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Mat_24:45 f. Τίς ἄρα , κ . τ . λ .] who therefore, considering the necessity for preparedness thus indicated. The inference itself is presented in the form of an allegory, the δοῦλος representing the disciples whom the Lord has appointed to be the guides of His church, in which they are required to show themselves faithful (1Co_4:1 f.) and prudent, the former by a disposition habitually determining their whole behaviour and characterized by devotion to the will of the Lord, the latter by the intelligent choice of ways and means, by taking proper advantage of circumstances, etc. The τίς is not equivalent to εἴ τις (Castalio, Grotius), which it never can be; but Mat_24:45 asks: who then is the faithful slave? and Mat_24:46 contains the answer; the latter, however, being so framed that instead of simply saying, in accordance with the terms of the question, “it is he, whom his lord, on his return,” etc., prominence is given to the blessedness of the servant here in view. According to Bengel, Fritzsche, Fleck, de Wette, our question touchingly conveys the idea of seeking for: quis tandem, etc., “hunc scire pervelim.” To this, however, there is the logical objection, that the relative clause of Mat_24:45 would in that case have to be regarded as expressing the characteristic feature in the faithful and wise slave, whereas this feature is first mentioned in the relative clause of Mat_24:46, which clause therefore must contain the answer to the question, τίς ἄρα ἐστὶν ὁ πιστὸς δ . κ . φρ .
οἰκετεία , domestic servants, Lucian, Merc. cond. 15; Strabo, xiv. p. 668. Comp. οἰκετία , Symmachus, Job_1:3; Lobeck, ad Phryn. p. 505.
οὕτως ] thus, in accordance with duty assigned him in Mat_24:45; the principal emphasis being on this word, it is put at the end of the sentence.