36. Be like servants who are waiting for their master to come home from a wedding party. The master comes and knocks, and the servants immediately open the door for him.
37. When their master sees that they are ready and waiting for him, it will be a great day for those servants. I can tell you without a doubt, the master will get himself ready to serve a meal and tell the servants to sit down. Then he will serve them.
38. Those servants might have to wait until midnight or later for their master. But they will be glad they did when he comes in and finds them still waiting.
39. “What would a homeowner do if he knew when a thief was coming? You know he would not let the thief break in.
40. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at a time when you don’t expect him!”
41. Peter said, “Lord, did you tell this story for us or for all people?”
42. The Lord said, “Who is the wise and trusted servant? The master trusts one servant to give the other servants their food at the right time. Who is the servant that the master trusts to do that work?
43. When the master comes and finds him doing the work he gave him, it will be a day of blessing for that servant!
44. I can tell you without a doubt, the master will choose that servant to take care of everything he owns.
45. “But what will happen if that servant is evil and thinks his master will not come back soon? He will begin to beat the other servants, men and women. He will eat and drink until he has had too much.
46. Then the master will come when the servant is not ready, at a time when the servant is not expecting him. Then the master will punish that servant and send him away to be with the other people who don’t obey.
47. “That servant knew what his master wanted him to do. But he did not make himself ready or try to do what his master wanted. So that servant will be punished very much!
48. But what about the servant who does not know what his master wants? He also does things that deserve punishment. But he will get less punishment than the servant who knew what he should do. Whoever has been given much will be responsible for much. Much more will be expected from the one who has been given more.”