Matthew 25:21
“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Context
Part of Jesus' teaching on the Mount of Olives about readiness for His return, the parable of the talents follows the parable of the ten virgins and precedes the scene of final judgment.
What Does Matthew 25:21 Mean?
This verse is the master's commendation to a servant who used what he was given well -- and it shows what God's approval of a faithful life sounds like. It comes from the parable of the talents, in which a man entrusts his goods to servants before a journey and later returns to settle accounts (Matthew 25:14-30).
Three things stand out in the master's words. First comes praise: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." The servant is commended not for spectacular results but for faithfulness with what he was actually given. Second comes promotion: "thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things." Faithful stewardship of small responsibilities opens the way to greater ones, revealing that what we do with little is never insignificant. Third comes the deepest reward of all: "enter thou into the joy of thy lord." The servant is not merely paid; he is welcomed into his master's own gladness, sharing the joy of the one he served. The parable measures faithfulness, not equal achievement -- the servant given two talents receives the very same words as the one given five. What matters is making good use of what has been entrusted to you.
In the Original Language
The Greek "eu, doule agathe kai piste" (well done, good and faithful servant) joins agathos (good) with pistos (faithful, trustworthy). The reward is to enter "tēn charan," the joy or gladness, of the master.
Cross References
“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.”
- Luke 16:10
“Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.”
- Matthew 24:46
“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
- 1 Corinthians 4:2
Application
Be faithful with the responsibilities, gifts, and opportunities already in front of you, trusting that faithfulness in small things is what God commends and rewards.