Question 2
What is the relationship between Master and steward/servant/slave?
All good job descriptions explain the relationship between supervisor (you know who) and subordinate (you know who). Most secular job descriptions simply identify where, in the organization chart, these two individuals are located. I do recall one time many years ago, however, a particularly difficult person who reported to me asking if I didn’t want to be her friend but it’s unusual for secular job descriptions to describe supervisor/subordinate relationships in greater detail than organization chart placement.
Not so of our job manual. The Bible has quite a bit to say about the relationship between supervisor (Lord/Master/God) and subordinate (steward/slave/servant/us).
If you noticed that the definitions you found last week sound quite a bit alike, I think so too. And, as I read the “Manual”, it seems to me that the three terms are often used interchangeably. I have tried to choose passages (below) that explain the relationship between Master and steward/servant/slave which provide examples of each.
Luke 12:42 ___________________________________________________________
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Gen 43:16 ____________________________________________________________
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Luke 16:1-2 ___________________________________________________________
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Luke 16:8 ____________________________________________________________
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1 Cor 9:17 ____________________________________________________________
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1 Peter 2:18 ___________________________________________________________
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Rom 14:3-4 ___________________________________________________________
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John 12:26 ____________________________________________________________
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John 2:5 ______________________________________________________________
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Luke 7:2-7 ____________________________________________________________
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Matt 10:24 ____________________________________________________________
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Luke 12:42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time? NAS
Gen 43:16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to his house steward, “Bring the men into the house, and slay an animal and make ready; for the men are to dine with me at noon.” NAS
Luke 16:1-2 Now He was also saying to the disciples, “There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and this steward was reported to him as squandering his possessions. 2 “And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’ NAS
Luke 16:8 “And his master praised the unrighteous steward because he had acted shrewdly; for the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light. NAS
1 Cor 9:17 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me. NAS
1 Peter 2:18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. NAS
Rom 14:3-4 Let not him who eats regard with contempt him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and stand he will, for the Lord is able to make him stand. NAS
John 12:26 “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall My servant also be; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. NAS
John 2:5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” NAS
Luke 7:2-7 And a certain centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die. 3 And when he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders asking Him to come and save the life of his slave. 4 And when they had come to Jesus, they earnestly entreated Him, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this to him; 5 for he loves our nation, and it was he who built us our synagogue. ” 6 Now Jesus started on His way with them; and when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof; 7 for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. NAS
Matt 10:24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. NAS
Luke 17:9 “He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he? NAS
Col 3:22 Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. NAS
1 Tim 6:1 Let all who are under the yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine may not be spoken against.NAS
Luke 16:13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” NAS
Ps 8:4-5 What is man, that Thou dost take thought of him? And the son of man, that Thou dost care for him? 5 Yet Thou hast made him a little lower than God, And dost crown him with glory and majesty! NAS
Mark 12:9 “What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vine-growers, and will give the vineyard to others. NAS