Matthew 24:46 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.

NIV: It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.

NASB: Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.

CSB: Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes.

NLT: If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward.

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

NKJV: Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.

Jesus is presenting a brief parable to illustrate what it looks like to live in readiness for His return. He has described the owner of a large household who leaves a servant in charge of running things, including making sure that all the other servants are fed at the proper time (Matthew 24:45).

The question raised in the prior verse is about what the master of the house should expect from a good servant. The expected outcome, for the master, is to arrive unexpectedly only to find the servant doing his work well. Jesus says that servant will be "blessed." The following verses make clear that this blessing will take the form of increased responsibilities and rewards (Matthew 24:47).

Matthew 24:36–51 contains an explicit warning which has frequently been ignored by false teachers. Nobody will know the precise time of His return to earth. Only God the Father knows when it will happen. Everyone will be caught by surprise at the sudden appearance of those signs, just as the people swept away in Noah's flood. Jesus' followers must live in constant readiness for His return. He uses a parable to illustrate this, describing the choices of two servants while their master was away. One was faithful and wise, the other wicked. When the master returned, the faithful one was rewarded, and the wicked one was cut into pieces.

Jesus makes a dire prediction about the destruction of the temple. Immediately after this, while seated on the Mount of Olives, Jesus responds to a question from the disciples. They ask when judgment will come and what signs will signal His return. Christ describes a season of unimaginable world turmoil and persecution. He points to a specific moment of defilement of the temple, at which point people should run for their lives. Jesus speaks of world-threatening tribulation which will be cut short right before He returns as King and Judge. Since nobody can possibly know when He will return, His followers must live in readiness.

Jesus has just left the temple area, after delivering a blistering criticism of the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 23). After predicting that the temple would be destroyed, He answers their questions about the end times. He speaks of a period when He will be gone from earth and they will be persecuted and killed. The world will be in turmoil, but the gospel will be preached everywhere. Nobody knows exactly when Jesus' return will be completed, so his followers should constantly be prepared. Jesus continues to teach on these themes in the next chapter.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.

Accessed 5/8/2024 12:20:00 AM