Matthew 24 · Verse 45

Matthew 24:45

Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Matthew 24:45, King James Version

Matthew 24:45 in other translations

BSBWho 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?
WEB“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season?
ASVWho then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath set over his household, to give them their food in due season?
YLT‘Who, then, is the servant, faithful and wise, whom his lord did set over his household, to give them the nourishment in season?
DARBYWho then is the faithful and prudent bondman whom his lord has set over his household, to give them food in season?
BBEWho 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?
WebsterWho then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?

What does Matthew 24:45 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verses 45--51. 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.

Verse 45. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, etc. By the conduct of a faithful and wise servant he intends to denote a faithful Christian, a servant of God, or a teacher of religion.

Whom his lord. His master. It 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, Jn 13:13,14.

Over his household. His family. Christian ministers are the servants of God appointed over the church, the family of Christ, 1Thes 5:12,13, 1Cor 3:5, 4:1,2, 12:28.

Meat in due season. The word meat here means food of all kinds. When the Bible was translated into English, it included, as the original does, all kinds of provisions requisite to support and nourish life.

In due season. At the proper time. 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 wants, and to do it as they need it, Jn 21:15-17, Acts 20:28, 1Cor 4:1,2.

(n) "meat" Jer 3:15 (o) "due season" Mt 13:52

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 45 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 24:42-51

To watch for Christ's coming, is to maintain that temper of mind which we would be willing that our Lord should find us in. We know we have but a little time to live, we cannot know that we have a long time to live; much less do we know the time fixed for the judgment. Our Lord's coming will be happy to those that shall be found ready, but very dreadful to those that are not. If a man, professing to be the servant…

Read the full comment on Matthew 24:42-51 →

Matthew 24:45 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΤίςTisWhoG5101
ἄραarathenG686
ἐστὶνestinisG1510
ὁhotheG3588
πιστὸςpistosfaithfulG4103
δοῦλοςdoulosservantG1401
καὶkaiandG2532
φρόνιμοςphronimoswiseG5429
ὃνhonwhomG3739
κατέστησενkatestēsenhas setG2525
ὁhotheG3588
κύριοςkuriosmasterG2962
ἐπὶepioverG1909
τῆςtēstheG3588
οἰκετείαςoiketeiashousehold
αὐτοῦautouof himG846
τοῦtou<the>G3588
δοῦναιdounaito giveG1325
αὐτοῖςautoisto themG846
τὴνtēntheG3588
τροφὴνtrophēnfoodG5160
ἐνeninG1722
καιρῷ;kairōseason?G2540

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 24:45

  • Matthew 25:21

    His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:1-2

    Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

  • Matthew 25:23

    His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

  • Luke 12:41-43

    Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

  • Luke 16:10-12

    He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?

  • Matthew 25:35-40

    For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? …

  • 2 Timothy 2:2

    And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

  • John 21:15-17

    So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

  • 1 Timothy 1:12

    And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

  • Acts 20:28

    Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

  • Matthew 10:16

    Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

  • Luke 19:17

    And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
is.
Lu 12:41-43; 16:10-12; 19:17; Ac 20:28; 1Co 4:1,2; 1Ti 1:12; 2Ti 2:2
Heb 3:5; 1Pe 4:10,11; Re 2:13
to give.
13:52; 25:35-40; Eze 34:2; Joh 21:15-17; 1Co 3:1,2; Eph 4:11-13
1Pe 5:1-3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 24:44

    Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

  • Matthew 24:45

    Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

  • Matthew 24:46

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

Read all of Matthew 24

Matthew 24:45 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Quién pues es el siervo fiel y prudente, al cual puso su señor sobre su familia para que les dé alimento á tiempo?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Qui donc est l’esclave fidèle et prudent, que son maître a établi sur les domestiques de sa maison pour leur donner leur nourriture au temps convenable?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wer ist nun der treue und kluge Knecht, den sein Herr über sein Gesinde gesetzt hat, um ihnen die Speise zu geben zur rechten Zeit?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quis, putas, est fidelis servus, et prudens, quem constituit dominus suus super familiam suam ut det illis cibum in tempore?