The objective of this lesson: to emphasize that faithfulness and wisdom is a combination of knowing and doing, not just knowing.
Again, Jesus drew from the realities of the people's every day existence to teach us about our relationship with God. Remember the greater majority of the people lived in poverty. Remember slavery was a common reality in their world. Remember slavery was not limited to a class of people, a race of people, or a socioeconomic segment of society. In the realities of their world anyone could become a slave.
The intent of this parable is NOT to be an ethical discussion of a type of government or of the institution of slavery. It merely took the realities of their world and used them to teach a lesson about faithfulness and sensibility [wisdom]. If one pursues an ethical discussion of the rule of kings or the existence of slavery, he/she will miss the intended lesson of the parable.
Note the parable in Matthew 24 focused on the kind of slave one was, not on escaping slavery. The current reality is this: all humans are slaves. We serve the purposes and objectives of good [God] or of evil [Satan]. One or the other will be a person's master. The purpose and objective of our lives will be focused in one of those two directions.
The focus of the parable is on how even a slave can become trusted as one who is faithful and wise. Most if not all who heard Jesus teach existed to further the purposes of someone else. These people did not know what a democracy was. The point of the parable declared "even those who are slaves understand what is involved in being trustworthy."
The question: what slave was a sensible [wise] and faithful slave? There were all types of slaves. Some were concerned only about what they perceived to be their own interests. Some were evil, greedy, dishonest slaves. Some were slaves who manipulated and used others. Some were honest slaves. Some were slaves who understood their role was to serve, and they devoted themselves to service.
The issue was simple. Even in slavery, what path must a person follow to be recognized as a faithful and wise [dependable] person? 'If it is obvious in slavery, it certainly should be obvious to you.'
The relevant question: how can a slave become the kind of slave that the owner [master] will trust? Note as the owner's confidence in the slave increased, the slave's status and conditions improved. Note receiving more responsibility was a blessing.
The issue was trust. How can a person even in disadvantaged circumstances produce trustworthiness in his superior's eyes?
The core of the answer rested in the slave's understanding that he was a slave. He could resent his plight as a slave. He could be consumed with anger because he had been reduced to the existence of a slave. [In those societies, one could become a slave in numerous ways other than being born into slavery.] He could resent being used and trust no one. He could become extremely selfish and be concerned about only his interests--"do what you have to do, but always see yourself as your number one concern!"
Trustworthiness cannot be separated from "who you are." To generate a relationship of trustworthiness you must be a dependable, trustworthy person.
If the owner saw that a slave was faithful [committed to his owner and his owner's interests] and sensible [in contrast to reactionary], the owner increased his confidence in the slave. Every one knew there were worthwhile slaves and worthless slaves! The question was, "How do I become a worthwhile slave?" The answer declared, "You must give attention to the kind of person you are--be the kind of person who is deserving of trust!"
The basic issue with the slave's owner and with God are the same issue: will this slave be devoted to my interest? Does he serve self as number one, or will he serve me as number one?
What slave is an owner going to place in charge of caring for the owner's family? To what slave will the owner say, "I place you in charge." The owner will not place a dishonest slave, or a selfish slave, or a manipulative slave, or a lewd and drunken slave in this responsible position. Instead, the owner will place the slave the owner can trust to care for his interest in this responsible position.
The owner will place only one kind of slave in an important position: a responsible slave who can be trusted always to be a responsible slave. The owner was literally placing his future in the hands [the decisions] of a slave.
For what does the owner look to determine who is and who is not a responsible slave? He looks for a slave who thinks instead of reacting to the immediate circumstances. He looks for a slave whose actions reflect his thoughts. The slave understands what is in his owner's best interest, and the slave acts accordingly. He was as diligent in thinking and acting when his owner was 'out of sight' as when his owner was watching him. It was this slave who would be blessed with the responsibility of caring for the owner's possessions and family.
Stress the fact that the owner wanted a slave who would think rather than emotionally react. That was an uncertain world. Conditions could change quickly without advanced notice. The owner needed a slave in charge who would think rather than emotionally react to the moment.
The slave demonstrated the owner made a good choice when the owner placed the slave in charge. As a result, the owner's trust in the slave increased. As the owner's trust increased, the owner placed the slave in charge of more and more. As trust grew, the slave's responsibility increased. How much did the slave's responsibility increase? It increased to the point that the owner confidently placed the slave in charge of all his possessions.
When an owner chose to grant a slave a greater responsibility, the wise slave would want to demonstrate that the owner made a good choice.
The owner trusted the slave to seek the owner's best interest in all circumstances. The slave would not embezzle the owner. He would not steal from the owner. He would not 'bankrupt' the owner. He would not exploit the owner. Rather, in every situation he would serve the owner's true best interest.
If trust is to exist in a relationship with a superior, the superior must know he can depend on you to seek the superior's best interest.
In contrast an evil slave said to himself, "My owner is gone, and no one knows when he will be back. He will not return today! I will pretend I am the owner and do as I please! I will beat the slaves who serve the owner faithfully in his absence--they will have time to heal before he returns! Instead of working responsibly, I will feast with the lazy and get drunk with those who drink. Now is the time to enjoy myself. I will work when the master returns."
While the good slave focused his life and efforts on his owner's best interest, the evil slave sought to exploit the owner's trust and resources for his own pleasure.
The owner returned on an unexpected day at an unexpected time. That was no problem for a faithful, sensible slave who served the owner as devoutly in his absence as in his presence. That was disaster for an evil slave who 'conned' his way into the owner's trust. The owner found his affairs neglected and his work undone! The bruises had not healed! The evil slave's companions condemned his behavior!
The unexpected return would be no problem for the slave constantly focused on his owner's best interest, but it would be disaster for the evil slave who neglected and abused the trust given him. The owner would immediately and clearly see the evil slave for what he was, and the owner immediately would realize what a mistake he made by giving trust to the evil slave.
The owner was distraught by the evil slave. What a mistake he made in trusting the evil slave! The evil slave would endure the consequence of his behavior! He would be severely beaten, be condemned to associate with pretenders who could never be trusted, and endure a suffering that produced endless grief.
Note three things. (1) Responsibility is presented as a blessing. (2) Faithfulness and wisdom is associated with knowing who you are as the slave of another. (3) Wisdom is the product of knowing and doing, not just of knowing (Matthew 7:24-27).
American Christians often regard it strange to view responsibility as a blessing. In this society's pursuit of pleasure, pleasure is often viewed as freedom from responsibility.
For Thought and Discussion
Students are encouraged to remember the realities of the first century world. These must be remembered (1) to keep us from pursuing ethical concerns of the 21st century and (2) to recognize Jesus' lesson in the parable.
It is focused on how to become faithful and wise even in slavery. Both bad [selfish, greedy, dishonest, or manipulative] and good [honest, devoted to serving, or seeking the owner's best interest] slaves existed.
The basic question is what slave is faithful and sensible [wise].
At the core of the answer lies the issue of what kind of person you choose to be.
He would choose a responsible slave that was dependable. He would choose a slave who thought about circumstances rather than emotionally reacting to circumstances.
The slave would seek to demonstrate the master made a good choice when the owner chose to trust him by giving him greater responsibility.
The evil slave would think irresponsibly: "My owner has gone who knows where. He certainly will not be back today!" In that conviction, he spent his day eating and drinking. The bad consequences occurred when the owner returned at an unexpected day and time, caught the evil slave being disloyal and irresponsible, had him beaten, made him associate exclusively with people who could not be trusted, and had him endure great grief [the grief caused by suffering].
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 4