Luke 12:37

μακάριοι : here as always implying rare felicity the reward of heroic virtue. ἀμὴν : the Hebrew word retained here contrary to custom, introducing a startling thought, the inversion of the relation of master and servants, lord and slaves, through joy over their fidelity. For the other side of the picture vide Luke 17:7-10. διακονήσει αὐτοῖς : the master, in genial mood, turns servant to his own slaves; makes them sit down, throws off his caftan, girds his under-garments, and helps them to portions of the marriage feast he has brought home with him, as a father might do for his children (De Wette, Koetsveld, p. 244). There is not necessarily an allusion either to the last supper (Luke 22:27) or to the Roman Saturnalia (Grotius, Holtzmann, H. C.).