Luke 12 · a question people ask
"Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everybody?" (12:41). What was Jesus's answer?
Luke gives no yes or no. "Peter said to him, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everybody?”" (12:41). Jesus answers with a question: "Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the right times?" (12:42) (tap steward). He goes on about "that servant" (12:43), the one his lord finds "doing so when he comes" (12:43), and the one who says "in his heart, ‘My lord delays his coming,’" (12:45). Then he speaks of two servants: "That servant who knew his lord’s will, and didn’t prepare nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes" (12:47), "but he who didn’t know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whomever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked." (12:48). Luke marks some of the hearers through the chapter: "his disciples first of all" (12:1), "One of the multitude" (12:13), "He said to his disciples" (12:22), and "He said to the multitudes also" (12:54). These notes don't say who the steward is or whom the servants stand for, and apply 12:45-48 to no one.
The verses
“Meanwhile, when a multitude of many thousands had gathered together, so much so that they trampled on each other, he began to tell his disciples first of all, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”
“One of the multitude said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.””
“He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear.”
“He said to the multitudes also, “When you see a cloud rising from the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it happens.”