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[[File:Teachings of Jesus 32 of 40. the faithful and wise steward. Jan Luyken etching. Bowyer Bible.gif|thumb|260px|Etching by [[Jan Luyken]] illustrating the parable, from the [[Bowyer Bible]].]]
{{Short description|Parable taught by Jesus of Nazareth according to Christian gospels}}[[File:Teachings of Jesus 32 of 40. the faithful and wise steward. Jan Luyken etching. Bowyer Bible.gif|thumb|300px|Etching by [[Jan Luyken]] illustrating the parable, from the [[Bowyer Bible]].]]


The '''Parable of the Faithful Servant''' or '''Parable of the Door Keeper''' is a [[Parables of Jesus|parable]] told by [[Jesus]] in the [[New Testament]], found in [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] {{niv|Matthew|24:42-51|24:42-51}}, [[Gospel of Mark|Mark]] {{niv|Mark|13:34-37|13:34-37}}, and [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] {{niv|Luke|12:35-48|12:35-48}}.
The '''Parable of the Faithful Servant''' (or '''Parable of the Door Keeper''') is a [[parable of Jesus]] found in [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 24:42-51, [[Gospel of Mark|Mark]] 13:34-37, and [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] 12:35-48 about how it is important for the faithful to keep watch.

⚫
In Matthew, it immediately precedes the [[Parable of the Ten Virgins]], which has a similar [[Christian eschatology|eschatological]] theme: be prepared for the day of reckoning.


⚫
In Matthew's Gospel, it immediately precedes the [[Parable of the Ten Virgins]], which has a similar [[Christian eschatology|eschatological]] theme of being prepared for the day of reckoning.


== Narrative ==
== Narrative ==
In Mark's Gospel, "the day and the hour", for which Jesus says his disciples must remain watchful, is compared to a man going to a far country who is to return at some point. This comparison forms the final exhortation in Mark's Gospel before the evangelist commences his [[passion narrative|narrative of Jesus' passion]].<ref>{{bibleverse|Mark|13:32-37}}</ref>
⚫
In Luke, the parable is as follows:


⚫
In Luke's Gospel, the parable reads as follows:
⚫
{{quotation|"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."<br/>

<br/>
⚫
{{quotation|"Let your waist be dressed and your lamps burning. Be like men watching for their lord, when he returns from the marriage feast; that, when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most certainly I tell you, that he will dress himself, and make them recline, and will come and serve them. They will be blessed if he comes in the second or third watch, and finds them so. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don't expect him."
⚫
Peter asked, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?"<br/>

<br/>
⚫
[[Saint Peter|Peter]] said to him, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everybody?."
The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose the servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.<br/>

<br/>
The Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the right times? Blessed is that servant whom his lord will find doing so when he comes. Truly I tell you, that he will set him over all that he has. But if that servant says in his heart, 'My lord delays his coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken, then the lord of that servant will come in a day when he isn't expecting him, and in an hour that he doesn't know, and will cut him in two, and place his portion with the unfaithful. That servant, who knew his lord's will, and didn't prepare, nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes, but he who didn't know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whomever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.|Luke 12:35-48, [[World English Bible]]}}
"That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.|Luke 12:35-48, [[New International Version]]}}


==Interpretation==
==Interpretation==
In Matthew, the parable opens with the injunction "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come" ({{niv|Matthew|24:42|24:42}}). In other words, "the disciple must remain prepared for his Lord's coming, remaining alert and awake at his post."<ref name="CSK">Craig S. Keener, ''[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=sWzhEdBZOp4C&pg=PA592 A Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew]'', Eerdmans, 1999, ISBN 0802838219, p. 592.</ref> Even though there may be general signs of [[Second Coming of Christ|Jesus' Second Coming]], the exact time is unknown.<ref name="CSK"/> This is a theme which has also been discussed earlier in {{niv|Luke|12|Luke 12}}.<ref name="Green1">[[Joel B. Green]], ''[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=wzRVN2S8cVgC&pg=PA497 The Gospel of Luke]'', Eerdmans, 1997, ISBN 0802823157, pp. 497-501.</ref> The reference to a wedding banquet in {{niv|Luke|12:36|Luke 12:36}} suggests a heavenly banquet,<ref name="Green1"/> and recalls the [[parable of the Ten Virgins]] which follows this parable in Matthew.
In Matthew, the parable opens with the injunction: "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come" (Matthew 24:42). In other words, "the disciple must remain prepared for his Lord's coming, remaining alert and awake at his post."<ref name="CSK">Craig S. Keener, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=sWzhEdBZOp4C&pg=PA592 A Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew]'', Eerdmans, 1999, {{ISBN|0-8028-3821-9}}, p. 592.</ref> Even though there may be general signs that precede [[Second Coming of Christ|Jesus' Second Coming]], the exact time is unknown.<ref name="CSK"/> This is a theme which has also been discussed earlier in Luke 12.<ref name="Green1">[[Joel B. Green]], ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=wzRVN2S8cVgC&pg=PA497 The Gospel of Luke]'', Eerdmans, 1997, {{ISBN|0-8028-2315-7}}, pp. 497-501.</ref> The reference to a [[wedding]] banquet in Luke 12:36 suggests a heavenly banquet,<ref name="Green1"/> and recalls the [[parable of the Ten Virgins]], which follows this parable in Matthew.


The second part of the parable includes a caution that, to whom much is given, much will be required.<ref name="CSK"/> [[J. Dwight Pentecost]] states that this parable "emphasizes that privilege brings responsibility and that responsibility entails accountability."<ref name="JDP">[[J. Dwight Pentecost]], ''[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=k_VVxjLkN2UC&pg=PA175 The Parables of Jesus: Lessons in life from the Master Teacher]'', Kregel Publications, 1998, ISBN 0825434580, p. 175.</ref> This applies particularly to religious leaders.<ref name="Green2">[[Joel B. Green]], ''[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=wzRVN2S8cVgC&pg=PA506 The Gospel of Luke]'', Eerdmans, 1997, ISBN 0802823157, p. 506.</ref>
The second part of the parable includes a caution that much more will be required of the person to whom much is given.<ref name="CSK"/> [[J. Dwight Pentecost]] writes that this parable "emphasizes that privilege brings responsibility and that responsibility entails accountability."<ref name="JDP">[[J. Dwight Pentecost]], ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=k_VVxjLkN2UC&pg=PA175 The Parables of Jesus: Lessons in life from the Master Teacher]'', the parable in Gospel says
regel Publications, 1998, {{ISBN|0-8254-3458-0}}, p. 175.</ref> This applies particularly to religious leaders.<ref name="Green2">[[Joel B. Green]], ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=wzRVN2S8cVgC&pg=PA506 The Gospel of Luke]'', Eerdmans, 1997, {{ISBN|0-8028-2315-7}}, p. 506.</ref>


==See also==
==Hymns==
The parable is the theme for several hymns, including [[Philip Doddridge]]'s "Ye Servants of the Lord," which ends:
⚫
* [[Miracles of Jesus]]

<blockquote><poem>
Christ shall the banquet spread
With His own royal hand,
And raise that faithful servant’s
Amid the angelic band.<ref>[http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/y/e/yeservan.htm The Cyber Hymnal: ''Ye Servants of the Lord''.]</ref></poem></blockquote>


{{Commons category|The Faithful and Wise Steward}}
{{Commons category|The Faithful and Wise Steward}}

==See also==
* [[Life of Jesus in the New Testament]]
⚫
* [[Ministry of Jesus]]
* [[Parable of the Master and Servant]]
* [[Parable of the great banquet]]
* [[Parable of the Wedding Feast]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{Parables of Jesus}}
{{Parables of Jesus|state=expanded}}
{{Jesus footer}}
{{Christianity-stub}}
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[[Category:Parables of Jesus|Faithful Servant, Parable of the]]


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[[Category:Parables of Jesus|Faithful Servant, Parable of the]]
[[id:Perumpamaan hamba yang setia dan hamba yang jahat]]
[[ta:நேர்மையான பணியாள் உவமை]]

Latest revision as of 10:00, 25 December 2024

Etching by Jan Luyken illustrating the parable, from the Bowyer Bible.

The Parable of the Faithful Servant (or Parable of the Door Keeper) is a parable of Jesus found in Matthew 24:42-51, Mark 13:34-37, and Luke 12:35-48 about how it is important for the faithful to keep watch.

In Matthew's Gospel, it immediately precedes the Parable of the Ten Virgins, which has a similar eschatological theme of being prepared for the day of reckoning.

Narrative

[edit]

In Mark's Gospel, "the day and the hour", for which Jesus says his disciples must remain watchful, is compared to a man going to a far country who is to return at some point. This comparison forms the final exhortation in Mark's Gospel before the evangelist commences his narrative of Jesus' passion.[1]

In Luke's Gospel, the parable reads as follows:

"Let your waist be dressed and your lamps burning. Be like men watching for their lord, when he returns from the marriage feast; that, when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most certainly I tell you, that he will dress himself, and make them recline, and will come and serve them. They will be blessed if he comes in the second or third watch, and finds them so. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don't expect him."

Peter said to him, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everybody?."

The Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the right times? Blessed is that servant whom his lord will find doing so when he comes. Truly I tell you, that he will set him over all that he has. But if that servant says in his heart, 'My lord delays his coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken, then the lord of that servant will come in a day when he isn't expecting him, and in an hour that he doesn't know, and will cut him in two, and place his portion with the unfaithful. That servant, who knew his lord's will, and didn't prepare, nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes, but he who didn't know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whomever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.

— Luke 12:35-48, World English Bible

Interpretation

[edit]

In Matthew, the parable opens with the injunction: "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come" (Matthew 24:42). In other words, "the disciple must remain prepared for his Lord's coming, remaining alert and awake at his post."[2] Even though there may be general signs that precede Jesus' Second Coming, the exact time is unknown.[2] This is a theme which has also been discussed earlier in Luke 12.[3] The reference to a wedding banquet in Luke 12:36 suggests a heavenly banquet,[3] and recalls the parable of the Ten Virgins, which follows this parable in Matthew.

The second part of the parable includes a caution that much more will be required of the person to whom much is given.[2] J. Dwight Pentecost writes that this parable "emphasizes that privilege brings responsibility and that responsibility entails accountability."[4] This applies particularly to religious leaders.[5]

Hymns

[edit]

The parable is the theme for several hymns, including Philip Doddridge's "Ye Servants of the Lord," which ends:

Christ shall the banquet spread
With His own royal hand,
And raise that faithful servant’s
Amid the angelic band.[6]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Faithful and Wise Steward.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Mark 13:32–37
  2. ^ a b c Craig S. Keener, A Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Eerdmans, 1999, ISBN 0-8028-3821-9, p. 592.
  3. ^ a b Joel B. Green, The Gospel of Luke, Eerdmans, 1997, ISBN 0-8028-2315-7, pp. 497-501.
  4. ^ J. Dwight Pentecost, The Parables of Jesus: Lessons in life from the Master Teacher, the parable in Gospel says regel Publications, 1998, ISBN 0-8254-3458-0, p. 175.
  5. ^ Joel B. Green, The Gospel of Luke, Eerdmans, 1997, ISBN 0-8028-2315-7, p. 506.
  6. ^ The Cyber Hymnal: Ye Servants of the Lord.
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