Charles Ellicott Commentary Luke 12:42-46

"And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall set over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will set him over all that he hath. But if that servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not, and in an hour when he knoweth not, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the unfaithful." — Luke 12:42-46 (ASV)

Who then is that faithful and wise steward?—See Notes on Matthew 24:45-51. Here the words come as an answer to Peter’s question. The promise was spoken, not for the Twelve only, but for every faithful and wise steward.

These words are like the seed of the parable that presents the wisdom, though not the faithfulness, of the Unjust Steward (Luke 16:8–10). If wisdom and prudence alone deserved the praise given to it there, what would be due to wisdom and faithfulness united? In St. Paul’s words, It is required in stewards that a man be found faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2), we may perhaps recognize one of the many traces left on his Epistles by the companionship of St. Luke. (See Introduction.)

To beat the menservants.—Literally, the boys, but in the sense that the word had acquired, like the French garçon, as used generally for servants of any age. Note the more specific terms as compared with the fellow-servants of St. Matthew.

With the unbelievers.—Better, perhaps, in a less technical sense, the unfaithful, the word providing a sharp contrast with the faithful and wise steward of Luke 12:42.