The Faithful Servant

*Bible verses from the KJV and AMP version.
*Verse by Verse Commentary from Adam Clark, Matthew Henry, Charles Spurgeon and John Gill.
*Matthew 24:45-51/Luke 12:42–48

L12:42 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?

The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward [of the estate], whom his master will put in charge over his household, to give his servants their portion of food at the proper time?
whom his Lord shall make ruler over his household: Christ's "household", or family, is His church, over which the ministers of the Gospel are appointed "rulers", to govern the house according to the laws of Christ, and keep every thing in good decorum and order; 
to give them their portion of meat in due season: they are faithful who give out the whole portion allotted, without adulterating it, or keeping back any part of it; and they are wise, who deliver it to them in proper time and season.

L12:43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) is that servant whom his master finds so doing when he arrives.

What would be their happiness if they approved themselves faithful and wise: Blessed is that servant, 

(1.) That is doing, and is not idle, nor indulgent of his ease; even the rulers of the household must be doing, and make themselves servants of all. 

(2.) That is so doing, doing as he should be, giving them their portion of meat, by public preaching and personal application. 

(3.) That is found so doing when his Lord comes; that perseveres to the end, notwithstanding the difficulties he may meet with in the way.

M24:47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
I assure you and most solemnly say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

Just as Pharaoh made Joseph ruler over all Egypt, so, when men have done well in the ministry of Christ, He will promote them, and they shall do still more for Him.

L12:45 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;
But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is taking his time in coming,’ and begins to beat the servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk...

But and if that servant say in his heart,.... Not the same servant before spoken of as a wise and faithful steward, that gives to all in the family the portion of meat in due season, and shall be found doing, and be made ruler over his master's goods but another, who also, as he, is made by his Lord ruler over his household, and is in a like post, and in the same office, but is an evil servant.
and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens; to persecute the ministers of the Gospel, and the true disciples of Christ,
and to eat, and drink, and to be drunken: to live a voluptuous and sensual life, to give himself up to intemperance and debauchery.

L12:46 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.
the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

The Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him,.... For, not coming as was expected, he gives over looking, and concludes he will not come at all; in which he will find himself mistaken, for he will come in the very day which is appointed, though men know not of it, and do not look for it:
The worst portion that any man can get is with the unbelievers.

L12:47 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.
And that servant who knew his master’s will, and yet did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will be beaten with many lashes [of the whip],

And that servant which knew his Lord's will,.... Not his secret, but his revealed will; the will of God, which lies in the declarations of the Gospel, and in the commands and ordinances expressed in His word;

Christ here distinguishes between wicked servants, some being knowing, and others ignorant; and accordingly the aggravations of their guilt are more or less. So that there are different measures of responsibility; there are degrees in guilt, and degrees in punishment.

L12:48 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.
but the one who did not know it and did things worthy of a beating, will receive only a few [lashes]. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.
So that there are different measures of responsibility; there are degrees in guilt, and degrees in punishment.

"The unfaithful steward had solemn responsibilities entrusted to him; before the world be appeared as a servant of Christ, but O, how deplorable for himself, and for all connected with him, he is an evil servant! 

He is imperiling his Lord’s goods. 

He is teaching souls to trample upon the holy law of God. 

He calls Christ, My Lord. 

But he says, “My Lord delayeth his coming.” 

He does not say that Christ will not come; 

he does not scoff at the idea of His second coming; 

but he tells the people that his coming is delayed. 

He is removing from the minds of others the conviction that the Lord is coming quickly. 

His influence leads men to presumptuous, careless delay. 

Thus they are off their watch and they echo the words of the unfaithful watcher; still others catch them up, and the evil spirit, and men are confirmed in their worldliness and stupor. 

Their course is downward, not upward; they are not looking for and hasting unto the day of God. 

Earthly passions, corrupt thoughts, take possession of the mind."

Special Testimonies (E.G.W.)