35
"Be dressed, ready for service, and have your lamps shining.
36
Be like servants who are waiting for their master to come home from a wedding party. When he comes and knocks, the servants immediately open the door for him.
37
They will be blessed when their master comes home, because he sees that they were watching for him. I tell you the truth, the master will dress himself to serve and tell the servants to sit at the table, and he will serve them.
38
Those servants will be happy when he comes in and finds them still waiting, even if it is midnight or later.
39
"Remember this: If the owner of the house knew what time a thief was coming, he would not allow the thief to enter his house.
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 to us or to all people?"
42
The Lord said, "Who is the wise and trusted servant that the master trusts to give the other servants their food at the right time?
43
When the master comes and finds the servant doing his work, the servant will be blessed.
44
I tell you the truth, the master will choose that servant to take care of everything he owns.
45
But suppose the servant thinks to himself, 'My master will not come back soon,' and he begins to beat the other servants, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk.