Matthew 24:45
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
American King James Version (AKJV)
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
American Standard Version (ASV)
Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath set over his household, to give them their food in due season?
Basic English Translation (BBE)
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?
Webster's Revision
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them 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?
English Revised Version (ERV)
Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath set over his household, to give them their food in due season?
Definitions for Matthew 24:45
Clarke's Matthew 24:45 Bible Commentary
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.
Barnes's Matthew 24:45 Bible Commentary
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; 1 Corinthians 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.
Wesley's Matthew 24:45 Bible Commentary
24:45 Who then is the faithful and wise servant - Which of you aspires after this character? Wise - Every moment retaining the clearest conviction, that all he now has is only intrusted to him as a steward: Faithful - Thinking, speaking, and acting continually, in a manner suitable to that conviction.