Luke 12:42 Meaning and Explanation
“And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus answers with a question: who is the faithful and wise steward whom his lord will set over the household, to give each their portion at the proper time?
What Does Luke 12:42 Mean?
Answering Peter, Jesus sketches a steward — a servant placed over fellow servants, charged to feed the household in due season. The figure answers the question sideways: leadership among His people is precisely servanthood with added accountability, a trust to nourish others with what belongs to the Master.
Two adjectives define the office. Faithful: loyal to the absent lord, not self-serving. Wise: discerning what each member of the household needs, and when. Every believer stewards something — a family, a task, an influence, a portion of truth. The glory of a steward is not ownership but reliable distribution: the master's goods, given to the master's people, on the master's schedule.
Luke 12:42 in the Original Language
oikonomos (οἰκονόμος), 'steward' -- the household manager entrusted with another's goods.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 12:42
What does Luke 12:42 mean?
Jesus answers with a question: who is the faithful and wise steward whom his lord will set over the household, to give each their portion at the proper time?