The Faithful and Wise Servant

Illustration of The Faithful and Wise Servant
Jesus praises the servant found faithfully at work when the master returns unexpectedly - and warns against presuming that a delay means the master is not coming at all.

Jesus asks who is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master makes ruler over his household to give them meat in due season - blessed is that servant whom his lord, when he comes, shall find so doing. But the evil servant who says in his heart 'my lord delayeth his coming' and begins to mistreat his fellow servants will be caught off guard and cut off, assigned a place with the hypocrites. The parable warns against presuming on a delay in Christ's return, calling disciples instead to faithful, watchful service whether the wait is short or long.

0:00

Category: Kingdom of God

Meaning: Be found faithfully serving when the master returns, rather than presuming on his delay.

Audience: Disciples

Key Chapters

Matthew 24 Signs of the End of the Age 6 min read

Key Passages

The Faithful and Evil Servants Contrasted

Matthew 24:45-51

W45ho then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Related

Characters

Themes