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Peter asked, “Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?”
Luke 12:41 · New Living Translation
Parallel translations
  • WEB Peter said to him, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everybody?”
  • KJV Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
  • BSB “Lord,” said Peter, “are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?”
  • NKJV Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?”
  • NASB Peter said, “Lord, are You telling this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?”

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Peter asks whether the parable is meant for the disciples or for everyone. His question prompts Jesus' teaching on the heightened responsibility of leaders.

Overview

Peter seeks to clarify the audience and scope of Jesus' warning about watchfulness. Rather than answering directly, Jesus responds with teaching about faithful and unfaithful stewards. This shifts the focus to those entrusted with responsibility over others, while the call to readiness still applies to all.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 4

  • Mark 13:37What I tell you, I tell all: Watch.”
  • 1 Pet 4:7But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer.
  • Mark 14:37He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you watch one hour?
  • 1 Pet 5:8Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Luke videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Luke 12:41YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on LukeMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.

How Luke 12:41 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.