45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 24:45–51 (ESV)
God the Father alone knows exactly when He has decreed God the Son, Jesus Christ, to return to earth in power, might and glory (Matt. 24:29-31, 36), With this in mind, believers in Christ are to still live in rapt anticipation of the Son’s return. The Lord Jesus could return any day. Therefore, using illustrations and parables, the Lord began explaining how to be prepared for His coming (24:37–25:30).
Recently, we examined two distinct phrases Jesus used commanding His disciples to a have particular perspective regarding His return. They were to stay awake and to be ready. In today’s text, Jesus also illustrated His soon return with a parable of two servants. One is wise and the other is wicked. Yesterday, we examined the wise servant. Today’s focus is on the wicked servant.
48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
The word wicked (κακός; kakos) refers to what God deems as evil, wrong, incorrect and harmful. It is behavior that is in opposition to God and His Word. To be wicked is to live a life of hateful rebellion against the Lord and His disciples. The wicked do not believe in the soon return of Christ. They may not even believe in the return of Christ at all; soon or otherwise.
Consequently, their behavior reflects this unbelief. They treat other individuals harshly, indulge in drunkenness with little of no concern of God. They live a life, according to one commentator, of “carelessness, cruelty and carousing.” They fail to understand they are ultimately facing the Lord’s righteous judgment.
“The lesson of the parable, therefore, is this “Be and remain actively loyal to the Master, sensibly and joyfully carrying out the task assigned by him, in the interest of those who are precious to him,” states Dr. William Hendriksen.
Bishop Hilary of Poiters, an early church father, says, “Our ignorance of the day of Christ’s return should provoke us to be careful as we eagerly await his coming.”
“Knowing that Jesus could come at any minute should motivate us to pursue holiness, loving God and neighbor. We certainly do not want the Lord to catch us off-guard. Instead, we want to be found working diligently so that He will have no cause to be ashamed of His people,” concludes Dr. R. C. Sproul.
Soli deo Gloria!
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