The Faithful & Wise Servant

The word “Faithful” in the Gospels - Part 1:

The Greek word “pistos,” usually translated “faithful,” occurs 66 times in the New Testament. In this and the next few studies we are attempting to understand what Jesus Christ taught with this word during His earthly ministry. Pistos/faithful is found 12 times in the Gospels, i.e., Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, which is significant in that 12 is the number for governmental perfection in the Bible and thus is indentified with the nation of Israel. Jesus Christ's earthly ministry was to the Nation of Israel, Matthew 15:2424 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

and Jesus uttered this word every time it is found: five in Matthew (24:45; 25:21 (twice) & 23 (twice); six in Luke (12:42; 16:10 (twice); 11& 12; 19:17); and once in John 20:2727 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

where it is translated believing. In eleven instances, Jesus used it to describe an attribute of a servant whose master has gone away. Once He used it when speaking to the Apostle Thomas after proving to him He was indeed Jesus Christ, who had arisen from the dead.

Here in Part 1 we examine two of the concepts Jesus taught with this word: 1) that the faithful and wise servant is one who is constantly waiting and watching for his master's return and 2) that the faithful and wise servant is also one who invests or trades what he is entrusted with and thus creates earnings or gains on them. Each lesson also teaches that the servant who is not faithful and wise faces eternal damnation in Hell. In this the servant always represents God's chosen people, the Children of Israel.

First concept - Matthew 24:4545 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

reads: “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?” The context of this passage is in Matthew's version of the Olivet Discourse. Mark and Luke also record the Olivet Discourse, but from their own perspectives. While the three Gospel writers provide somewhat differing accounts of what Jesus said they do not contradict but instead complement each other. For instance, Matthew indicates that Jesus was privately teaching His disciples, Matthew 24:33 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

, Mark writes that Peter, James, John and Andrew came to him, Mark 13:3 & 43 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,

4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

, while Luke does not identify who “they” were to whom Jesus was speaking, Luke 21:77 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?

. Furthermore, Mark and Luke do not include what Matthew wrote in 24:45 about being “faithful and wise.”

Recapping Matthew's account, the disciples asked Jesus for a sign of His coming and the end of the age, Matthew 24:1 - 31 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.

2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

. Jesus told them what to watch for and how they should react when the Great Tribulation approaches, verses 5 - 29. He briefly describes His return as the Son of Man and the gathering of the elect after the Tribulation, verses 30 & 31. He gives the parable of the fig tree as a sign of what to watch for, verses 32 - 35, but explains that no one but God the Father knows the exact day and hour of His return, verse 36. He describes mankind's activities during the time preceding His return as being like the days of Noah in that people will be blithely enjoying the pleasures of this world, oblivious to what is about to happen, verses 37 - 42.

Christ spoke these words to His Disciples some 2000 years ago but His words apply to a future generation of His people, the Children of Israel, as they approach and go into the Great Tribulation period. (One exception to this is found in the account in Luke 21:20 - 2420 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.

22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

, where Jesus is obviously referring to what happened in 70 AD when the Romans overran Jerusalem and the Jews were uprooted and scattered throughout the world.) Some people today do not believe the Great Tribulation is a literal, future event. They look back in history at times when humanity in general and the Jews in particular have suffered terribly. But those bygone times, as terrible as they were for the people involved, are but a taste of what is in store for mankind during the future Great Tribulation. It will be a time when God's wrath is poured out on the entire world as never before: “And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.” Matthew 24:2222 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

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To get to the point of this study, which has to do with the use of the word “faithful” we see Jesus asking rhetorically just who the faithful and wise servant will be that is counted worthy of reward by His master, verse 45. He answers they will be those who are constantly watching and waiting (in readiness) for Him, verse 46 and they will be made rulers over all His goods, verse 47. But on the other hand, those in Israel who are not eagerly watching for His return, i.e., those who go about their business in drunken revelry while abusing people subservient to them, will be cast into hell verses 48 - 51. In his Gospel, Luke also records a similar parable to this one in Matthew but Jesus gave it at a different time in His ministry. In Luke's Gospel Jesus also spoke of readiness for the coming of the Son of Man, Luke 12:41 - 4841 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?

42 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?

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

44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.

45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

41 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?

42 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?

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

44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.

45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

. In Luke's account the words “faithful and wise” are used one time the same way Matthew does to describe this attribute of a servant under similar circumstances, Luke 12:4242 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?

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Constantly watching and waiting for the Son of Man's return is only one concept of what Jesus taught the Jews about being faithful. The word faithful is also found 4 more times later in Matthew's version of the Olivet Discourse where another concept is presented. In Matthew 25:14 - 3014 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

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.

22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

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.

24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

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.

22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

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.

24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Jesus tells of a man traveling to a far off country who entrusts a portion of his money to 3 servants. He leaves differing amounts with each according to their abilities: one is left with 5 units; another with 2 and a third is trusted with just 1 unit, verses 14 & 15. While the master is away the servant with 5 units trades them and makes another 5; the servant with 2 gains another 2; but the servant with 1 buries his to hide it, verses 16 - 18. After a long time the master returns and calls his servants to account for what they've done with what he left them. When the first one who was left with 5 brings him 10 the master approves, calls him good and faithful and states that since he had been faithful he will make him ruler over many things, while inviting him to enjoy the master's company. The master does the same for the servant who doubled the 2 units, verses 19 - 23.

The servant left with 1 unit told his master he knew he was: “an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed (dispersed, scattered or strewn,)” verse 24, and therefore hid his unit to save it for his master, verse 25. The master called this servant wicked and slothful (lazy) and states that if he (the servant) indeed believed him (the master) to be a man who reaps where he has not sown and gathers where he had not strewn, then he would have invested the unit with the money exchangers in order to have gained interest, verses 26 & 27. The master then orders the 1 unit be taken from this servant and given to the servant who had 10 and that he be cast into outer darkness (hell) where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth verses 28 - 30. What we have here is a master who is not a “hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed,” verse 24, but a servant who makes an excuse, claiming he believed his master was such, and giving this excuse as a reason for his wickedness and slothfulness. The master knew this man for what he was and what he did as well as for the lame excuse he gave, and judged him accordingly. There is also a passage in Luke where the word pistos/ faithful is used once by Jesus when He taught basically this same lesson at a time in His ministry previous to the Olivet Discourse, Luke 19:15 - 2815 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

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.

18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.

19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.

20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:

21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)

26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.

27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

28 And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.

15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

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.

18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.

19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.

20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:

21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)

26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.

27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

28 And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.

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In this study we examined the teaching of the word “pistos,” translated “faithful” used seven (7) times in four (4) passages in Matthew and Luke. In two passages the word is used once to indicate that the faithful and wise servant is one who is constantly waiting and watching for his master's return, Matthew 24:45 - 5145 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

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

47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

& Luke 12:41 - 48. Then, in two passages it is used five (5) times to indicate the faithful and wise servant is also one who is diligent to do something with that with which he is entrusted by his master, Matthew 25:14 - 30 & Luke 19:15 - 28. All four of these passages also teach that the servant who is not faithful faces eternal damnation in Hell.

We will continue with our study of this word in he Gospels in our next study.