Matthew 24:45-51

⁴⁵ “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? ⁴⁶ Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. ⁴⁷ Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. ⁴⁸ But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ ⁴⁹ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, ⁵⁰ the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, ⁵¹ and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Commentary

The Lord Jesus Christ by way of illustration now draws on two servants to show us the importance of faithfully serving Him while we wait for His return. Now the first servant Jesus describes as being faithful and wise, while the other servant is only described as being evil. Therefore, Jesus first says of the faithful and wise servant that because his master came and found him dutifully serving him while he was away, when he returns he will make him ruler over all of his goods. Therefore, Jesus calls that servant blessed because just as the master of that servant abundantly rewarded him so when He returns He will reward and repay each one of us according to our works. Now the second servant likewise had opportunity to do something in serving his master while he was away, however when he saw that his master delayed his return that servant began to beat his fellow servants, (i.e. abuse them) and to eat and drink with the drunkards. Therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ says because he did so, “the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, ⁵¹ and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” ^{Vs. 50-51}

Therefore, by saying as much the Lord Jesus Christ is showing us two types of Christians, those who profess faith in Him, and yet live in hostility towards Him and His people (1 John 2:4; 3:15; 4:20), and those who are genuinely saved, who truly you believe, and thus bear fruit to God with patience (Luke 8:15). Those then who profess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and yet by their hostility towards their brethren, and the ease and comfort with which they associate with the ungodly in their ungodly ways and lives, only show themselves to be enemies of Him. Therefore, though they now hang their hats on their false professions of faith in Him, each one will be dealt with by the Lord Jesus Christ in a way and at a time that they do not expect Him. 

Scripture Quotations: 

The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson