The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate. Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
Parallel translations
- WEB then the lord of that servant will come in a day when he isn’t expecting him, and in an hour that he doesn’t know, and will cut him in two, and place his portion with the unfaithful.
- 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.
- 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.
- NASB then the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect, and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in two, and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
- NLT The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful.
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
The master will return unexpectedly and severely punish the unfaithful servant, assigning him with the unbelievers. Hypocritical, faithless service ends in judgment.
Overview
Jesus declares that the negligent, abusive steward will face sudden judgment when the master returns at an unforeseen hour. Being placed 'with the unfaithful' signals exclusion and condemnation. This solemn warning underscores that mere outward position among God's people is no substitute for genuine, faithful service to Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Ps 11:5The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked; His soul hates the lover of violence.
- Rev 16:15“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed.”
- Luke 12:40You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”
- Matt 24:51Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
- Luke 12:19–20Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
- Matt 13:41–42The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness.
- Ps 37:9For the evildoers will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
- Ps 94:14For the LORD will not forsake His people; He will never abandon His heritage.
- Matt 13:49–50So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous,
- Job 20:29This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the inheritance God has appointed him.”
- Matt 7:22–23Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 12:46 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.