“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?"1
After saying this, Jesus tells several parables, that are related to being good servants. On the third time Jesus revealed himself to the disciples after he was raised from the dead, He asks Peter three times if he loves Him, and after each respectively He says, feed my lambs, shepherd my sheep, feed my sheep. If we look at the different words used by Jesus, we see words which imply growth from a lamb to a sheep. We associate loving Christ with feeding the flock of God, lambs and sheep. We see the will of the Father in that a Good Shepherd would give his life for the sheep, and would leave the ninety nine to rescue the one lost. We see the lost lamb, and how the Kingdom of God is receiving these little children. Also he sanctified himself and prayed for the lost lambs now found to be sanctified in truth, to become sheep. We can equate a good servant with loving Christ, and as one He has "set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time." We also see in the parables, he is a servant of all, receives little lambs, and he is watchful, faithful, and loving of the flock.
"Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes."2
The wicked servant says, "My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants..."3 So equivalent he beats the lambs and sheep, that he has been appointed to love, this is the one who would "lord" over the flock, and who is not a servant of all, but all are there to serve him. Now, it is difficult for me to believe that one would loose their salvation but here we see strong words by Christ, "and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."3 One who would cause His little children, these lambs to stumble, it would be better they were cast into the sea. We see here this is an evil servant and elsewhere in scriptures "cast into the sea" is equated to "forgetting," so would God forget such a servant? Pretty strong words nevertheless. A good servant does the will of God, feeding the sheep, caring for the flock, watchful as if Christ is to return, today.
"Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."4
Here the bridegroom comes at midnight but some are not prepared for the long wait before his arrival. "Burning the midnight oil" refers to the idea of being a watchful servant, and of enduring to the end receiving a crown of life, again we see strong words regarding one who turns back, as being unworthy servants. Previously we see the evil servant beats the flock and has become like a drunkard, not sober and watchful. The symbolism we see elsewhere of drunkenness, is leaders who slumber in vision. Here they are not prepared for the wait and when they are awakened from their slumber they have no oil. They have become dull in heart, no longer does a light shine, the salt no longer has flavor, and what good is salt without flavor? It is to be cast out, Jesus said. What good is a tree that bears no fruit? Jesus cursed the fig tree, the kingdom would be taken from them and given to another that would bear fruit.
"For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."5
This verse is in context with the parable of the talents. Some equate this to being good stewards of money, while that is a good thing, faith is more important. Jesus said to the Pharisees, "you ignore the more important aspects of the law--justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things."12 So I will equate these parables with faith, as it is most important. We must have faith to increase faith, faith is given as a measure, Jesus the author and perfecter, thus it must be strengthened as Abraham was in faith, so that it was fully convincing. A fully convincing faith in our hearts comes out in confessing truth and such moves mountains. An element of faith is trust, and how important it is that we trust in God for all our needs and prove to others that we are faithful servants of Christ, not lording over the flock, demanding obedience, but proving we are trustworthy servants.
"His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master."8
Being a good servant can be equated to shepherding the flock, which is equated to feeding the sheep which can be equated to building faith, a purpose of the Church Paul writes, building up in faith by love. Jesus said, "Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you."5 When we put first His Kingdom, all these things will be added. Many seek earthly food, but Jesus said labor for the more important food that endures to life. "Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy?"9 So we see the evil servants causes the lambs to stumble, they destroy trust, thus they are caused to stumble in faith. Paul writes nothing else matters only "faith working by love." Without faith it is impossible to please Him, and without deeds of Love, our faith is nothing.
"Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a guest and you took Me in..."11
The spiritual blessings are the true riches in Christ; the forgiveness of sin, righteousness, inheritance... When I was a lamb did you feed me? did you watch over me or throw me to the ravenous wolf to protect yourself? when I was lost did you leave the others to find me? when I was hungry, searching for food, did you prove faithful, trustworthy to lead me to food that endures? and when I was weary and thirsty for living water did you lead me to the one who gives rest and life? When I was a guest, seeking, did you take me in? did you look upon me in my captivity? in my alcoholism, my drug and sexual addiction? And when I was weak, in a ditch, did you lift me up, give me rest, food, and shelter? "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me."12
Even If
"Do you love me? Feed my sheep."
After saying this, Jesus tells several parables, that are related to being good servants. On the third time Jesus revealed himself to the disciples after he was raised from the dead, He asks Peter three times if he loves Him, and after each respectively He says, feed my lambs, shepherd my sheep, feed my sheep. If we look at the different words used by Jesus, we see words which imply growth from a lamb to a sheep. We associate loving Christ with feeding the flock of God, lambs and sheep. We see the will of the Father in that a Good Shepherd would give his life for the sheep, and would leave the ninety nine to rescue the one lost. We see the lost lamb, and how the Kingdom of God is receiving these little children. Also he sanctified himself and prayed for the lost lambs now found to be sanctified in truth, to become sheep. We can equate a good servant with loving Christ, and as one He has "set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time." We also see in the parables, he is a servant of all, receives little lambs, and he is watchful, faithful, and loving of the flock.
"Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes."2
The wicked servant says, "My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants..."3 So equivalent he beats the lambs and sheep, that he has been appointed to love, this is the one who would "lord" over the flock, and who is not a servant of all, but all are there to serve him. Now, it is difficult for me to believe that one would loose their salvation but here we see strong words by Christ, "and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."3 One who would cause His little children, these lambs to stumble, it would be better they were cast into the sea. We see here this is an evil servant and elsewhere in scriptures "cast into the sea" is equated to "forgetting," so would God forget such a servant? Pretty strong words nevertheless. A good servant does the will of God, feeding the sheep, caring for the flock, watchful as if Christ is to return, today.
"Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."4
Here the bridegroom comes at midnight but some are not prepared for the long wait before his arrival. "Burning the midnight oil" refers to the idea of being a watchful servant, and of enduring to the end receiving a crown of life, again we see strong words regarding one who turns back, as being unworthy servants. Previously we see the evil servant beats the flock and has become like a drunkard, not sober and watchful. The symbolism we see elsewhere of drunkenness, is leaders who slumber in vision. Here they are not prepared for the wait and when they are awakened from their slumber they have no oil. They have become dull in heart, no longer does a light shine, the salt no longer has flavor, and what good is salt without flavor? It is to be cast out, Jesus said. What good is a tree that bears no fruit? Jesus cursed the fig tree, the kingdom would be taken from them and given to another that would bear fruit.
"For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."5
This verse is in context with the parable of the talents. Some equate this to being good stewards of money, while that is a good thing, faith is more important. Jesus said to the Pharisees, "you ignore the more important aspects of the law--justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things."12 So I will equate these parables with faith, as it is most important. We must have faith to increase faith, faith is given as a measure, Jesus the author and perfecter, thus it must be strengthened as Abraham was in faith, so that it was fully convincing. A fully convincing faith in our hearts comes out in confessing truth and such moves mountains. An element of faith is trust, and how important it is that we trust in God for all our needs and prove to others that we are faithful servants of Christ, not lording over the flock, demanding obedience, but proving we are trustworthy servants.
"His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master."8
Being a good servant can be equated to shepherding the flock, which is equated to feeding the sheep which can be equated to building faith, a purpose of the Church Paul writes, building up in faith by love. Jesus said, "Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you."5 When we put first His Kingdom, all these things will be added. Many seek earthly food, but Jesus said labor for the more important food that endures to life. "Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy?"9 So we see the evil servants causes the lambs to stumble, they destroy trust, thus they are caused to stumble in faith. Paul writes nothing else matters only "faith working by love." Without faith it is impossible to please Him, and without deeds of Love, our faith is nothing.
"Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a guest and you took Me in..."11
The spiritual blessings are the true riches in Christ; the forgiveness of sin, righteousness, inheritance... When I was a lamb did you feed me? did you watch over me or throw me to the ravenous wolf to protect yourself? when I was lost did you leave the others to find me? when I was hungry, searching for food, did you prove faithful, trustworthy to lead me to food that endures? and when I was weary and thirsty for living water did you lead me to the one who gives rest and life? When I was a guest, seeking, did you take me in? did you look upon me in my captivity? in my alcoholism, my drug and sexual addiction? And when I was weak, in a ditch, did you lift me up, give me rest, food, and shelter? "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me."12
Even If
"Do you love me? Feed my sheep."