But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The chilling heart of this servant's sin isn't just a delay, but a self-deception where he convinces himself his master isn't coming back. It's in this internal lie that he feels license to brutalize others and indulge his own wicked desires, essentially playing master himself in the interim.
But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has been teaching his followers to be watchful and ready for his return, contrasting the faithful servant who prepares with the foolish one who doesn't. This verse introduces a specific example of an irresponsible servant who, convinced his master is gone for good, abuses his authority and indulges in wickedness, assuming he'll get away with it. This stands in stark contrast to the faithful servant who will be rewarded when the master finally returns.
Ever felt like a tough situation would just go away if you ignored it long enough? This servant thought the same about his Master's return, and it led him down a dangerous path.
Jesus describes a servant who says in his heart, 'My master is delayed in coming.' This isn't just a casual thought; it's a deep-seated belief that begins to shape his entire outlook and behavior. The delay creates a false sense of security, a feeling that the consequences of his actions are distant or even non-existent.
This internal dialogue is the first step towards rebellion. It's the moment when the servant stops living with anticipation of his Master's return and starts living as if the Master isn't coming at all. This internal shift justifies his outward actions.
When the boss is out of town, do people just chill, or do some start acting out? This servant chose the latter, and his actions were shockingly cruel.
The servant’s internal decision to believe the Master is delayed immediately leads to outward abuse. He 'begins to beat the male and female servants.' This isn't just letting off steam; it’s a violent assertion of power over those beneath him. He's essentially playing 'master' in his Master’s absence.
This behavior reveals a heart that has no respect for the Master's authority or the well-being of others. He uses his temporary position of responsibility to inflict pain and suffering, completely disregarding the order and care his Master expects.
Ask a follow-up
What happens when accountability fades? For this servant, it meant a free-for-all of gluttony and intoxication. What does unchecked freedom look like for you?
Following the violence, the text says the servant 'eat[s] and drink[s] and get[s] drunk.' This isn't just about enjoying himself; it's a total abandonment of responsible stewardship. The Master's goods, which should have been managed with care, are instead consumed in selfish excess.
This self-indulgence is the flip side of his abusive behavior. Both are expressions of a heart that has rejected the Master's authority and embraced a spirit of lawlessness. The 'delay' is not just an excuse for cruelty, but for a complete unraveling of self-control and devotion.
This parable speaks directly to the anxieties and temptations faced by early believers who were waiting for Jesus' promised return, a wait that, from their earthly perspective, could feel very long and lead to dangerous complacency or even abuse of authority.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Ministry and Teachings
Jesus teaches parables about his eventual return, emphasizing the need for constant vigilance and faithful service among his followers.
c. 30-33 AD
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is crucified and then resurrected, a pivotal event that initially fuels hope but is followed by his ascension, leaving his followers anticipating his return.
c. 50 AD
Early Church Growth and Persecution
The Christian community expands, but faces increasing opposition and persecution from both Jewish and Roman authorities.
c. 62-64 AD
Writing of the Gospels
Luke, likely writing his Gospel during this period, records Jesus' teachings and parables, including this one, to instruct and encourage early Christian communities.
c. 64 AD
Great Fire of Rome and Persecution
The Great Fire of Rome leads Emperor Nero to blame and persecute Christians, intensifying the dangers faced by believers and potentially fueling questions about the timing of Christ's return.
This passage describes the same wicked servant who, believing his master is delayed, indulges in destructive behavior and abuse, mirroring the actions described in Luke 12:45.
Matthew 24:49It further details the consequence for this servant, showing he will be 'cut in two' and assigned a place with the hypocrites, directly linking his corrupt behavior to divine judgment.
Ecclesiastes 8:11This verse speaks to the human tendency to do evil because sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, which is the very heart of the wicked servant's flawed reasoning in Luke 12:45.
2 Peter 3:9Peter addresses the scoffers who say, 'Where is the promise of his coming?' because they believe Christ's return is delayed, paralleling the false sense of security and subsequent misbehavior of the servant in Luke.
Luke 12:47This verse immediately follows Luke 12:45 and clearly states the severe punishment for the wicked servant, highlighting the stark contrast between his expectation of delay and the reality of swift judgment.
vincentLuke 12:45: "But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;"
DelayethThe emphatic word, since the thought of the lord's delay and of the postponement of the reckoning is uppermost in the servant's thought.
jfbLuke 12:45: "But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;"
- begin to beat, &c.—In the confidence that his Lord's return will not be speedy, he throws off the role of servant and plays the master, maltreating those faithful servants who refuse to join him, seizing on and revelling in the fulness of his master's board; intending, when he has got his fill, to resume the mask o…
The chilling heart of this servant's sin isn't just a delay, but a self-deception where he convinces himself his master isn't coming back. It's in this internal lie that he feels license to brutalize others and indulge his own wicked desires, essentially playing master himself in the interim.
Jesus has been teaching his followers to be watchful and ready for his return, contrasting the faithful servant who prepares with the foolish one who doesn't. This verse introduces a specific example of an irresponsible servant who, convinced his master is gone for good, abuses his authority and indulges in wickedness, assuming he'll get away with it. This stands in stark contrast to the faithful servant who will be rewarded when the master finally returns.
Jesus has been teaching his followers to be watchful and ready for his return, contrasting the faithful servant who prepares with the foolish one who doesn't. This verse introduces a specific example of an irresponsible servant who, convinced his master is gone for good, abuses his authority and indulges in wickedness, assuming he'll get away with it. This stands in stark contrast to the faithful servant who will be rewarded when the master finally returns.
"But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk," — The chilling heart of this servant's sin isn't just a delay, but a self-deception where he convinces himself his master isn't coming back. It's in this internal lie that he feels license to brutali…
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Last reviewed October 2026