Note that this passage also uses the term “Master” to speak of the One giving the charge and to Whom the servants were accountable. “Master” is “Kurios”, a Greek word that, in many ways, is the equivalent of Yahweh in the OT. This is not merely master in the sense of employer or superior. There is an absolute sense to this idea, of ownership or absolute authority.
Verse 46 speaks of the sudden nature of the Master’s return. Note that the return is not really unexpected, but unlooked for. There is a big difference here. The steward was given clear instructions along with his charge and clearly knew of his responsibilities and the requirements of the Master. He knew the Master was leaving and would be gone a long time. It is here that the dichotomy is drawn for us. On the one hand, the one that remains faithful to his instructions will be rewarded; but on the the other, the steward that fails to obey, instead using the takes the opportunity of the Master’s absence to indulge himself and live riotously will inevitably end up not being vigilant and the Master will return and find him unready to give account.
The key question is really inn verse 42 –
“Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?”
Who then is that faithful and wise steward? The implication o the question and the resulting context seem to indicate that the question includes both Jew and Gentile. While there are many things that can be drawn from the context of this great parable, one thing can surely be taken, that is the issue of accountability and the resultant reward and punishment.
There is also the issue of conscience. Paul addresses this issue, clearly speaking of both to Jew and Gentile. In Rom. 2:12–16 he says:
12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
Those “with the Law” are, of course, the Jews who were the caretakers of the Law from Moses onward. Those “without the Law” would thus be the Gentiles (no specific tribe or nation). Both will perish because both have sinned. Paul specifically addresses the issue of conscience saying that even the Gentiles “show the Law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness” that there is a God and that they are accountable to Him.
A further basis for judgment is the matter of having greater light. Rom. 2:17–29 explains:
17 Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God, 18 and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. 21 You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? 22 You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? 24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.
25 For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
The Jews believed themselves to be safe from judgment and under the blessing of God both now and in the time to come simply because they had been chosen by God and held the Law in trust. Paul makes it clear that this is not so. What it did was quite to the contrary, being the recipients and holders of God’s Law brought upon them the danger greater judgment and greater accountability and punishment.
Lastly, we might mention the matter of maturity of judgment or, perhaps better said, the issue of sinning in the face of the specific knowledge that we possess as believers thus “flaunting” our liberty as those redeemed. Paul enlarges on this in 1 Cor. 8:1–13:
1 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.
4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
7 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.
9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
As we saw before, there is the witness of General Revelation, present in all men, that is sufficient to call men to judgment and condemn them if the saving grace of the Gospel is not present. But as you can see, that is not where the matter ends. Deliberate sin in the face of greater knowledge, greater light, than that conveyed by General Revelation brings a greater accountability and a greater condemnation should that greater light fail to be followed.
All of this comes to bear on the people of God, the Israelites, to who God is speaking here in Isaiah 1:2ff. They had had light and they lived a riotous and vain life in spite of that light. This verse is really a partial quote of the OT passages where God is giving that light and warning Israel that a greater accountability would be required of them.
Deuteronomy 4:26 –
I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you will soon utterly perish from the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess; you will not prolong your days in it, but will be utterly destroyed.
Deuteronomy 30:19 -
I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
These are not by any means the only passages that speak in this fashion, there are many others[1]: Deut. 32:1. Ps 50:4. Is 1:2. Je 2:12, 13. 6:19. 22:21, 29, 30. Ezek 36:4. Mi 1:2. 6:1, 2. 1 Ti 5:21 among them.
That is some serious talk to the people who were about to enter the land! All of that proclamation came to be true and more as history unfolded itself and lay itself out. Sadly, what we are seeing here in Isaiah is the manifestation of that promise by God.
[1] Smith, J. H. (1992; Published in electronic form, 1996). The new treasury of scripture knowledge : The most complete listing of cross references available anywhere- every verse, every theme, every important word (231). Nashville TN: Thomas Nelson.
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