The 'faithful and discreet slave' or steward described in Matthew 24:45-46 and Luke 12: 41-48 are both parables which describe not only Christians as individuals being faithful to the Master's commands in being diligent in carrying reponsibilities of discipleship and to heed the exhortation to 'Keep on the Watch!' but also as a collective - the true Chuch of anointed Christians. The contrext of these parables is eschatological which pertains to events beginning in 1914 CE with the birth of Goid's Kingdom and the Parousia.
Further, these two parables are characteristic of what some theologians have coined 'eschatological wisdom' - or because of the didactic character of these parables as representing a 'prophetic pronouncement of wisdom'. Thus the true eschatological Church as described in the book of Revelation comprised of its leadership as its base or core and community work together unitedly to promote true wisdom - Bible education by means of worldwide evangelism unparalled in all of human history in harmony with the parabolic nature of these two parables.
An 'eschatological triennium' consisting of such dates as 1914, 1918 and 1919 describe the modern history of Jehovah's Witnesses in keeping with the fulfilment of prophecy. The two parables require interpretation as with all the other parables which refer to God's Kingdom. Sound principles of both exegesis and eisegesis combine together to show how the 'faihful slave is visible in their conduct and ministry, being faithful to the Bible in fulfilment of these two prophetic parables or 'prophetic pronouncements of wisdom'.
scholar JW emeritus