![Teachings of Jesus 32 of 40](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/Teachings_of_Jesus_32_of_40._the_faithful_and_wise_steward._Jan_Luyken_etching._Bowyer_Bible.gif)
The Parable of the Faithful Servant (or Parable of the Door Keeper) is a
parable of Jesus
A parable is a succinct, didactic story, in prose or verse, that illustrates one or more instructive lessons or principles. It differs from a fable in that fables employ animals, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature as characters, w ...
found in
Matthew
Matthew may refer to:
* Matthew (given name)
* Matthew (surname)
* ''Matthew'' (ship), the replica of the ship sailed by John Cabot in 1497
* ''Matthew'' (album), a 2000 album by rapper Kool Keith
* Matthew (elm cultivar), a cultivar of the Ch ...
24:42-51,
Mark
Mark may refer to:
Currency
* Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark, the currency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
* East German mark, the currency of the German Democratic Republic
* Estonian mark, the currency of Estonia between 1918 and 1927
* Fi ...
13:34-37, and
Luke
People
*Luke (given name), a masculine given name (including a list of people and characters with the name)
*Luke (surname) (including a list of people and characters with the name)
*Luke the Evangelist, author of the Gospel of Luke. Also known as ...
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
The Parable of the Ten Virgins, also known as the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins or the Parable of the ten bridesmaids, is one of the parables of Jesus. According to , ten virgins await a bridegroom; five have brought enough oil f ...
, which has a similar
eschatological
Eschatology (; ) concerns expectations of the end of the present age, human history, or of the world itself. The end of the world or end times is predicted by several world religions (both Abrahamic and non-Abrahamic), which teach that nega ...
theme of being prepared for the day of reckoning.
Narrative
In Luke's Gospel, the parable reads as follows:
Interpretation
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."
[Craig S. Keener, ]
A Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew
', Eerdmans, 1999, , p. 592. Even though there may be general signs of
Jesus' Second Coming, the exact time is unknown.
This is a theme which has also been discussed earlier in Luke 12.
Joel B. Green
Joel B. Green (born May 7, 1956) is an American New Testament scholar, theologian, author, Associate Dean of the Center for Advanced Theological Study, and Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, ...
,
The Gospel of Luke
', Eerdmans, 1997, , pp. 497-501. The reference to a
wedding
A wedding is a ceremony where two people are united in marriage. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes. Most wedding ceremonies involve an exchange of marriage vo ...
banquet in Luke 12:36 suggests a heavenly banquet,
and recalls the
parable of the Ten Virgins
The Parable of the Ten Virgins, also known as the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins or the Parable of the ten bridesmaids, is one of the parables of Jesus. According to , ten virgins await a bridegroom; five have brought enough oil f ...
, which follows this parable in Matthew.
The second part of the parable includes a caution that much will be more required of the person to whom much is given.
J. Dwight Pentecost
John Dwight Pentecost (April 24, 1915 – April 28, 2014) was an American Christian theologian, best known for his book ''Things to Come''.
Pentecost was born in Pennsylvania and died in Dallas, Texas. His wife was Dorothy Harrison Pentecost (Jun ...
writes that this parable "emphasizes that privilege brings responsibility and that responsibility entails accountability."
J. Dwight Pentecost
John Dwight Pentecost (April 24, 1915 – April 28, 2014) was an American Christian theologian, best known for his book ''Things to Come''.
Pentecost was born in Pennsylvania and died in Dallas, Texas. His wife was Dorothy Harrison Pentecost (Jun ...
,
The Parables of Jesus: Lessons in life from the Master Teacher
', the parable in Gospel says
regel Publications, 1998, , p. 175. This applies particularly to religious leaders.
Joel B. Green
Joel B. Green (born May 7, 1956) is an American New Testament scholar, theologian, author, Associate Dean of the Center for Advanced Theological Study, and Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, ...
,
The Gospel of Luke
', Eerdmans, 1997, , p. 506.
Hymns
The parable is the theme for several hymns, including
Philip Doddridge
Philip Doddridge D.D. (26 June 1702 – 26 October 1751) was an English Nonconformist (specifically, Congregationalist) minister, educator, and hymnwriter.
Early life
Philip Doddridge was born in London the last of the twenty children of ...
'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.The Cyber Hymnal: ''Ye Servants of the Lord''.
/ref>
See also
*
Life of Jesus in the New Testament
The life of Jesus in the New Testament is primarily outlined in the four canonical gospels, which includes his genealogy and Nativity of Jesus, nativity, Ministry of Jesus, public ministry, Passion of Jesus, passion, prophecy, Resurrection of ...
*
Ministry of Jesus
The ministry of Jesus, in the canonical gospels, begins with his baptism in the countryside of Roman Judea and Transjordan, near the River Jordan by John the Baptist, and ends in Jerusalem, following the Last Supper with his disciples.''Chri ...
*
Parable of the Master and Servant
The Parable of the Master and Servant is a parable told by Jesus in the New Testament, found only in Luke's Gospel (). The parable teaches that when somebody "has done what God expects, he or she is only doing his or her duty."
Narrative
The ...
*
Parable of the great banquet
The Parable of the Great Banquet or the Wedding Feast or the Marriage of the King's Son is a parable told by Jesus in the New Testament, found in and .
It is not to be confused with a different Parable of the Wedding Feast recorded in Luke's G ...
*
Parable of the Wedding Feast
The Parable of the Wedding Feast is one of the parables of Jesus and appears in the New Testament in Luke 14:7–14. It directly precedes the Parable of the Great Banquet in Luke 14:15–24.''Luke'' by Sharon H. Ringe 1995 page 195 In the Gospe ...
References
{{Jesus footer
Faithful Servant, Parable of the