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Matthew 25:14,15
Forthe kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country,who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods…

Luke 19:13
And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

Romans 12:6-8
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy,let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; …

ministry.

Matthew 20:28
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Matthew 25:44
Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

Mark 10:45
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

good.

Matthew 24:45
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

Matthew 24:14,21
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come…

Luke 12:42
And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whomhis lord shall make ruler over his household, to givethem their portion of meat in due season?

the manifold.

1 Corinthians 3:10
According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

1 Corinthians 12:4
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace whichwas bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

each of you should use whatever gift he has received
This phrase underscores the individual responsibility of each believer to recognize and utilize their unique spiritual gifts. The Apostle Paul elaborates on spiritual gifts in1 Corinthians 12, where he describes the church as one body with many parts, each having different functions. This diversity in gifts is intended to promote unity and edification within the church. The gifts are not self-generated but are received from God, highlighting the grace aspect of their distribution. The emphasis is on active participation and contribution to the body of Christ, rather than passivity or neglect of one's gifts.

to serve one another
Service is a central theme in the teachings of Jesus, who exemplified servanthood by washing the disciples' feet (John 13:1-17) and ultimately through His sacrificial death on the cross. The call to serve one another reflects the second greatest commandment, to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39). In the early church, this service was manifested in communal living and sharing of resources (Acts 2:44-45). The use of spiritual gifts for service is not only a demonstration of love but also a means of building up the church, fostering community, and advancing the mission of the gospel. This service-oriented approach counters the cultural norms of self-promotion and individualism, instead promoting humility and selflessness as modeled by Christ.

• A steward manages property that belongs to someone else. Believers manage what the Lord entrusts to us, not what we own.

• Faithfulness is the measure: “Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2).

• Jesus pictures stewardship inLuke 16:10–12, urging reliability even in “very little.”

• Joseph’s role over Potiphar’s house (Genesis 39:4) models diligent, trustworthy oversight.

• Grace is not one-dimensional; it is “manifold”—varied, richly colored, overflowing in forms we could never tally.

• Every ability, resource, and opportunity originates in that grace: “From His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace” (John 1:16).

• Paul speaks of God’s “manifold wisdom” displayed through the church (Ephesians 3:10); Peter mirrors the language to stress how broadly grace works in each believer.

• No Christian is exempt. The Spirit equips every member: “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7).

•Romans 12:3 echoes the individual call: God has “allotted to each a measure of faith.”

• Comparison is pointless; participation is required.

• Gifts differ, but all come from the same Lord (1 Corinthians 12:4–6).

• Unused gifts dishonor the Giver—Paul warns Timothy, “Do not neglect the gift that is in you” (1 Timothy 4:14).

• Gifts are tools, not trophies. Like the servants inMatthew 25:14–30, we are accountable for what we do with them.

• Refreshing others often clarifies our own calling; obedience precedes clarity.

• The direction of every gift is outward: “Serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13).

• Jesus sets the pattern: “You also should wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14).

• True maturity chooses the towel over the pedestal (Philippians 2:3–4).

• Peter continues in 4:11, urging that all ministry “may glorify God through Jesus Christ.” Service is worship.

God entrusts each believer with a tailored share of His many-sided grace. We manage those gifts, not as owners but as faithful stewards, channeling them toward the good of others. When every member actively deploys what the Lord has supplied, the body thrives and the Giver receives the glory.

Even so minister.--In the original,ministering. It is still an exhibition of the "intense charity" of1Peter 4:8. The verb is the same as in1Peter 1:12, where see Note.

As good stewards.--No one receives these gifts, spiritual or temporal, as his own; he is but a "steward," and when he offers them to the Church it is not as a benefactor, but as a servant, "ministering."

Of the manifold grace of God.--"Grace" is here used, not in its theological sense, but, as in1Peter 3:7, in the sense of bountiful giving; and the beautiful word rendered "manifold" brings out the subtle and picturesquevariety with which God arranges and distributes His bounty. But the emphatic word of the sentence is "of God." . . .