By Brian R. Kenyon
As Jesus concluded His teaching about the destruction of Jerusalem and the “end of the age [world, KJV]” based on questions His disciples asked about end times (cf. Mt. 24:3), He said:
Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 45Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. 47Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. 48But if that evil servant says in his heart, “My master is delaying his coming,” 49and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50the 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, 51and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Mt. 24:42-51)
Jesus indicated three traits that should characterize a “faithful and wise servant.”
Watch Vigilantly
Since sudden unexpectedness will characterize the Lord’s second coming (Mt. 24:42-44), the faithful and wise servant must always be on alert. The word translated “watch [be on the alert, NAS95; stay awake, ESV]” is from a word (gregoreo, γρηγορέω) that means to keep awake; be on the watch because of the uncertainty of the Coming. Since there will be no sign by which anyone can know the time, the only way to “watch” is to live faithfully (Mt. 24:42). The Lord’s coming will be as unexpected as a thief’s intrusion (Mt. 24:43 cf. 1 Thes. 5:2-4; 2 Pet. 3:10). There is an inherent danger in not being prepared for a thief’s coming, just as there is an inherent danger of unpreparedness at Christ’s second coming (Mt. 25:41, 46a), the main difference being the former results in temporal consequences whereas the latter carries eternal consequences (cf. 2 Cor. 4:17–5:4). The faithful and wise servant must expect the unexpected by living in readiness (Mt. 24:44)!
Work Faithfully
Jesus illustrated by the parable of the faithful and the evil servant that true readiness means faithful living. “Then” (Mt. 24:45) connects the faithful and wise servant to what has just been said about the unexpectedness of the Lord’s second coming. The “servant [slave, NAS95; from doulos, δοũλος]” became ruler of the household in his master’s absence. As all stewards, he could exercise his stewardship well (cf. Mt. 24:45-47) or he could exercise it poorly (cf. Mt. 24:48-51). The steward would be “blessed” if the Lord found him “so doing” (Mt. 24:46). The steward is prepared for an unexpected coming only when that steward is serving the Master in the work He has entrusted him or her to do (cf. Rom. 2:10; 1 Cor. 15:58)! Greater reward awaits the one who faithfully works during the Master’s absence (Mt. 24:47 cf. Mt. 25:21, 23, 34-40).
However, the unfaithful and wicked servant’s unpreparedness consisted of selfish exploitation of others (Mt. 24:48-49). His idea seemed to be, “A long time is going to elapse before my master returns. In the mean time, I’m going to do my own thing and have some fun” (cf. 2 Pet. 3:3-4). This servant was characterized by: carelessness (he says “in his heart,” contrasted with “so doing”); cruelty (began to smite his fellow servants until his master came); and carousing (i.e., spending time with drunkards). The Master would come unexpectedly, and instead of rewarding this servant with a place of higher and permanent responsibility (cf. Mt. 25:21; Lk. 16:10), this servant will be “cut … in two [asunder, KJV]” (Mt. 24:51). This servant will share the same fate as the hypocrite because he did not do what his professed position demanded (Mt. 24:50-51a cf. Mt. 7:21-23; 23:3-4). “Weeping and gnashing of teeth” refers to inconsolable, never ending pain; utter, everlasting hopelessness (Mt. 24:51 cf. Mt. 8:12; 13:42, 50). By working faithfully, we will avoid the torment of eternal loss. In a context of those mocking the second coming of Christ (2 Pet. 3:1-10), Peter encouraged his readers to live in such a way that they “be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless … and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation” (2 Pet. 3:14-15).
Wait Patiently
While not explicitly stated in Matthew 24:42-51, but taught elsewhere in connection with readiness for the second coming of Christ, a faithful and wise servant must conduct his or her life with a longing and expectation to be with God forever. This is the hope about which Paul described, “For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance” (Rom. 8:24-25). “Perseverance [patience, KJV]” is from a word (from hupomone, ὑπομονή) that refers to patient endurance, steadfastness, perseverance (Lk. 21:19; Rom. 15:4; Heb. 10:36; Rev. 14:12). The term “eagerly wait” (from apekdechomai, ἀπεκδέχομαι) means to await expectantly. This kind of waiting has been compared (in Western cultures) to the kind of waiting a child does on Christmas Eve, knowing and anticipating the fabulous present he or she will receive the next morning. It does not belong to the child yet, but that child lives in joyous expectation and readiness to receive it! This word occurs in several passages, but especially relevant to this study are two. First, Paul wrote, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body” (Phil. 3:20-21). Second, The writer of Hebrews declared, “as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Heb. 9:27-28).
Conclusion
If we are to be faithful and wise servants, we must watch vigilantly, work faithfully, and wait patiently for Jesus. We do not know when He will return, but when we live with these traits, it will not matter (cf. Phil. 1:21), “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him” (1 Thes. 5:9-10).
