⁴¹ Peter said, “Lord, are You addressing this parable to us [disciples], or to everyone else as well?”

Parable of the Faithful Steward

⁴² The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward [of the estate], whom his master will put in charge over his household, to give his servants their portion of food at the proper time?^{(A) 43} Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) is that servant whom his master finds so doing when he arrives. ⁴⁴ I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁵ But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is taking his time in coming,’ and begins to beat the servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, ⁴⁶ the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will ^[a]cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. ⁴⁷ And that servant who knew his master’s will, and yet did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will be beaten with many lashes [of the whip], ⁴⁸ but the one who did not know it and did things worthy of a beating, will receive only a few [lashes]. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.^(B)