How Are Members of the 'Faithful and Discreet Slave' Selected?
"His master appointed...him."--Matt. 24:45-47
1. Jesus, in telling his disciples about those who would be appointed to the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses during the 'conclusion of the systems of things', said: "Who really is the faithful and discreet slave, who his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time?"--Matt. 24:45-47.
1. What appointment did Jesus foretell would happen during the 'conclusion of the systems of things'?
2. This appointment happened in the year 1919 C.E., when Jehovah God invigorated members of the Governing Body, liberating them from spiritual captivity to Babylon the Great and strengthening them to spearhead the field ministry. These anointed Governing Body members would be joined by a 'great crowd' of 'other sheep', as well as by other anointed ones who would serve collectively as 'domestics' in Jehovah's organization. (John 10:16; Rev. 7:9) Thus, all who serve Jehovah do so in dignified positions of honor, whether their eternal reward awaits them in heaven or on earth. Ultimately, we are all 'good-for-nothing slaves', merely doing Jehovah's will as 'we ought to have done'. (Luke 17:10)
2. (a) In what year was the faithful slave appointed by Jehovah God? (b) Who joins the 'faithful slave' in serving Jehovah, and what should we bear in mind about our place in Jehovah's organization?
3. However, some questions may remain, in light of our clearer understanding of the identity of the 'faithful and discreet slave'. How are members of the faithful slave selected? And how can our humbly appreciating this process strengthen our faith in Jehovah's organization? Let us see.
3. What questions will we now consider?
"Who His Master Appointed"
4. Jesus Christ explains in no uncertain terms how the 'faithful and discreet slave' was appointed, in saying that the "slave" was appointed by the "master". (Matt. 24:45) Who, then, is the master in the illustration? It has been understood that Jesus Christ himself is the "master", as he is the Head of the Christian congregation. (Eph. 1:22) However, is that necessarily the case? Jesus clearly recognized that he was in no position to act beyond or without his Father's authority. He said: "I do nothing of my own initiative." (John 8:28) It is Jehovah who "bought [us] with a price". (1 Cor. 6:20) The apostle Paul wrote: "Therefore both if we live and we die, we belong to Jehovah." (Rom. 14:8) Does this not humble us before Jehovah?
4. (a) What has been previously understood about the 'master' in Matt. 24:45? (b) Who "bought [us] with a price", and how does this make you feel?
5. Clearly, then, as we are slaves of God through Jesus Christ, it is Jehovah who fills the position of "master" in the prophecy found at Matthew 24:45-47. What, then, is the role of Jesus Christ, who has been ruling as Messianic King of God's Kingdom since the year 1914? In order to understand the role of Jesus, we must understand the role holy spirit has played in anointing servants of Jehovah to take the lead in his organization, both past and present.
5. Who fulfills the position of 'master' in the prophecy at Matt. 24:45-47, and how, then, can we understand the role of Jesus Christ in Jehovah's purposes?
6. Bible prophecy reveals in detail the role that Jesus Christ would have in Jehovah's purpose. Isaiah 42:1-4 says: "
Look! My servant, on whom I keep fast hold! My chosen one, [whom] my soul has approved! I have put my spirit in him. Justice to the nations is what he will bring forth. He will not cry out or raise [his voice], and in the street he will not let his voice be heard. No crushed reed will he break; and as for a dim flaxen wick, he will not extinguish it. In trueness he will bring forth justice. He will not grow dim nor be crushed until he sets justice in the earth itself; and for his law the islands themselves will keep waiting." Clearly, Jesus Christ would imitate Jehovah in showing both mercy and justice to all mankind, offering them an opportunity to repent and serve Jehovah God. His taking the lead in the ministry as the Messiah, or Anointed One, serves as an example for us today. The anointed ones appointed in 1919 followed this example, obediently and zealously advertising the King and his Kingdom, bringing the good news of Jehovah's Kingdom to honesthearted ones and thus extending the heavenly and earthly hope to millions of God-fearing individuals. In fact, it is because of imitating Christlike zeal that you have been drawn to Jehovah. Are you not grateful to him for his loving-kindness?
6. (a) What role does Jesus have, according to Bible prophecy? (b) How have anointed ones who have served on the Governing Body imitated Jesus' example?
7. It is evident, then, that the work Jesus began would be finished in our time, and the Governing Body has provided 'food at the proper time' to teach us Jehovah's ways and fully equip us to teach others about him. (2 Tim. 3:16, 17) The growth of Jehovah's organization in modern times proves beyond a doubt that Jehovah's appointment of the faithful slave has yielded great praise for his name.
7. What has been the result of Jehovah's appointment of the faithful and discreet slave, and how do you feel about the ones whom Jehovah has appointed?
"Joint Heirs With Christ"
8. The Bible further explains how closely related the faithful slave is to Jesus Christ, the Anointed Son of God. "The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are God's children. If, then, we are children, we are also heirs: heirs indeed of God, but joint heirs with Christ." (Rom. 8:16, 17) What a privilege the faithful slave has! Holy spirit enables them to be known as "God's children". As the Son of God, then, Jesus is also one of God's children. The Bible clearly identifies him as the "only-begotten Son".--John 3:16; 1 John 4:9.
8. How does the Bible show that the faithful slave, by means of holy spirit, is closely related to Jesus Christ?
9. Note again what Romans 8:17 says: "If, then, we are children, we are also heirs: heirs indeed of God, but joint heirs with Christ." Thus, the anointed, who have been appointed by holy spirit, are clearly identified as "joint heirs with Christ". What does this mean? Consider an illustration: Suppose an aged, wealthy individual has many children. Knowing that his time may come at any moment, he prepares a will to distribute his estate to his children. He decides that each of them will inherit some part of his estate. In a similar way, Jehovah God has made arrangements for the faithful slave to be "heirs of the kingdom" along with others who may have a heavenly hope. (James 2:5) The 144,000 joint heirs with Christ will rule alongside him during his Thousand-Year Reign.--Rev. 20:4, 5.
9. (a) What does Romans 8:17 tell us about the faithful slave? (b) What illustration could apply to how "joint heirs with Christ" receive their heavenly reward?
10. What, then, does this tell us about Jesus and the faithful slave? The Bible revealed to humble Christians in the late 19th century that Jesus would return invisibly in the year 1914. Upon returning, Jesus made the appointment of the faithful slave in 1919, choosing loyal individuals who were willing to humble themselves to carry out the ministry he began in the first century. These individuals would bear witness to Jehovah's great name. In making his appointment, Jesus filled a role that is similar to the 11 faithful apostles of the first century. How so? Let us see.
10. (a) What did Jehovah reveal to humble Christians in the late 19th century? (b) What kind of individuals did Jesus choose to be part of the faithful slave in 1919?
"His Office of Oversight Let Someone Else Take"
11. After Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus in 33 C.E., there was a need to fill the place left in the organizational arrangement of that time. At Pentecost 33 C.E., the apostle Peter took the initiative to seek Jehovah's guidance in replacing the apostate Judas. On that occasion, he said: "For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his lodging place become desolate, and let there be no dweller in it,’and, ‘His office of oversight let someone else take.’ It is therefore necessary that of the men that assembled with us during all the time in which the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, starting with his baptism by John and until the day he was received up from us, one of these men should become a witness with us of his resurrection." (Acts 1:20-22) In a similar way, Jesus, who had chosen the apostles, recognized that an apostate class, Christendom, had taken root amongst them. He boldly took steps to remove them from their 'office of oversight' and put the faithful and discreet slave in place to lead people to the truth about Jehovah God and his purposes for mankind. Thus, it can be said that Jesus himself was the first member of the faithful and discreet slave class. Since 1914, he was in a position to exercise governing authority from Jehovah and thus take the lead in both the heavenly and earthly parts of Jehovah's organization. (Matt. 28:18) This enabled his personal selections for members of the Governing Body to be done without any doubt as to its wisdom.
11. (a) What did the apostle Peter do at Pentecost 33 C.E.? (b) How did Jesus in modern times boldly take steps to properly fill the 'office of oversight' in Jehovah's organization on earth?
12. Immediately after 1914, Jesus began the process of cleansing those whom he would later appoint as the faithful and discreet slave. (Mal. 3:1-3) Progressively, the anointed Christians taking the lead at Bethel were helped to cleanse Jehovah's organization of Babylonish practices. Those who allowed Satan to corrupt their thinking were cast out, finding themselves utterly lost and in a spiritual sense, they destroyed themselves in the same manner as apostate Judas Iscariot. (John 13:2, 27; Acts 1:18) In 1919, after being released from spiritual capitivity, Jesus could clearly and without a shadow of a doubt, pronounce the Governing Body as fulfilling the role of the faithful and discreet slave alongside Jesus Christ himself! What a privilege it must have been to be counted worthy of serving as "ambassadors substituting for Christ" in this manner! (2 Cor. 5:20) In guiding the faithful slave by means of holy spirit, Jesus, as the foremost member of the faithful slave, provided detailed guidelines so that "we might become God's righteousness by means of him."--2 Cor. 5:21.
12. What did Jesus do immediately after 1914, and what happened in 1919 and thereafter as the result of his guidance?
Rewarded By Obedience
13. Recognizing that the faithful and discreet slave acts with authority given by Jehovah God through Jesus Christ, how should this affect our view of directions given by Jehovah's organization? May we recognize that with our limited insight, we must humbly submit to Jehovah's direction through the faithful slave. The faithful slave has been chosen directly by Jehovah and acts with his authority. The faithful slave thus deserves our complete trust and obedience without question. We must recognize that any independent thinking, like that of rebellious Korah, will result in our challenging Jehovah God himself. What a disastrous outcome would result if we did that!--Num. 16:28-35.
13. How should we view directions given by Jehovah's organization? Give a Scriptural example of what will happen if we disregard Jehovah's authority.
14. In contrast, our loyalty to Jehovah and his faithful slave will lead to rich rewards. If ours is a heavenly hope, we can look forward to joining the faithful slave in receiving a heavenly reward. (Rev. 14:1-4) If we are members of the great crowd, we look forward to everlasting life in a Paradise earth. (Ps. 37:29; Rev. 21:3, 4) In the meantime, we have the privilege of a God-given assignment: preaching the good news about God's Kingdom so soon to remove all suffering and woe from mankind. (Matt. 24:14) May our joyous obedience to Jehovah God and to the faithful slave put us in line for rich blessings, both now and in the future.
14. What rewards will be ours if we continue to obey the faithful slave?
Review Questions:
Who fills the position of "master" in the prophecy found at Matthew 24:45-47?
What role does Jehovah have as it pertains to the appointment of the faithful and discreet slave, and who did he first appoint in this position?
Who do we need to obey in order to receive God's approval?