The Parable of the Faithful Servant (or Parable of the Door Keeper) is a parable of Jesus found in Matthew 24:42-51,

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13:34-37, and Luke 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,
The Gospel of Luke
', Eerdmans, 1997, , pp. 497-501. The reference to a

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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 writes that this parable "emphasizes that privilege brings responsibility and that responsibility entails accountability." J. Dwight Pentecost,
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,
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''.
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References

{{Jesus footer Faithful Servant, Parable of the

Narrative

Interpretation

Hymns

See also

References