What is worse: doing wrong or failing to do what is right? The answer is simple - they are both equally bad. Jesus was addressing His trainee apostles and He wanted to ensure that they understood the magnitude of the responsibility of the commission they had received. Walking out was no option! If employees who fail in their tasks are disciplined even though they may claim ignorance, and those who know what they should do are punished more severely, what about the foremen? They will surely face a much greater punishment for their failures. As for the managers who have been entrusted with the effective running of the business, their penalty will be greater still.
The religious leaders of the day were the managers of God's house and His people, but they had failed catastrophically to keep watch for the Messiah. They had behaved like the faithless people in the pagan nations around. The Law of God had been placed in their hands, but instead of understanding the salvation story of the Old Testament and anticipating God's Messiah, they reduced God's love to harshness and God's grace to self-indulgence while imposing impossible burdens on the people (Luke 11:46-52). Their judgement would be most strict. The apostles must not be like them; although, alas, Judas Iscariot failed to heed the warning. However, the others listened well to Jesus, and were enabled by the Holy Spirit to fulfil their commission (Acts 1:8).
The phrase, ‘To whom much is given, much is expected’ has often been used in modern business management training. It is a very reasonable and logical summary of responsibility, performance and reward. But believers in Jesus Christ must never forget that He said it first.
We who have received God's truth are responsible for living by it. Those who teach it will be judged by it, and those who lead others are most accountable (James 3:1). The Word of God in our hands, heads and hearts (Romans 10:8) - inspired by the Holy Spirit who indwells us - gives us no excuse. Our failures must not be allowed to stack up; we must repent and seek God's mercy and the covering of His grace. Every 'today' should start with a fresh determination to fulfil our commission (Hebrews 3:13); and for every 'tomorrow' we must pray for His grace so that we will submit ourselves to doing His will (Ephesians 6:19).
