Thematic Bible: Servant


Thematic Bible




Which is the greater--the master at the table or his servant? Is not it the master at the table? Yet I myself am among you as one who serves. Verse ConceptsTablesJesus Christ, Meekness OfChrist, Character OfHumility Of ChristReclining To EatServing PeopleServing

Rose from his place, and, taking off his upper garments, tied a towel round his waist. He then poured some water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel which was tied round him.



'Do not harm the earth, or the sea, or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads.' Verse ConceptsForeheadsRestraintDivine Protection, Examples OfHarming TreesSlaves Of GodhurtingChristians Are Called Servants Of God





Who, then is that trustworthy, careful servant, who has been placed by his master over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Happy will that servant be whom his master, when he comes home, shall find doing this. I tell you that his master will put him in charge of the whole of his property. read more.
But, should he be a bad servant, and say to himself 'My master is a long time in coming,' And begin to beat his fellow-servants, and eat and drink with drunkards, That servant's master will come on a day when he does not expect him, and at an hour of which he is unaware, And will flog him severely, and assign him his place among the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.




Make yourselves ready, with your lamps alight; And be like men who are waiting for their Master's return from his wedding, so that, when he comes and knocks, they may open the door for him at once. Happy are those servants whom, on his return, the Master will find watching. I tell you that he will make himself ready, and bid them take their places at table, and will come and wait upon them. read more.
Whether it is late at night, or in the early morning that he comes, if he finds all as it should be, then happy are they. This you do know, that, had the owner of the house known at what time the thief was coming, he would have been on the watch, and would not have let his house be broken into. Do you also prepare, for when you are least expecting him the Son of Man will come." "Master," said Peter, "are you telling this parable with reference to us or to every one?" "Who, then," replied the Master, "is that trustworthy steward, the careful man, who will be placed by his master over his establishment, to give them their rations at the proper time? Happy will that servant be whom his master, when he comes home, shall find doing this. His master, I tell you, will put him in charge of the whole of his property. But should that servant say to himself 'My master is a long time coming,' and begin to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, That servant's master will come on a day when he does not expect him, and at an hour of which he is unaware, and will flog him severely and assign him his place among the untrustworthy. The servant who knows his master's wishes and yet does not prepare and act accordingly will receive many lashes; while one who does not know his master's wishes, but acts so as to deserve a flogging, will receive but few. From every one to whom much has been given much will be expected, and from the man to whom much has been entrusted the more will be demanded.

Show 4 more verses
Which of you, if he had a servant ploughing, or tending the sheep, would say to him, when he came in from the fields, 'Come at once and take your place at table,' Instead of saying 'Prepare my dinner, and then make yourself ready and wait on me while I am eating and drinking, and after that you shall eat and drink yourself'? Does he feel grateful to his servant for doing what he is told?

And you find out the Truth, and the Truth will set you free." "We are descendants of Abraham," was their answer, "and have never yet been in slavery to any one. What do you mean by saying 'you will be set free'?" "In truth I tell you," replied Jesus, "every one who sins is a slave to sin. read more.
And a slave does not remain in the home always; but a son remains always.

Surely you know that, when you offer yourselves as servants, to obey any one, you are the servants of the person whom you obey, whether the service be that of Sin which leads to Death, or that of Duty which leads to Righteousness. God be thanked that, though you were once servants of Sin, yet you learned to give hearty obedience to that form of doctrine under which you were placed. Set free from the control of Sin, you became servants to Righteousness. read more.
I can but speak as men do because of the weakness of your earthly nature. Once you offered every part of your bodies to the service of impurity, and of wickedness, which leads to further wickedness. Now, in the same way, offer them to the service of Righteousness, which leads to holiness. While you were still servants of Sin, you were free as regards Righteousness. But what were the fruits that you reaped from those things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of such things is Death. But now that you have been set free from the control of Sin, and have become servants to God, the fruit that you reap is an ever-increasing holiness, and the end Immortal Life.

Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let that trouble you. No, even if you are able to gain your freedom, still do your best. For the man who was a slave when he was called to the master's service is the Master's freed-man; so, too, the man who was free when called is Christ's slave. You were bought, and the price was paid. Do not let yourselves become slaves to men.


The words of Scripture are-- 'Thou shalt not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain.' and again-- 'The worker is worth his wages.' Verse ConceptsEmploymentMastersMinistry, In The ChurchThreshingWord Of GodMuzzlingOxenBinding As AnimalsScripture SaysSpecial RevelationRewardWorth





Remain at that same house, and eat and drink whatever they offer you; for the worker is worth his wages. Do not keep changing from one house to another. Verse ConceptsDiligence, Rewards OfGuestsHelpfulnessMastersMinistry, In The ChurchServants, Working Conditions OfValuesWagesEmployeesSocial FellowshipMotionlessnessStaying PutPeople EatingSpecial RevelationMoving To A New Place

Now wages are regarded as due to the man who works, not as a favor, but as a debt; Verse ConceptsReward, HumanServants, Working Conditions OfOne's DeedsRighteousness imputedDebtWorking For GodWork Ethicworking



Show 2 more verses

Do not provide yourselves with gold, or silver, or pence in your purses; Not even with a bag for the journey, or a change of clothes, or sandals, or even a staff; for the worker is worth his food.

nor their cinnamon, or spice, or incense, or perfumes. or frankincense, or wine, or oil, or fine flour, or wheat, or cattle, or sheep; nor their horses, or chariots, or slaves; nor the bodies and souls of men. Verse ConceptsBabylonFrankincensePerfumeSpirit, Nature OfTradeCinnamonCommerceProviding WineProvision Of OilGroups Of Slaves


































nor their cinnamon, or spice, or incense, or perfumes. or frankincense, or wine, or oil, or fine flour, or wheat, or cattle, or sheep; nor their horses, or chariots, or slaves; nor the bodies and souls of men. Verse ConceptsBabylonFrankincensePerfumeSpirit, Nature OfTradeCinnamonCommerceProviding WineProvision Of OilGroups Of Slaves



for the immoral, for people guilty of sodomy, for slave-dealers, for liars, for perjurers, and for whatever else is opposed to sound Christian teaching-- Verse ConceptsTradeSound DoctrineThe End Of LiarsDefilementgaysSexual ImmoralityBeing GayGay MarriageSame Sex MarriageSexual Purity




Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let that trouble you. No, even if you are able to gain your freedom, still do your best. For the man who was a slave when he was called to the master's service is the Master's freed-man; so, too, the man who was free when called is Christ's slave.











Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let that trouble you. No, even if you are able to gain your freedom, still do your best. Verse ConceptsCivil LibertySlavesConsider Your Call To SalvationPeople Freeing SlavesOpportunityReligious FreedomslaveryFreedomPositive ThinkingBeing ContentMoralityfree
















And delivered him out of all his troubles, and enabled him to win favor and show wisdom before Pharaoh, King of Egypt, who appointed him Governor of Egypt and of his whole household. Verse ConceptsGiving, Of TalentsDiscernment Of GovernorsRescueRulersWisdom, Human ImportanceGod Gives WisdomAfflictions


I have seen the oppression of my people who are in Egypt, and heard their groans, and I have come down to deliver them. Come now and I will send you into Egypt.' Verse ConceptsAnswered PrayerOppression, God's Attitude ToRescueAnswered PromisesGod Seeing Their AfflictionGod Saving From EnemiesOppressorsGod Sending His SonGod Sending Prophets


This king acted deceitfully towards our race and ill-treated our ancestors, making them abandon their own infants, so that they should not be reared. Verse ConceptsSanctity Of LifeInfanticideOppressorsKilling Sons And DaughtersThe Death Of Babies

The man who had received the six hundred pounds came up, too, and said 'Sir, I knew that you were a hard man; you reap where you have not sown, and gather up where you have not winnowed; And, in my fear, I went and hid your money in the ground; look, here is what belongs to you!' 'You lazy, worthless servant!' was his master's reply. 'You knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather up where I have not winnowed? read more.
Then you ought to have placed my money in the hands of bankers, and I, on my return, should have received my money, with interest. 'Therefore,' he continued, 'take away from him the six hundred pounds, and give it to the one who has the six thousand. For, to him who has, more will be given, and he shall have abundance; but, as for him who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away from him. As for the useless servant, 'put him out into the darkness' outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.'

Another servant also came and said 'Sir, here are your ten pounds; I have kept them put away in a handkerchief. For I was afraid of you, because you are a stern man. You take what you have not planted, and reap what you have not sown.' The master answered 'Out of your own mouth I judge you, you worthless servant. You knew that I am a stern man, that I take what I have not planted, and reap what I have not sown? read more.
Then why did not you put my money into a bank? And I, on my return, could have claimed it with interest. Take away from him the ten pounds,' he said to those standing by, 'and give them to the one who has the hundred.' 'But, Sir,' they interposed, 'he has a hundred pounds already!' 'I tell you,' he answered, 'that, to him who has, more will be given, but, from him who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.

For it is as though a man, going on his travels, called his servants, and gave his property into their charge. He gave three thousand pounds to one, twelve hundred to another, and six hundred to a third, in proportion to the ability of each. Then he set out on his travels. The man who had received the three thousand pounds went at once and traded with it, and made another three thousand. read more.
So, too, the man who had received the twelve hundred pounds made another twelve hundred. But the man who had received the six hundred went and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money. After a long time the master of those servants returned, and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the three thousand pounds came up and brought three thousand more. 'Sir,' he said, 'you entrusted me with three thousand pounds; look, I have made another three thousand!' 'Well done, good, trustworthy servant!' said his master. 'You have been trustworthy with a small sum; now I will place a large one in your hands; come and share your master's joy!' Then the one who had received the twelve hundred pounds came up and said 'Sir, you entrusted me with twelve hundred pounds; look, I have made another twelve hundred!' 'Well done, good, trustworthy servant!' said his master. 'You have been trustworthy with a small sum; now I will place a large one in your hands; come and share your master's joy!'

He said: "A nobleman once went to a distant country to receive his appointment to a Kingdom and then return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds each, and told them to trade with them during his absence. But his subjects hated him and sent envoys after him to say 'We will not have this man as our King.' read more.
On his return, after having been appointed King, he directed that the servants to whom he had given his money should be summoned, so that he might learn what amount of trade they had done. The first came up, and said 'Sir, your ten pounds have made a hundred.' 'Well done, good servant!' exclaimed the master. 'As you have proved trustworthy in a very small matter, I appoint you governor over ten towns.' When the second came, he said 'Your ten pounds, Sir, have produced fifty.' So the master said to him 'And you I appoint over five towns.'




Listen to another parable. A man, who was an employer, once planted a vineyard, put a fence round it, dug a winepress in it, built a tower, and then let it out to tenants and went abroad. When the time for the vintage drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to receive his share of the produce. But the tenants seized his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. read more.
A second time the owner sent some servants, a larger number than before, and the tenants treated them in the same way. As a last resource he sent his son to them. 'They will respect my son,' he said. But the tenants, on seeing his son, said to each other 'Here is the heir! Come, let us kill him, and get his inheritance.' So they seized him, and threw him outside the vineyard, and killed him. Now, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" "Miserable wretches!" they exclaimed, "he will put them to a miserable death, and he will let out the vineyard to other tenants, who will pay him his share of the produce at the proper times."

And Jesus began to speak to them in parables: "A man once planted a vineyard, put a fence round it, dug a wine-press, built a tower, and then let it out to tenants and went abroad. At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants, to receive from them a share of the produce of the vintage; But they seized him, and beat him, and sent him away empty- handed. read more.
A second time the owner sent a servant to them; this man, too, the tenants struck on the head, and insulted. He sent another, but him they killed; and so with many others- -some they beat and some they killed. He had still one son, who was very dear to him; and him he sent to them last of all. 'They will respect my son,' he said. But those tenants said to one another 'Here is the heir! Come, let us kill him, and his inheritance will be ours.' So they seized him, and killed him, and threw his body outside the vineyard. What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and put the tenants to death, and he will let the vineyard to others.













"Sir," the Captain went on, "I am unworthy to receive you under my roof; but only speak, and my manservant will be cured. For I myself am a man under the orders of others, with soldiers under me; and, if I say to one of them 'Go,' he goes, and to another 'Come,' he comes, and to my slave 'Do this,' he does it." Jesus was surprised to hear this, and said to those who were following him: "Never I tell you, in any Israelite have I met with such faith as this! read more.
Yes, and many will come in from East and West and take their places beside Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of Heaven; While the heirs to the Kingdom will be 'banished into the darkness' outside; there, there will be weeping and grinding of teeth." Then Jesus said to the Captain: "Go now, and it shall be according to your faith." And the man was cured that very hour.

A Captain in the Roman army had a slave whom he valued, and who was seriously ill--almost at the point of death. And, hearing about Jesus, he sent some Jewish Councillors to him, with the request that he would come and save his slave's life. When they found Jesus, they earnestly implored him to do so. "He is a man who deserves that you should show him this favor," they said, read more.
"For he is devoted to our nation, and himself built our Synagogue for us." So Jesus went with them. But, when he was no great distance from the house, the Captain sent some friends with the message-- "Do not trouble yourself, Sir; for I am unworthy to receive you under my roof. That was why I did not even venture to come to you myself; but speak, and let my manservant be cured. For I myself am a man under the orders of others, with soldiers under me; and if I say to one of them 'Go,' he goes, and to another 'Come,' he comes, and to my slave 'Do this,' he does it." Jesus was surprised to hear these words from him; and, turning to the crowd which was following him, he said: "I tell you, nowhere in Israel have I met with such faith as this!" And, when the messengers returned to the house, they found the slave recovered.












And, as he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold towards the payment of the debt, together with his wife, and his children, and everything that he had. Verse ConceptsLordship, Human And DivineDebtorsOther WivesSettling AccountsUnable To Do Other ThingsDebt



While Peter was in the court-yard down below, one of the High Priest's maidservants came up; Verse ConceptsCourtyard



And masters, treat your slaves in the same spirit. Give up threatening them; for you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in Heaven, and that before him there is no distinction of rank. Verse ConceptsequalityBeing FairAbuse Of Authority, Warnings AgainstGod, Justice OfGod, Impartiality OfMastersPrejudiceServants, Working Conditions OfSlavery, In NtThreatsMasters Duties Towards ServantsEmployersChrist And HeavenChrist Is My LordslaveryRespectTreating OthersNever Giving Up













So he went and engaged himself to one of the people of that country, who sent him into his fields to tend pigs. He even longed to satisfy his hunger with the bean-pods on which the pigs were feeding; and no one gave him anything. But, when he came to himself, he said 'How many of my father's hired servants have more bread than they can eat, while here am I starving to death! read more.
I will get up and go to my father, and say to him "Father, I sinned against Heaven and against you; I am no longer fit to be called your son; make me one of your hired servants."'

But, when he came to himself, he said 'How many of my father's hired servants have more bread than they can eat, while here am I starving to death! Verse ConceptsSelf KnowledgeRegaining SanitySoliloquyNo FoodDeath Of A Fatherhomecoming

I am no longer fit to be called your son; make me one of your hired servants."' Verse ConceptsServants Of The Lord








For the Kingdom of Heaven is like an employer who went out in the early morning to hire laborers for his vineyards. He agreed with the laborers to pay them two shillings a day, and sent them into his vineyard. On going out again, about nine o'clock, he saw some others standing in the market-place, doing nothing. read more.
'You also may go into my vineyard,' he said, 'and I will pay you what is fair.' So the men went. Going out again about mid-day and about three o'clock, he did as before. When he went out about five, he found some other men standing there, and said to them 'Why have you been standing here all day long, doing nothing?' 'Because no one has hired us,' they answered. 'You also may go into my vineyard,' he said. In the evening the owner of the vineyard said to his steward 'Call the laborers, and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, and ending with the first. Now when those who had been hired about five o'clock went up, they received two shillings each. So, when the first went up, they thought that they would receive more, but they also received two shillings each; On which they began to grumble at their employer. 'These last,' they said, 'have done only one hour's work, and yet you have put them on the same footing with us, who have borne the brunt of the day's work, and the heat.' 'My friend,' was his reply to one of them, 'I am not treating you unfairly. Did not you agree with me for two shillings? Take what belongs to you, and go. I choose to give to this last man the same as to you. Have not I the right to do as I choose with what is mine? Are you envious because I am liberal?'




For the Kingdom of Heaven is like an employer who went out in the early morning to hire laborers for his vineyards. He agreed with the laborers to pay them two shillings a day, and sent them into his vineyard. On going out again, about nine o'clock, he saw some others standing in the market-place, doing nothing.






Once he was of little service to you, but now he has become of great service, not only to you, but to me as well; Verse ConceptsUseless PeopleUseful People


Once he was of little service to you, but now he has become of great service, not only to you, but to me as well; Verse ConceptsUseless PeopleUseful People



Even as I write, I have such confidence in your compliance with my wishes, that I am sure that you will do even more than I am asking.



Even as I write, I have such confidence in your compliance with my wishes, that I am sure that you will do even more than I am asking.


When the angel, who had spoken to him, had gone, Cornelius called two menservants and a religious soldier, who was one of his constant attendants, Verse ConceptsDevout MenTwo Other Men

He agreed with the laborers to pay them two shillings a day, and sent them into his vineyard. Verse ConceptsAgreeing For GoodMoney, Uses OfNegotiationCoinsAgreeingOnce A Day


For I myself am a man under the orders of others, with soldiers under me; and, if I say to one of them 'Go,' he goes, and to another 'Come,' he comes, and to my slave 'Do this,' he does it." Verse ConceptsCommands, in NTServants, GoodHuman Authority, Nature OfAuthority Delegated To PeopleMen's OrdersObeying PeopleExamples Of Good Servants


But some members of the Synagogue known as that of Libertines, Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and Visitors from Cilicia and Roman Asia, were roused to action and began disputing with Stephen; Verse ConceptsAlexandria The CityConfrontationMissionaries, Support ForSynagogueGod, Impartiality OfFalse Teachers, Examples OfDisputes