Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 24:45

"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath set over his household, to give them their food in due season?" — Matthew 24:45 (ASV)

Verses 45–51. This passage is, in fact, a parable, though it is not expressly called so. The design is to show that his disciples should act as if they were expecting his return every moment. He illustrates this by the conduct of a servant who did not expect his master to return soon, who acted with great impropriety, and who was accordingly punished.

Who then is a faithful and wise servant, etc. By the conduct of a faithful and wise servant, he intends to denote a faithful Christian, a servant of God, or a teacher of religion.

Whom his lord. His master. This phrase does not refer to God here; it means the lord or master of the servant. Applied to Christian teachers, in the spiritual meaning of the parable, it refers to Christ, who has appointed them as teachers and who is their Lord and Master (John 13:13–14).

Over his household. His family. Christian ministers are the servants of God appointed over the church, the family of Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:12–13; 1 Corinthians 3:5; 1 Corinthians 4:1–2; 1 Corinthians 12:28).

Meat in due season. The word meat here means food of all kinds. When the Bible was translated into English, it included, as the original Greek does, all kinds of provisions necessary to support and nourish life.

In due season. This means at the proper time; as they need it, or at the accustomed times. This was the office of a steward.

Among the ancients, this office was often filled by a slave—one who had shown himself trustworthy and faithful. The duty was to have general oversight of the affairs of the family.

Applied to Christian ministers, this means that they are to feed the flock of God, to minister to their needs, and to do it as they need it (John 21:15–17; Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 4:1–2).