The faithful steward

Watchfulness. Stripes. Division. Make peace betimes.

(The Gospel History, Section 100)

And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall set over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will set him over all that he hath. But if that servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not, and in an hour when he knoweth not, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the unfaithful. And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes: but he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more.

Commentary by J. R. Dummelow

Lk 12:42–46 > Mt 24: 45. A faithful and wise servant (RM ‘bond-servant’)] though referring primarily to the Apostles and ministers of the Church, may be extended to all who have the care of the souls of others, or exercise spiritual influence over others (the ‘household’). 46. When he cometh] viz. at the Second Advent, or at the servant’s death. 47. Make him ruler] RV ‘set him over all that he hath,’ i.e. make him great in the future Kingdom of Heaven, and sharer of His own throne. Our Lord implies that in heaven there will be various degrees of authority: cp. Lk 19:11–27. 49. To smite] a metaphor for the abuse of authority: cp. Ac 20:29 1 Pet 5:3.

Lk 12:47, 48. (Peculiar to Lk.) Christ here seems to assert (cp. 10:12, 14) that there will be degrees of future punishment.

Lk 12:48. He that knew not] ‘The reference is to the future pastors of the Church. “He that knew not,” will still be punished, for he could have known; but not punished so much as the other, for the other was presumptuous, but this one was slothful; and presumption is a greater sin than sloth’ (Euthymius). They will ask the more] Christ through His angels will demand ‘His own with usury,’ i.e. will demand that the talents entrusted to each man shall have been improved, and turned to good use. In the case of the Apostles He will demand what souls they have gained besides their own.

The faithful steward

(The Saviour of the World, Vol VI Book IV Poem LII)

The Lord:—

“Aye, ye be stewards set to deal out meat
With liberal hand and just—that all may eat—
To your Lord’s servants; stores have ye to spare
That every labouring hind may get his share;
But wise and faithful shall My steward be,
Not scattering rashly for mere revelry,
But watchful that who eats shall labour, too,
That every man shall his own task pursue,
Fed on that meat, shall for his part sustain—
Be his to toil in work or bear in pain.

“Not for reward he labours, but not slow
His Master, ample bounty to bestow
That day he comes, unlook’d for: he who spent
With liberal hand those goods his Master lent,
Behold, the whole of heaven’s unbounded store
Is placed at his disposal; would he more?
Of all the treasures of the potent Word
Is he made steward by his generous Lord;
All ministries of joy and love and peace,
Longsuffering and kindness, soul’s release
From sin’s sore burthen,—all are in his hand
Who shews him faithful to his Lord’s command;
His life, a spring of health and healing, flows,
And blessings mark the path by which he goes.

“But doth My steward lose his faith and cry,
‘My Lord delays His coming, what know I?’
And, for he doubts his Master, dare assume
Unrighteous lordship, aye, and doth presume
To lay commands he never heard of Me,
And busy him in envious rivalry,
Forgetting Me to seek for place and power,
Lordly and arrogant,—lo, in an hour
When he’s at ease nor thinks at all of Me
I come and summon him.

Nor can he see

When judgment overtakes him all he wrought
Nor all the ill his treachery hath brought;
He’s torn asunder with divided heart,
And with the unbelieving finds his part!”

St. Luke xii. 42–48.

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