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Literal Standard Version

Matthew 24:45

Who, then, is the servant, faithful and wise, whom his lord set over his household, to give them the nourishment in season?

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Commandments;   Faithfulness;   Jesus Continued;   Minister, Christian;   Servant;   Watchfulness;   Scofield Reference Index - Day (of Jehovah);   Thompson Chain Reference - Business Life;   Capital and Labour;   Employees (Servants);   Faithful;   Faithfulness-Unfaithfulness;   Favour, King's;   Fidelity;   King's;   Nation, the;   Servants;   The Topic Concordance - Blessings;   Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ;   Servants;   Waiting;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Faithfulness;   Parables;   Second Coming of Christ, the;   Watchfulness;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Parable;   Prophecy;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Hope;   Perseverance;   Reward;   Slave;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Second Coming of Christ;   Slave, Slavery;   Wages;   Watchfulness;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Jews;   Pastor;   Servants;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Household;   Luke, Gospel of;   Season;   Slave/servant;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Jesus Christ;   Judgment;   Kingdom of God;   Olives, Mount of;   Slave, Slavery;   Text of the New Testament;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Children of God;   Doctrines;   Drunkenness (2);   Faithfulness (2);   Family;   Household;   Judgment;   Merit;   Parousia (2);   Property (2);   Questions and Answers;   Readiness;   Ruler (2);   Separation;   Son of Man;   Steward, Stewardship;   Talents ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Matthew, Gospel by;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Jerusalem;   Matthew;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Jesus Christ (Part 2 of 2);   Make;   Steward;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“Who then is a faithful and wise servant,
King James Version (1611)
Who then is a faithfull and wise seruant, whom his Lord hath made ruler ouer his houshold, to giue them meat in due season?
King James Version
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
English Standard Version
"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?
New American Standard Bible
"Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household slaves, to give them their food at the proper time?
New Century Version
"Who is the wise and loyal servant that the master trusts to give the other servants their food at the right time?
Amplified Bible
"Who then is the faithful and wise servant whom his master has put in charge of his household to give the others [in the house] their food and supplies at the proper time?
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time?
Legacy Standard Bible
"Who then is the faithful and prudent slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time?
Berean Standard Bible
Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the others their food at the proper time?
Contemporary English Version
Who are faithful and wise servants? Who are the ones the master will put in charge of giving the other servants their food supplies at the proper time?
Complete Jewish Bible
"Who is the faithful and sensible servant whose master puts him in charge of the household staff, to give them their food at the proper time?
Darby Translation
Who then is the faithful and prudent bondman whom his lord has set over his household, to give them food in season?
Easy-to-Read Version
"Who is the wise and trusted servant? The master trusts one servant to give the other servants their food at the right time. Who is the one the master trusts to do that work?
Geneva Bible (1587)
Who then is a faithfull seruaunt and wise, whom his master hath made ruler ouer his household, to giue them meate in season?
George Lamsa Translation
Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord has appointed over his household, to give them food in due time?
Good News Translation
"Who, then, is a faithful and wise servant? It is the one that his master has placed in charge of the other servants to give them their food at the proper time.
Lexham English Bible
"Who then is the faithful and wise slave whom the master has put in charge of his household slaves to give them their food at the right time?
Literal Translation
Who then is the faithful and wise servant whom his Lord has set over His household, to give to them the food in season?
American Standard Version
Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath set over his household, to give them their food in due season?
Bible in Basic English
Who is the true and wise servant, whom his lord has put over those in his house, to give them their food at the right time?
Hebrew Names Version
"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season?
International Standard Version
"Who, then, is the faithful and wise servant whom his master has put in charge of his household to give the othersthem">[fn] their food at the right time?Luke 12:42; Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 4:2; Hebrews 3:5;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
WHO is the servant faithful and wise whom his lord shall appoint over the children of his house, to give every one his meat in his time ?
Murdock Translation
Who then, is that faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath placed over his domestics, to give them their food in its time?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Who is a faythfull and wise seruaunt, whom his Lorde hath made ruler ouer his householde, to geue them meate in season.
English Revised Version
Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath set over his household, to give them their food in due season?
World English Bible
Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season?
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath appointed ruler over his houshold, to give them food in due season?
Weymouth's New Testament
"Who therefore is the loyal and intelligent servant to whom his master has entrusted the control of his household to give them their rations at the appointed time?
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Who gessist thou is a trewe seruaunt and prudent, whom his lord ordeyned on his meynee, to yyue hem mete in tyme?
Update Bible Version
Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season?
Webster's Bible Translation
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?
New English Translation
"Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their food at the proper time?
New King James Version
Luke 12:41-48">[xr] "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?
New Living Translation
"A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them.
New Life Bible
"Who is the faithful and wise servant whom his owner has made boss over the other servants? He is to have food ready for them at the right time.
New Revised Standard
"Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their allowance of food at the proper time?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Who then is the faithful and prudent servant, whom the master hath appointed over his household, to give them food in season?
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who, thinkest thou, is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath appointed over his family, to give them meat in season?
Revised Standard Version
"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
If there be any faithfull servaut and wyse whome his master hath made ruler over his housholde to geve the meate in season covenient:
Young's Literal Translation
`Who, then, is the servant, faithful and wise, whom his lord did set over his household, to give them the nourishment in season?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Who is now a faithfull and wyse seruaut, whom his lorde hath made ruler ouer his houssholde, that he maye geue them meate in due season?
Mace New Testament (1729)
If then there be a servant, appointed by his master to take care of his family, who faithfully and prudently distributes their allowance according to the establishment: happy is the servant,
THE MESSAGE
"Who here qualifies for the job of overseeing the kitchen? A person the Master can depend on to feed the workers on time each day. Someone the Master can drop in on unannounced and always find him doing his job. A God-blessed man or woman, I tell you. It won't be long before the Master will put this person in charge of the whole operation.
Simplified Cowboy Version
"Who are the top hands and faithful riders of the brand? Who will the Boss choose to make foreman and ramrods?

Contextual Overview

32And from the fig tree learn the allegory: when its branch may have already become tender, and it may put forth the leaves, you know that summer [is] near, 33so also you, when you may see all these, you know that it is near—at the doors. 34Truly I say to you, this generation may not pass away until all these may come to pass. 35The heaven and the earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. 36And concerning that day and the hour no one has known—not even the messengers of the heavens—except My Father only; 37and as the days of Noah—so will also be the coming of the Son of Man; 38for as they were, in the days before the flood, eating, and drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered into the Ark, 39and they did not know until the flood came and took all away, so will also be the coming of the Son of Man. 40Then two [men] will be in the field: one is received, and one is left; 41two [women] will be grinding in the mill: one is received, and one is left.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

is: Luke 12:41-43, Luke 16:10-12, Luke 19:17, Acts 20:28, 1 Corinthians 4:1, 1 Corinthians 4:2, 1 Timothy 1:12, 2 Timothy 2:2, Hebrews 3:5, 1 Peter 4:10, 1 Peter 4:11, Revelation 2:13

to give: Matthew 13:52, Matthew 25:35-40, Ezekiel 34:2, John 21:15-17, 1 Corinthians 3:1, 1 Corinthians 3:2, Ephesians 4:11-13, 1 Peter 5:1-3

Reciprocal: Genesis 30:29 - General Genesis 47:23 - here is seed Exodus 36:4 - General Ruth 2:6 - the servant 2 Kings 12:15 - for they dealt Nehemiah 7:2 - a faithful man Psalms 101:6 - Mine Proverbs 14:35 - king's Jeremiah 23:28 - speak Ezekiel 46:24 - General Ezekiel 48:11 - charge Daniel 12:3 - they that be Mark 13:34 - as a Luke 12:37 - Blessed Luke 12:42 - Who Romans 12:7 - ministry 1 Corinthians 3:10 - as a 1 Corinthians 3:14 - General 1 Corinthians 4:17 - faithful Colossians 1:7 - a 1 Timothy 3:3 - Not given to wine Titus 1:7 - as Titus 2:10 - showing Hebrews 13:7 - which 3 John 1:5 - General

Cross-References

Genesis 24:12
And he says, "YHWH, God of my lord Abraham, please cause to meet before me this day—(and do kindness with my lord Abraham;
Genesis 24:13
behold, I am standing by the fountain of water, and daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water;
Genesis 24:15
And it comes to pass, before he has finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah (who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, wife of Nahor, brother of Abraham) is coming out, and her pitcher on her shoulder,
Genesis 24:17
And the servant runs to meet her and says, "Please let me swallow a little water from your pitcher";
Genesis 24:20
and she hurries, and empties her pitcher into the drinking-trough, and runs again to the well to draw, and draws for all his camels.
Genesis 24:24
And she says to him, "I [am] daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah, whom she has borne to Nahor."
Genesis 24:33
and sets before him to eat; but he says, "I do not eat until I have spoken my word"; and he says, "Speak."
2 Samuel 7:27
for You, YHWH of Hosts, God of Israel, have uncovered the ear of Your servant, saying, I build a house for you, therefore Your servant has found his heart to pray this prayer to You.
Nehemiah 2:4
And the king says to me, "For what are you seeking?" And I pray to the God of the heavens,
Isaiah 58:9
Then you call, and YHWH answers, || You cry, and He says, Behold Me. If you turn aside the yoke from your midst, || The sending forth of the finger, || And the speaking of vanity,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Who then is a faithful and wise servant,.... The Vulgate Latin adds, "do you think?" and is a question put to the disciples, which they might apply to themselves: in Luke 12:42, it is spoken in answer to a question of Peter's, in relation to the above exhortation, whether it was spoken to them, or to all; and by this answer, it looks as if it was more especially designed for them, though it may be applied to other. The "servant" is there called a "steward", for such a servant is meant; and a name that is very proper for the apostles and ministers of the word, who are stewards of the mysteries of Christ, and of the manifold grace of God; and whose characters are, that they are "faithful": for this is required in stewards, that they be faithful to the trust reposed in them; as ministers are, when they preach the pure Gospel of Christ, and the whole of it; conceal no part, nor keep anything of it; seek not to please men, but God; neither seek their own things, their ease, honour, and profit, but the glory of God, the honour of Christ, and the good of souls; and abide by the truths, cause, and interest of a Redeemer, at all hazards. And they are "wise", who know and are well instructed in divine things; who make Christ the main subject of their ministry; who improve their talents and time for their master's use, and the advantage of those that are under their care; who seek for, and deliver acceptable words and matter; and manage their whole trust, so as to be able to give in a good account of their stewardship another day. The post that such a person is put in, and the work he is to do, follow:

whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household; or "family", the church of God, which is the household of God, and of faith, in which are believers of various growths and sizes; some fathers, some young men, some children; and over these, the ministers are, by their Lord, made and placed as rulers; not as lords and tyrants over God's heritage, to govern them in an arbitrary way, but as over them in the Lord, to rule them according to the word of God, and the laws of his house; by preaching the Gospel, administering ordinances, and keeping up his worship and the discipline of the church; and whose principal business it is,

to give them meat in due season; even "their portion" of it, as in

Luke 12:42: for the word of God is to be cut and rightly divided, and everyone in the family, according to his age, appetite, and digestion, is to have his proper part and portion given him: it must be meat, proper food, such as is solid, substantial, and nourishing; even the wholesome words of Christ Jesus, that must be given them, and not husks and empty trash; and all in due season, in its proper time, as their cases and circumstances require, and call for; as whether weary, or uncomfortable, or in the dark, or under temptations and afflictions: for a word fitly and seasonably spoken, how useful is it!

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

This passage is, in fact, “a parable,” though it is not expressly so called. The design is to show that his disciples should act as if they were each moment expecting his return. This he illustrates by the conduct of a servant who did not expect his master soon to return, who acted with great impropriety, and who was accordingly punished.

Matthew 24:45

Who, then, is a faithful and wise servant ... - By the conduct of a faithful and wise servant Jesus intends to denote a faithful Christian, a servant of God, or a teacher of religion.

Whom his lord - His master.

The word here has no reference to God. It means the “lord” or master of the servant. Applied to Christian teachers, in the spiritual meaning of the parable, it refers to “Christ,” who has appointed them as teachers, and who is their Lord and Master, John 13:13-14.

Over his household - His family. Christian ministers are the servants of God appointed over the church, the family of Christ, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; 1 Corinthians 3:5; 1Co 4:1-2; 1 Corinthians 12:28.

Meat in due season - The word “meat” here means food of all kinds. When the Bible was translated into English, the word included, as the original does, all kinds of provisions requisite to support and nourish life.

In due season - As they need it, or in the accustomed times. This was the office of a steward. Among the ancients this office was often filled by a “slave” - one who had shown himself trusty and faithful. The duty was to have a general superintendence over the affairs of the family. Applied to Christian ministers, it means that they are to feed the flock of God, to “minister” to their needs, and to do it as they need it, John 21:15-17; Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2.

Matthew 24:47

Shall make him ruler ... - Shall confirm his appointment over his household, and, as a reward, shall place him over all his property.

This does not mean that ministers will have a higher rank or office, but is a circumstance of “the parable” or story, designed to show the effect of faithfulness. Faithful servants of Christ shall be rewarded. This will be done by His approbation, and by the rewards of the heavenly world.

Matthew 24:48

That evil servant - If that servant, so appointed, having this office, should be evil or wicked.

Say in his heart - Secretly suppose.

Delayeth his coming - Will not return in a long time; or does not return as soon as was expected, and perhaps may not at all.

Matthew 24:49

Smite his fellow-servants ... - This is the conduct of a wicked servant, who, supposing he would not be called to account, and abusing his authority, gave himself up to oppression, carousing, and debauchery.

It is designed to represent the conduct of ministers who are unfaithful and overbearing, and who abuse their trust in the church.

Matthew 24:51

Shall cut him asunder - This kind of punishment was anciently practiced.

Sometimes it was done by the sword. sometimes by saws. It was practiced among the Chaldeans Daniel 2:5; Daniel 3:29, and among the Hebrews, 2 Samuel 12:31; 1Sa 15:33; 1 Kings 3:25; Hebrews 11:37. It was also practiced by the Egyptians and Romans. It is not, perhaps, here to be taken literally, but signifies that the wicked servant should be severely punished.

Hypocrites - See the notes at Matthew 6:2. They are spoken of here as the worst of people.

Weeping and gnashing of teeth - See the notes at Matthew 8:12-13. The unfaithful and wicked minister of God, who lives without expectation or fear of judgment, shall suffer the severest punishment inflicted on sinners in the world of woe.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 45. Who then is a faithful and wise servant — All should live in the same expectation of the coming of Christ, which a servant has with respect to the return of his master, who, in departing for a season, left the management of his affairs to him; and of which management he is to give an exact account on his master's return.

Here is an abstract of the duties of a minister of Christ.

1. He is appointed, not by himself, but by the vocation and mission of his Master.

2. He must look on himself, not as the master of the family, but as the servant.

3. He must be scrupulously faithful and exact in fulfilling the commands of his Master.

4. His fidelity must be ever accompanied by wisdom and prudence.

5. He must give the domestics - the sacred family, their food; and this food must be such as to afford them true nourishment. And

6. This must be done in its season. There are certain portions of the bread of life which lose their effect by being administered out of proper season, or to improper persons.


 
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