3.8.11

Matthew 25:21
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'


Dear friend,

There are so many things that can be taken from this passage but I'd like to focus today on that word "servant". Doule in the Greek is from the root doulos (doo'-los) which actually means slave (http://strongsnumbers.com/greek/1401.htm). It is interesting how this word is translated as servant in nearly all Bible translations (John MacArthur's latest book "Slave: The Hidden Truth About Your Identity In Christ", Edwin Yamauchi's "Slaves of God" or Harris's "Slave of Christ" all speak much more to this). I don't know about you but when I read this passage and others that contain doulos, it changes their meaning to me.

"Well done, good and faithful slave!"

It then makes other passages make a bit more sense to me such as 1 Corinthians 6:20 that says we have been bought at a price and why Paul should tell us in Romans 12:1 to offer our bodies as living sacrifices in view of God's mercy. Jesus said that anyone who doesn't carry his cross and follow himcan not be his disciple (Luke 14:27). There are horrific aspects of slavery that have occurred in history (and even today in certain countries) and that may be one reason why doulos and the Hebrew word ('ebed) are translated as servant in English. However, to be a slave to Christ is to be a slave to the perfect Master. To be a slave of His gospel is truly freedom for our souls!

We are told to be servants and Christ was the perfect depiction of what that looks like. We also should ask ourselves "how much does Christ really want of me"? Is He asking for more of you today? May we be able to say with Paul that "to live is Christ and to die is gain"! Oh that we wouldn't harden our hearts but humble ourselves before our Master as fully devoted slaves of Christ by his power that is at work within us!

In Christ,
Mike