‘That the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”
Holy wow, Batman! (Couldn’t resist that one!)
But just look at all that had happened to Saul — now Paul. He was persecuting Christians and sending them to prison.
He experienced the Christ in a mystical conversion moment. He was completely changed, and fell in love with the Christ he experienced. Then he began to preach to the Gentiles; and this plan of God, hidden for ages now, was coming into the light to be seen by all, even, “to the principalities and authorities in the heavens.”
All of this was granted to Paul to be this minister of this word, “by the gift of God’s grace.” Double whew!
Jesus, for his part, lets his disciples know the gravity on their part for being prepared, “for the coming of the Son of Man.”
And through the parable, he taught them the necessity to be prepared, and the punishment expected for one who does not take their responsibility seriously, whether by plan or through ignorance. Of course this is, once again, apocalyptic language of punishment and warning, because Jesus surely wanted them to know the severity of missing the moment.
What a miss that would be! They just could not or should not miss it! Neither should we!
