Parable · Matthew 24:45-51

The Faithful and Wise Servant

A servant put in charge of the household either feeds them or beats them while the master is away.

Also called The Servant Left in Charge

The point

Addressed to leaders. The question is what you do with authority when nobody is watching.

45Who 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?

46Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.

47Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

48But suppose that servant is wicked and says in his heart, ‘My master will be away a long time.’

49And he begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards.

50The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate.

51Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Read the whole chapter

Told again in another gospel

The same parable, recorded differently. The differences are worth reading, not smoothing over.

Luke 12:42-48Read the chapter

42And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time?

43Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.

44Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

45But suppose that servant says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and he begins to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk.

46The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate. Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

47That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows.

48But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.

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Using this at church

For a newsletter or sermon notes

The parable of the Faithful and Wise Servant, explained in plain words. A servant is left in charge. Will he feed the house or abuse it? https://freescripture.org/parables/faithful-servant/

Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church