*2.

**The Maintenance *

The second element in the waiting is maintenance.

*a.        **The Light  *

The good waiter has a lamp for light: “/and your lights burning/…” [12:35].

§         λύχνοι – “/lights/” [12:35], ‘portable lamp’; ‘a small vessel holding olive oil and a wick, used for lighting the dark’;

§         καιόμενοι – “/burning/” [12:35], present passive participle, ‘to kindle, burn’; ‘to light a wick’;

§         suggests readiness for activity during a period of darkness;

*b.        **The Witness *

The imagery of light and darkness used by Luke:

§         The imagery of light and darkness: “/No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed; but sets it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light/” [8:16];

§         Disciples are to identify with Jesus: “/to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death/…” [1:78-79].

§         The /present/ /passive participle/ points to an abiding, consistent witness: “/took their lamps…took (no) oil for their lamps/” [Mat.25:1-3]. .

*Application*

The idea here is that of ‘lighting up the master’s path into the house.

§         They did not have street lights in those days, nor did they have a porch light to keep on, so that the master could easily find and enter his door.

§         The good servant in Jesus’ day would listen for the sound of his master’s return and would have his light already lit, so that he could illuminate and thereby facilitate his way.

§         So, too, with the disciple who awaits the Lord’s return.

One’s waiting should be spent making all the preparations needed, so that the Lord’s return is not surprise, and so that we can be a part of the return.

*3.

**The Expectation  *

The third element in the waiting is expectation.

*a.        **The Waiting*

The waiting: “/you yourselves like men that wait for the Lord/…” [12:36].

§         προσδεχομένοις - “/wait/” [12:36], present middle participle, ‘to accept, receive for oneself’; ‘to welcome’;

§         κύριον - “/their/ /lord/” [12:36], ‘owner, ruler, master’;

*b.        **The Return*

The expected return: “/when he will return from the wedding/…” [12:36].