Will the Lord say, Well done, good and faithful servant (or slave)? Let’s see if we can find the truth about it in the Bible!

Created: Monday, March 4, 2024

The Truth About ‘Well Done Good and Faithful Servant’

STM Bible Snack

Matthew 25:20-21 [read Matthew 25:14-30 (20-21)]: The servant who had been given 5,000 coins brought them in with the 5,000 that he had earned. He said, “Sir, you gave me 5,000 coins, and I have earned 5,000 more.” 21 “Wonderful!” his master replied.
“You are a good and faithful servant. I left you in charge of only a little, but now I will put you in charge of much more. Come and share in my happiness!” (CEV); KJV: And so he that had received five talents^G5007 came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him,
Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Talanton – talents: G5007 τάλαντον talanton (ta’-lan-ton) n. AMP note: A talent was a measurement of weight, usually 58-80 pounds. One talent of silver was worth more than 15 (NIV’s vs 15 footnote: 20 years) years’ wages.

The master praised the two (of three) servants for doubling the silver [or gold].

The parable of the pounds (minas)

Every servant was given one pound. Profitable servants who proved their skills were often rewarded by rulers.
Luke 19:16-17 [read Luke 19:11-27 (16-17)]: So the first one came before him and said, ‘Sir, your mina has made ten minas more.’ 17 And the king said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you will have authority over ten cities.’ (NET); KJV: Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound^G3414 hath gained ten pounds. 17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
Mnah – minas; pound: G3414 μνᾶ mna (mna’) n. mnah; of Latin origin; a mna (i.e. mina), a certain weight:—pound. In the NT, a weight and sum of money equal to 100 drachmae, one talent was 100 pounds, a pound equalled 10 1/3 oz. (300 gm). NET Note #37: A mina was a Greek monetary unit worth 100 denarii or about four months’ wages for an average worker based on a six-day work week.

The Parable of the Talents (talanton)

Intelligent people will learn from proverbs and parables. They listen well because they want to learn. Ecclesiasticus 3:29 (GNT)
Let’s see if this parable tells us that the Lord will say, ‘well done, good and faithful servant!’

Oxford Languages Dictionary: A parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels.
Matthew 25:14 [read Matthew 25:14-30 (14)]: Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. (NIV); KJV: For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
Why did they remove the phrase, “For the kingdom of heaven”?: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible: The words “the kingdom, of heaven” are not in the original, but are very properly inserted by the translators.; When the owner (master or lord; not God) returns, they have to show their progress with what he gave them. Each needs to make the most of them.

Do what you can with what you have

Nobody is expected to go above and beyond what they are capable of. Their assignment was based on their ability. The owner only expected them to do what they could with what they had.
Matthew 25:15 [read Matthew 25:14-30 (15)]: He gave to each one according to his ability: to one he gave five thousand gold coins, to another he gave two thousand, and to another he gave one thousand. Then he left on his trip. (GNT); KJV: And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

No effort, no reward, or praise

Matthew 25:24-25 [read Matthew 25:14-30 (24-25)]: The man who had received one talent also approached and said, ‘Master, I know you. You’re a harsh man, reaping where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ (CSB); KJV: Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

Well Done, Good and Faithful Slave!

Matthew 25:23 [read Matthew 25:14-30 (23)]: His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy!’ (HCSB); KJV: His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Be good stewards

1 Peter 4:10 [read 1 Peter 4:7-11 (10)]: Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others. Be good servants [stewards; managers] of God’s various gifts of grace [Romans 5:15–16; 6:23]. (EXB); KJV: As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

This was a brief review of the parable concerning the phrase “Well done, good and faithful servant (or slave).” So did you come away with the idea that the Lord will say this on the day of judgment? Please share your thoughts on “The Truth About ‘Well Done Good and Faithful Servant’.” Thank you for taking the time to read this Bible snack. I urge you to make full use of it. Blessings to you and your loved ones—♥ Tim. ☺