Matthew 24:46

Literal Standard Version

Blessed that servant, whom his lord, having come, will find doing so;

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes.

King James Version (1611)
Blessed is that seruant, whome his Lord when he commeth, shall finde so doing.

King James Version
Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

English Standard Version
Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.

New American Standard Bible
"Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.

New Century Version
When the master comes and finds the servant doing his work, the servant will be blessed.

Amplified Bible
"Blessed is that [faithful] servant when his master returns and finds him doing so.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.

Legacy Standard Bible
Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.

Berean Standard Bible
Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.

Contemporary English Version
Servants are fortunate if their master comes and finds them doing their job.

Complete Jewish Bible
It will go well with that servant if he is found doing his job when his master comes.

Darby Translation
Blessed is that bondman whom his lord on coming shall find doing thus.

Easy-to-Read Version
When the master comes and finds that servant doing the work he gave him, it will be a day of blessing for that servant.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Blessed is that seruant, whom his master when he commeth, shall finde so doing.

George Lamsa Translation
Blessed is that servant, when his Lord comes and finds him so doing.

Good News Translation
How happy that servant is if his master finds him doing this when he comes home!

Lexham English Bible
Blessed is that slave whom his master will find so doing when he comes back.

Literal Translation
Blessed is that servant whom his Lord shall find so doing when He comes.

American Standard Version
Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

Bible in Basic English
A blessing on that servant, who will be doing so when his lord comes.

Hebrew Names Version
Blessed is that servant whom his lord will find doing so when he comes.

International Standard Version
How blessed is that servant whom his master finds doing this when he comes!Revelation 16:15;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
Blessed is that servant, who, when cometh his lord, shall be found doing so.

Murdock Translation
Happy is that servant, whom, when his lord shall come, he will find so doing.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Blessed is that seruaunt, whom his Lorde when he commeth, shall fynde so doyng.

English Revised Version
Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

World English Bible
Blessed is that servant, whom his lord will find doing so when he comes.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Happy is that servant, whom his Lord coming shall find so doing.

Weymouth's New Testament
Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes shall find so doing!

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Blessed is that seruaunt, whom `his lord, whanne he schal come, schal fynde so doynge.

Update Bible Version
Blessed is that slave, whom his lord when he comes shall find so doing.

Webster's Bible Translation
Blessed [is] that servant, whom his lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing.

New English Translation
Blessed is that slave whom the master finds at work when he comes.

New King James Version
Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.

New Living Translation
If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward.

New Life Bible
That servant is happy who is doing what his owner wants him to do when he comes back.

New Revised Standard
Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Happy! that servant, whom his master, when he cometh, shall find so doing!

Douay-Rheims Bible
Blessed is that servant, whom when his lord shall come he shall find so doing.

Revised Standard Version
Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
happy is that servaunt whom his master (when he cometh) shall finde so doinge.

Young's Literal Translation
Happy that servant, whom his lord, having come, shall find doing so;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Blessed is yt seruaut, whom his lorde (whan he cometh) shal fynde so doynge.

Mace New Testament (1729)
who shall be found so employed, at his master's return.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Cowboys who are found doin' their job when the cattle foreman shows up unannounced will be rewarded.

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

Matthew 25:34, Luke 12:37, Luke 12:43, Philippians 1:21-23, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 2 Peter 1:13-15, Revelation 2:19, Revelation 16:15

Reciprocal: Proverbs 27:18 - shall be Ezekiel 48:11 - charge Matthew 5:3 - Blessed Luke 12:42 - Who 1 Corinthians 4:5 - until

Cross-References

Genesis 24:18
and she says, "Drink, my lord"; and she hurries, and lets down her pitcher on her hand, and gives him drink.

Genesis 24:19
And she finishes giving him drink and says, "Also for your camels I draw until they have finished drinking";

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when he cometh,.... Whether in a way of judgment, as against Jerusalem; or at death, when he comes to remove him out of time, into eternity; or at the day of judgment, when he, the righteous judge, will give the crown of righteousness to him:

shall find so doing; acting the faithful and wise part, ruling the household of God well; giving to all wholesome food, a proper portion of it, and that in the right time.

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 46. Blessed is that servant — His blessedness consists in his master's approbation.