But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
The inward thought that the master puts off his return is what marks the evil servant, in contrast with the faithful and wise servant who stays watchful because the hour is unknown and feeds the household on time. Saying it in the heart need not be spoken aloud, but is said by attitude, spirit, words, works and actions, including a quieting peace-and-safety influence that leaves others unready. That delay thinking springs from unbelief and lack of love for the Saviour, from wishing him to stay away and outgrowing advent faith, and it is eagerly taken up in teachings that put the coming far off, make it only spiritual, or place it at death. It shows itself in declaring the time is not yet and all things continue as before, in smiting fellow servants by suspicion, accusation, evil speaking and sowing discord, and in eating and drinking with the drunken by making earthly gain, buying and selling, planting and building, and selfish use of the Lord's means the chief good. His lord will come on a day he does not expect and an hour he does not know, weigh him and find him wanting, cut him asunder and appoint him with hypocrites and unbelievers, so the warning calls all to take heed, repent, guard the heart from surfeiting and cares of this life, and watch and pray always to be ready.
Words and Immediate Context
The inward thought marks the evil servant in contrast with the faithful and wise servant. The faithful servant watches because the hour of his Lord's coming is unknown and stays ready as against a thief, feeding his household at the right time, so that his Lord on coming finds him doing so and sets him over all his goods. The evil servant inwardly decides and concludes that his master delays his coming and puts off the return. That thought of delay leads him to neglect faithful service, to strike and abuse his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken. His lord will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him asunder and give him his portion with the hypocrites and unbelievers, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. This attitude marks the condition of the church at Christ's second coming and belongs to those who want to put off the Lord's coming, with warning to remain watchful and ready for the Son of man with earnest zeal because He will come unexpectedly.
Saying in the heart need not be spoken aloud in words, but is said by attitude, sentiment, spirit, words, works and actions. It is said by being noncommittal while having the light of present truth, which is no trifling matter, and by holding the spirit and influence of peace and safety in the very midst of those professing to believe in the soon coming. It creates a malarious atmosphere around the soul that soothes and quiets others instead of stirring them to get ready without a moment's delay, lulls vigilance, dims the light, and causes others to stumble and fall. Those who take this course fail to stand at their post of duty with zeal and determination to warn of the speedy advent, to devote God-given powers to making known God and Christ, to live the law, and to stand as living faithful sentinels for truth, and their candlestick will be removed out of its place. It means living a divided life, holding to the world while professing truth, and in truth despising the humble, self-denying, self-sacrificing principles of Christ. It comes by turning the back on Jesus after resisting the Holy Spirit and letting truth leak out of the heart like water out of a leaky vessel, and it sows seeds of unbelief here and there whose spreading influence cannot be gathered up again or counteracted. The saying steals in upon the senses as a saying of the world, and its influence quiets the conscience and lulls to spiritual slumber, with safety from its effect only by daily learning meekness and lowliness of heart in the school of Christ. The evil servant may profess to serve Christ and may not deny in words that the Lord will come soon, yet by presuming on the delay he becomes careless, adopts worldly ways, and his conduct shows unbelief that postpones the coming far off. As he loses the spirit and power of the message, he censures and mistreats fellow servants, adopts the world's ways, and may join worldlings in their pleasures.
The saying belongs to the discourse in Matthew 24-25, given shortly before entering Gethsemane, containing predictions and warnings about the second coming. The prophecy of Jerusalem's destruction serves as a type of the world's final destruction by fire. The chapter concerns the course of the present age and its closing events, as the church faces warfare and suffering before its promised redemption. It gives an outline of what is coming upon the world and warns of the perils of the last days, when those perishing in sin must be warned. The coming is near when the signs appear, though its day and hour have not been revealed, and the world is to be warned of its approaching doom, as Noah warned before the Flood.
The prophecies of Matthew 24 are to be studied and brought to the attention of all, and to be explained to people as truths that decide eternal destiny and affect destiny. Ministers and teachers are to present them while leaving matters of lesser consequence. Their prediction is being fulfilled today, and their unmistakable present fulfilment shows that Christ's coming is at hand and calls the church to arouse.
Two Servants Contrasted
The faithful and wise servant gives the household food at the right time, and when his Lord comes and finds him doing so He calls him blessed and sets him over all His goods. That readiness means watching because the hour of coming is unknown, as against a thief, diligently searching the Word, speaking truth and faithful warning, ministering, educating families, and working for souls. It means warring the good warfare through much tribulation, denying self, sacrificing earthly riches, giving all to Christ, and using means as the Lord's helping hand to give the last message of mercy, warn perishing sinners, and sustain gospel work. Those who know the truth must therefore lift the voice like Noah that the end of all things is at hand, since the same eating and drinking and marrying and proclaiming God's law done away as in Noah's day exists now.
The evil servant's Lord will come in a day he does not expect and an hour he does not know. He will cut him asunder, weigh him in the balances and find him wanting, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites and unbelievers where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. All the good he might have done through the atoning sacrifice but did not do will be charged against him, and the do-nothing steward who knew his Master's will but did it not and did not try to warn and save others will be left with those he did not try to save. This warning applies even to those who have received great light, including workers and ministers who fail to overcome appetite and passion, for they may turn away and lose the kingdom despite their opportunities. He who trusts earthly riches makes a poor investment, for too late he will see them crumbling to dust and suffer eternal loss, while only giving all to Christ secures the inheritance that endures through eternity.
To conclude inwardly that the return is delayed means the unfaithful steward no longer identifies with his master. He no longer accepts a steward's responsibility to act in his master's stead as his master would act were he presiding, and no longer makes his master's interests his own. Instead he acts selfishly and turns the advantages gained by trading with his lord's goods to his own advantage, buries his talents, perverts the trust reposed in him, forfeits the dignity of one his master trusts, and can no longer be looked upon as a trustworthy servant on whom his master can depend. Every Christian, minister and layman, believer and unbeliever, bought with a price, is such a steward entrusted with His goods and with a special work to do, and must give account to God. That neglect of duty is revealed by wasting entrusted means and influence, refusing repeated warnings and calls to repentance, and growing defiant and self-deceived in backsliding.
The parable portrays the condition of the church at Christ's second coming and should arouse earnest zeal in the true believer. It divides those who watch and teach His coming, whom Christ will regard, bless and reward, from the evil servant who fails to watch, denies the nearness of the advent, and dismisses the warning, whom He will judge differently. The evil servant's heart is revealed when he abandons readiness and faithful service, turns time and attention to worldly pursuits, and mistreats watchful fellow servants who provide spiritual instruction suited to the time. The verse therefore warns against denying or neglecting the nearness of the advent merely because its exact day and hour are unknown.
How Delay Thinking Shows
The inward saying that the master delays his coming springs from unbelief and doubt, because the servant desires it to be so and wishes Christ to remain away. He does not love the Saviour, has outgrown advent faith, lives for the world, and has no desire to see Him. Those who do not love Him eagerly accept teachings that put the coming far in the future, make it spiritual, identify it with the destruction of Jerusalem, or place it at death. The same inward treatment of the coming as delayed belongs to those who ridicule the nearness of the Son of man and use apparent delay to dismiss the hope of His return.
The denial is not kept in the heart alone but is expressed in spirit, words, works and actions wherever such persons go. It speaks in words such as peace and safety, the time is not yet, all things continue as they were from the beginning, and Christ will not come soon or for thousands of years. It removes from minds the conviction that the Lord comes quickly, quiets the fears of sinners and backsliders, and banishes that conviction from others. It confirms them in worldliness, stupor, presumptuous careless delay and a downward course, putting them off watch until they echo the same words and earthly passions and corrupt thoughts take possession of the mind. A professed servant of Christ shows this expectation by his words and conduct when he uses it as an excuse to neglect duty and spend his Lord's goods for his own appetite and pleasure, revealing selfishness, love of the world and failure to sacrifice.
Beginning to smite fellow servants means by words, by expressing suspicion, and by evil thinking and evil speaking that changes confidence to doubt and unbelief. It accuses and condemns the faithful, weakens the confidence of brother in brother, sows discord, refuses to cooperate in establishing souls firmly in the faith and leading them to heed warning, and enters partnership with the enemy of righteousness while professing to believe the truth. It follows the same principle as Cain hating and killing Abel, because Abel was determined to worship as God directed while the evil servant holds his own plans best, demands the Lord come to his terms, and hates the favor shown to the faithful. The drunkenness with which he eats and drinks is figurative and not of wine, for Satan has controlled reason so that such persons work from the very same principle as the drunken, stagger though not with strong drink, and know not at what they stumble.
Eating and drinking with the drunken means looking at earthly things as the chief good and spending life to gain worldly riches. Eagerness to buy, sell and gain clouds spiritual vision, even in those who know the truth but are not sanctified by it. It pursues ambition to the ends of the earth and many commercial enterprises in a course God forbids, plants and builds while neglecting God's work, and builds impressive homes while professing soon return. It devotes talents and influence to selfish earthly pursuits instead of faithfully doing God's work and watching for Christ's appearing. Demanding large wages and tying up God's money in private interests amounts to telling the world that the Lord delays His coming, spending in self-gratification the money lent by the Lord that should be invested in giving the world the last message of mercy, warning perishing sinners and sustaining gospel work.
What the servant says in his heart is manifested by what he does, for presuming on delay he becomes careless, neglects duty, watchfulness and readiness, and leaves himself asleep, vulnerable and unprepared as a thief steals and destroys. He may profess to serve Christ and not deny in words that the Lord will come soon, yet act as though His coming is far off. He adopts worldly ways and pleasures until like grows with like in transgression, loses the spirit and power of the message, and lives a divided life holding to the world while professing truth and despising self-denying principles. Expecting the coming to be delayed in this way leads to mistreating fellow servants, joining the drunken, and remaining unready for the unexpected return and judgment.
Prophecy Fulfilled and Explained
The delay of the bridegroom in the related parable is the passing of the time first expected, with disappointment and the appearance that the coming is delayed, testing all who wait for Him. During that delay the superficial and half-hearted wavered, while those grounded in personal knowledge of Scripture endured and waited for clearer light. After the predicted time passed, some impatient ones rejected the work and treated those who strengthened believers with Scripture as enemies, instead of giving the household timely spiritual food. In the end of the world, in this time of peculiar and momentous importance, faithful students of the Word reject the inward claim of delay and remain prepared like wise virgins with oil in their vessels with their lamps to go out to meet the Bridegroom.
The long time since the coming was foretold is not evidence it will fail or has been canceled, for it will come at the appointed time after the message has been carried to all nations, tongues and peoples. Time is allowed because work has not yet been done for the wicked, and God's long forbearance and patience toward the wicked serve His merciful plan and purpose to save souls. His judgments will surely come and He will act with justice and accuracy, so His people must keep cooperating with Him in waiting and working rather than become unalarmed, show disrespect to the Master, and live as though the coming is delayed. This warning holds even for those who have received great light, as in the days of Noah.
The inward decision that the Lord delays His coming now takes the form of listless indifference to daily earthquakes, shipwrecks, floods, fires, plagues and other disasters that prove His coming draws near in the closing period of earth's history. Signs in sun, moon and stars, distress of nations, roaring sea, failing hearts and shaken powers show the Son of man coming in power and great glory is nigh and redemption draweth nigh, leaving no time to lose in establishing the work. The world is fast becoming as Sodom and Gomorrah and as in the days of Noah and the Flood, with no life safe except under God's protection, which proves the coming is near. Refusing by choice to watch repeats the antediluvians who knew not until the flood came, and saying delay in the heart leads to smiting fellow servants and eating and drinking with the drunken, bringing the lord in a day not looked for and an hour not known, to cut asunder and appoint a portion with the hypocrites where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. That denial is echoed by worldly-wise men and unfaithful religious leaders who say Christ will not come soon, offer assurances of peace, dismiss warnings as fanaticism, quiet alarm, and turn people from prophecy, repentance and readiness.
The warning is given to take heed, study the predictions and see their fulfilment, stop deceiving the soul and cheating it of blessing through unbelief and disobedience, and make diligent work for repentance now. It calls for repenting and being converted and forsaking sins that they may be blotted out while probation still lingers and mercy's voice is still heard, guarding the heart from being overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness and cares of this life lest that day come unawares as a snare upon all the earth, and watching and praying always to be counted worthy to escape and stand before the Son of man. No one must hold this attitude in the close of earth's history, put off the day of the Son of man's speedy appearing in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, or let expectation weaken, for God has given no man light for that claim. The shortness of time must be kept before the mind, the day talked of as speedy, each person pressed to ask whether he will stand at the right or left hand of the Judge, and instead of indifference the message sounded in earnest warning to repent, flee wrath to come, keep souls in the love of God, and rouse all to immediate preparation by watching, praying, working and waiting in the last remnant of time.
Date Setting Mischarge Corrected
Opposing repeatedly set dates for the coming was falsely charged as joining the evil servant who inwardly claims his master puts off his return, and rejecting such predictions after the dates passed was misrepresented as making that delay claim. The accusation fell on warning that dates set for the coming would pass, not on setting dates or on teaching that the return would not occur. The warning rested on the showing that the time of trouble must take place before the coming, so every proposed date would pass by. Each date that is set and then passes only weakens the faith of God's people.
That warning is not uttering the evil servant's inward word, and charging it as fellowship with that servant is false. It does not condemn teaching that no definite time should be set to test the people after the great test of time in 1843 and 1844. Refusing to accept proclaimed periods of time is not saying the coming is delayed, and heaven does not record such refusal as unbelief under this verse. Loving and longing for the appearing while waiting and watching unto prayer, holding confidence, working to prepare others, and refusing impatience or drawing back proves the heart is not speaking these words. Oft-repeated definite-time messages weaken Adventist faith, fasten the world in unbelief, and serve the enemy's purpose to unsettle faith in the first proclamation of time that was of heavenly origin, while the apparent tarrying is not real tarrying, for at the appointed time the Lord will come.
After the time passed in 1844 the light of the open and shut door showed that God had opened a door no man could shut and shut a door no man could open, with a great work still to be done in the world for those who had not had the light and rejected it, even while many believed the Lord was soon to come in the clouds of heaven. Those holding to the immediate appearing, especially the fanatical ones, turned the verse into a charge of delay against teaching that continued work. Those who rejected the light brought by the message of the second angel went into great darkness.
No one is given light or message to proclaim that earth's history will close in five or ten or twenty years, nor would authorization be given to proclaim forty or one hundred years, because no living being will be given an excuse for delaying preparation for the appearing. Putting off that day must give place to talking of the speedy appearing of the Son of man in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Saying the end lies years ahead leads to reckless neglect of opportunities and privileges to prepare for that great day, so every soul claiming to be God's servant must do His service as if every day might be the last. Assuming the coming is delayed in this way leads to neglecting the duties given to prepare for it.
The message of delayed return can be used to unsettle faith when Scripture is misinterpreted and new theories are presented as light. Theories now presented that the coming is delayed are false and must be discerned as error rather than accepted in place of holding fast received truth. The wickedness of the world proves the coming is near, with no life safe except under divine protection, the world fast becoming as Sodom and Gomorrah and as in the days of Noah. Because the Son of man comes in a day not expected and an hour not known, readiness requires no longer being lukewarm but being wholly consecrated, pure and holy, living in holy conduct and godliness with anointed eyes, clothed in Christ's righteousness and walking with God, inquiring whether one will stand at the right hand or the left of the Judge. The lord of that servant will come unexpectedly and cut him asunder and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth, while suspicion, evil thinking and evil speaking that smite fellow servants turn confidence to doubt and unbelief and join eating and drinking with the drunken.
Living Ready Every Day
The warning reaches even those who have received great light and truth, and it names workers, ministers, pastors, and all in positions of trust. Failing to overcome appetite and passion, failing to deny self for Christ, and failing to recognize God's Spirit and voice marks the servant who inwardly counts on delay. Opportunity and knowledge do not protect such ones from unexpected reckoning and judgment with hypocrites. Even publicans and sinners may accept the gospel and enter the kingdom before those who had great light yet walked in darkness. Unsanctified ministers who profess to know God and claim to believe truth reveal the same heart by thought and action unless their lives are changed.
Unfaithful stewardship is specified as pastors remiss in ministering and faithfully educating church members. Concluding the return is delayed, such a steward no longer identifies with his master, no longer accepts a steward's charge to act in his master's stead and make his master's interests his own, but acts selfishly, turns advantage from trading with his lord's goods to his own advantage, perverts the trust, forfeits the dignity of one trusted, and can no longer be looked upon as dependable. Publishing workers with no relish for truth and no love for God are to be loyal and true as light amid moral darkness and to advance in knowledge, and if connection with the work does not make them better and bring them to love truth they are after sufficient trial to be separated, lest promising youth who love God and serve as apprentices be leavened by irreligion and unbelief through which evil angels work to mislead. Physicians and others entrusted with responsibility in Christ's absence are warned against living unready while pursuing ambition to the ends of the earth and many commercial enterprises in a forbidden course, telling themselves they need not answer for conduct, and unless there is repentance they will never see the kingdom when the Lord comes in a day not looked for and an hour not known. Sabbath-school workers who profess to guide souls to holiness while marked by pleasure-loving, pride, and love of display are unfaithful servants whose life contradicts profession and whose influence offends God, needing thorough conversion because hearts filled with rubbish leave no room for ennobling truth and Satan rather than Christ abides within until the soul temple is refined, purified, and cleansed. Advising believers in the South to refrain from Sunday labor so as to reverence Sunday, a child of papacy, betrays sacred interests contrary to God's will, whereas quiet work should be done quietly without presumptuous or needlessly provocative display.
Inward delay leaves those charged to warn others failing to give the timely message that prepares the world for coming judgments. It leads to neglect of feeding the household truth for its time, caring for souls, warning and saving others, and watching, praying, and working together with personal piety placed ahead of worldly concerns. Each soul's teaching and example leads others to good or evil and will be tested, so members must examine their influence and watchmen must warn faithfully and remain alert to dangers that would weaken the church. Even without openly denying the soon return, acting as though that day is far off presumes on delay, grows careless, conforms to the world, loses the spirit and power of the message, criticizes the faithful, and joins worldlings in pleasure.
Treating probation as though many days remain brings carelessness, spiritual slumber, sleepy indifference, weakening faith, and dullness to the signs of the times amid spreading iniquity and wickedness. It exerts a soothing worldly influence that dims light and causes stumbling, while long acquaintance with present truth and the Bible without establishment in truth produces a defective gospel, defective Christian life, and defective eyesight that forgets the work of preparing a people for everlasting life. Such ones bind up with the world for self-glorification, work away from soul-saving principles, are destitute of the Holy Spirit, and stand only with the obedient or the disobedient with no middle ground. Presuming delay does not excuse neglect or wrongdoing but exposes unfaithfulness, abuses mercy and patience despite received light, and ends in sudden destruction without escape, for probation has limits though the return remains certain and its time unknown. Diligence, living testimony, and exercise of faith are needed to keep sin out and to stand ready rather than perish in self-deception.
Instead of indifference and boasting that the coming is delayed while wickedness spreads and warnings are not given, the message must sound in earnest warning. Men everywhere are to be persuaded to repent, flee from wrath to come, seek the Lord while He may be found, and know the end of all things is at hand, because souls are to be saved or lost. Believers must keep souls in the love of God, get ready to meet Him in peace, be wholly consecrated and no longer lukewarm, live pure and holy, have eyes anointed to discern truth from error, be clothed in the white garments of Christ's righteousness, and walk and talk with God under His protection as the world becomes as Sodom and Gomorrah and as in the days of Noah. This rousing to immediate preparation belongs to the last remnant of time when prophecy is fulfilling and Christ will soon come with power and great glory, leaving no time to lose.
The verse forbids harboring delay thought in the close of earth's history. Obedience requires thorough acquaintance with Scripture through the Holy Spirit's teaching to enlighten minds about transgression of God's law, purify hearts, guide in duty, shield from danger, keep in the fear and love of God, and keep in patient waiting. Any word suggesting decreasing faith, anything weakening confidence that ought to be strengthened, and anything bewildering minds that ought to be enlightened expresses the forbidden thought. Christ has entrusted His household and interests to followers while He is in heaven, so they must watch, wait, prepare, and not only watch but pray and work and wait, standing before God with fear and trembling for what is coming upon the world lest He return suddenly and find them asleep.
The inward thought that the master puts off his return is what marks the evil servant, in contrast with the faithful and wise servant who stays watchful because the hour is unknown and feeds the household on time.
Saying it in the heart need not be spoken aloud, but is said by attitude, spirit, words, works and actions, including a quieting peace-and-safety influence that leaves others unready.
That delay thinking springs from unbelief and lack of love for the Saviour, from wishing him to stay away and outgrowing advent faith, and it is eagerly taken up in teachings that put the coming far off, make it only spiritual, or place it at death.
It shows itself in declaring the time is not yet and all things continue as before, in smiting fellow servants by suspicion, accusation, evil speaking and sowing discord, and in eating and drinking with the drunken by making earthly gain, buying and selling, planting and building, and selfish use of the Lord's means the chief good.
His lord will come on a day he does not expect and an hour he does not know, weigh him and find him wanting, cut him asunder and appoint him with hypocrites and unbelievers, so the warning calls all to take heed, repent, guard the heart from surfeiting and cares of this life, and watch and pray always to be ready.
Words and Immediate Context
The inward thought marks the evil servant in contrast with the faithful and wise servant. The faithful servant watches because the hour of his Lord's coming is unknown and stays ready as against a thief, feeding his household at the right time, so that his Lord on coming finds him doing so and sets him over all his goods. The evil servant inwardly decides and concludes that his master delays his coming and puts off the return. That thought of delay leads him to neglect faithful service, to strike and abuse his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken. His lord will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him asunder and give him his portion with the hypocrites and unbelievers, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. This attitude marks the condition of the church at Christ's second coming and belongs to those who want to put off the Lord's coming, with warning to remain watchful and ready for the Son of man with earnest zeal because He will come unexpectedly.
Saying in the heart need not be spoken aloud in words, but is said by attitude, sentiment, spirit, words, works and actions. It is said by being noncommittal while having the light of present truth, which is no trifling matter, and by holding the spirit and influence of peace and safety in the very midst of those professing to believe in the soon coming. It creates a malarious atmosphere around the soul that soothes and quiets others instead of stirring them to get ready without a moment's delay, lulls vigilance, dims the light, and causes others to stumble and fall. Those who take this course fail to stand at their post of duty with zeal and determination to warn of the speedy advent, to devote God-given powers to making known God and Christ, to live the law, and to stand as living faithful sentinels for truth, and their candlestick will be removed out of its place. It means living a divided life, holding to the world while professing truth, and in truth despising the humble, self-denying, self-sacrificing principles of Christ. It comes by turning the back on Jesus after resisting the Holy Spirit and letting truth leak out of the heart like water out of a leaky vessel, and it sows seeds of unbelief here and there whose spreading influence cannot be gathered up again or counteracted. The saying steals in upon the senses as a saying of the world, and its influence quiets the conscience and lulls to spiritual slumber, with safety from its effect only by daily learning meekness and lowliness of heart in the school of Christ. The evil servant may profess to serve Christ and may not deny in words that the Lord will come soon, yet by presuming on the delay he becomes careless, adopts worldly ways, and his conduct shows unbelief that postpones the coming far off. As he loses the spirit and power of the message, he censures and mistreats fellow servants, adopts the world's ways, and may join worldlings in their pleasures.
The saying belongs to the discourse in Matthew 24-25, given shortly before entering Gethsemane, containing predictions and warnings about the second coming. The prophecy of Jerusalem's destruction serves as a type of the world's final destruction by fire. The chapter concerns the course of the present age and its closing events, as the church faces warfare and suffering before its promised redemption. It gives an outline of what is coming upon the world and warns of the perils of the last days, when those perishing in sin must be warned. The coming is near when the signs appear, though its day and hour have not been revealed, and the world is to be warned of its approaching doom, as Noah warned before the Flood.
The prophecies of Matthew 24 are to be studied and brought to the attention of all, and to be explained to people as truths that decide eternal destiny and affect destiny. Ministers and teachers are to present them while leaving matters of lesser consequence. Their prediction is being fulfilled today, and their unmistakable present fulfilment shows that Christ's coming is at hand and calls the church to arouse.
Two Servants Contrasted
The faithful and wise servant gives the household food at the right time, and when his Lord comes and finds him doing so He calls him blessed and sets him over all His goods. That readiness means watching because the hour of coming is unknown, as against a thief, diligently searching the Word, speaking truth and faithful warning, ministering, educating families, and working for souls. It means warring the good warfare through much tribulation, denying self, sacrificing earthly riches, giving all to Christ, and using means as the Lord's helping hand to give the last message of mercy, warn perishing sinners, and sustain gospel work. Those who know the truth must therefore lift the voice like Noah that the end of all things is at hand, since the same eating and drinking and marrying and proclaiming God's law done away as in Noah's day exists now.
The evil servant's Lord will come in a day he does not expect and an hour he does not know. He will cut him asunder, weigh him in the balances and find him wanting, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites and unbelievers where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. All the good he might have done through the atoning sacrifice but did not do will be charged against him, and the do-nothing steward who knew his Master's will but did it not and did not try to warn and save others will be left with those he did not try to save. This warning applies even to those who have received great light, including workers and ministers who fail to overcome appetite and passion, for they may turn away and lose the kingdom despite their opportunities. He who trusts earthly riches makes a poor investment, for too late he will see them crumbling to dust and suffer eternal loss, while only giving all to Christ secures the inheritance that endures through eternity.
To conclude inwardly that the return is delayed means the unfaithful steward no longer identifies with his master. He no longer accepts a steward's responsibility to act in his master's stead as his master would act were he presiding, and no longer makes his master's interests his own. Instead he acts selfishly and turns the advantages gained by trading with his lord's goods to his own advantage, buries his talents, perverts the trust reposed in him, forfeits the dignity of one his master trusts, and can no longer be looked upon as a trustworthy servant on whom his master can depend. Every Christian, minister and layman, believer and unbeliever, bought with a price, is such a steward entrusted with His goods and with a special work to do, and must give account to God. That neglect of duty is revealed by wasting entrusted means and influence, refusing repeated warnings and calls to repentance, and growing defiant and self-deceived in backsliding.
The parable portrays the condition of the church at Christ's second coming and should arouse earnest zeal in the true believer. It divides those who watch and teach His coming, whom Christ will regard, bless and reward, from the evil servant who fails to watch, denies the nearness of the advent, and dismisses the warning, whom He will judge differently. The evil servant's heart is revealed when he abandons readiness and faithful service, turns time and attention to worldly pursuits, and mistreats watchful fellow servants who provide spiritual instruction suited to the time. The verse therefore warns against denying or neglecting the nearness of the advent merely because its exact day and hour are unknown.
How Delay Thinking Shows
The inward saying that the master delays his coming springs from unbelief and doubt, because the servant desires it to be so and wishes Christ to remain away. He does not love the Saviour, has outgrown advent faith, lives for the world, and has no desire to see Him. Those who do not love Him eagerly accept teachings that put the coming far in the future, make it spiritual, identify it with the destruction of Jerusalem, or place it at death. The same inward treatment of the coming as delayed belongs to those who ridicule the nearness of the Son of man and use apparent delay to dismiss the hope of His return.
The denial is not kept in the heart alone but is expressed in spirit, words, works and actions wherever such persons go. It speaks in words such as peace and safety, the time is not yet, all things continue as they were from the beginning, and Christ will not come soon or for thousands of years. It removes from minds the conviction that the Lord comes quickly, quiets the fears of sinners and backsliders, and banishes that conviction from others. It confirms them in worldliness, stupor, presumptuous careless delay and a downward course, putting them off watch until they echo the same words and earthly passions and corrupt thoughts take possession of the mind. A professed servant of Christ shows this expectation by his words and conduct when he uses it as an excuse to neglect duty and spend his Lord's goods for his own appetite and pleasure, revealing selfishness, love of the world and failure to sacrifice.
Beginning to smite fellow servants means by words, by expressing suspicion, and by evil thinking and evil speaking that changes confidence to doubt and unbelief. It accuses and condemns the faithful, weakens the confidence of brother in brother, sows discord, refuses to cooperate in establishing souls firmly in the faith and leading them to heed warning, and enters partnership with the enemy of righteousness while professing to believe the truth. It follows the same principle as Cain hating and killing Abel, because Abel was determined to worship as God directed while the evil servant holds his own plans best, demands the Lord come to his terms, and hates the favor shown to the faithful. The drunkenness with which he eats and drinks is figurative and not of wine, for Satan has controlled reason so that such persons work from the very same principle as the drunken, stagger though not with strong drink, and know not at what they stumble.
Eating and drinking with the drunken means looking at earthly things as the chief good and spending life to gain worldly riches. Eagerness to buy, sell and gain clouds spiritual vision, even in those who know the truth but are not sanctified by it. It pursues ambition to the ends of the earth and many commercial enterprises in a course God forbids, plants and builds while neglecting God's work, and builds impressive homes while professing soon return. It devotes talents and influence to selfish earthly pursuits instead of faithfully doing God's work and watching for Christ's appearing. Demanding large wages and tying up God's money in private interests amounts to telling the world that the Lord delays His coming, spending in self-gratification the money lent by the Lord that should be invested in giving the world the last message of mercy, warning perishing sinners and sustaining gospel work.
What the servant says in his heart is manifested by what he does, for presuming on delay he becomes careless, neglects duty, watchfulness and readiness, and leaves himself asleep, vulnerable and unprepared as a thief steals and destroys. He may profess to serve Christ and not deny in words that the Lord will come soon, yet act as though His coming is far off. He adopts worldly ways and pleasures until like grows with like in transgression, loses the spirit and power of the message, and lives a divided life holding to the world while professing truth and despising self-denying principles. Expecting the coming to be delayed in this way leads to mistreating fellow servants, joining the drunken, and remaining unready for the unexpected return and judgment.
Prophecy Fulfilled and Explained
The delay of the bridegroom in the related parable is the passing of the time first expected, with disappointment and the appearance that the coming is delayed, testing all who wait for Him. During that delay the superficial and half-hearted wavered, while those grounded in personal knowledge of Scripture endured and waited for clearer light. After the predicted time passed, some impatient ones rejected the work and treated those who strengthened believers with Scripture as enemies, instead of giving the household timely spiritual food. In the end of the world, in this time of peculiar and momentous importance, faithful students of the Word reject the inward claim of delay and remain prepared like wise virgins with oil in their vessels with their lamps to go out to meet the Bridegroom.
The long time since the coming was foretold is not evidence it will fail or has been canceled, for it will come at the appointed time after the message has been carried to all nations, tongues and peoples. Time is allowed because work has not yet been done for the wicked, and God's long forbearance and patience toward the wicked serve His merciful plan and purpose to save souls. His judgments will surely come and He will act with justice and accuracy, so His people must keep cooperating with Him in waiting and working rather than become unalarmed, show disrespect to the Master, and live as though the coming is delayed. This warning holds even for those who have received great light, as in the days of Noah.
The inward decision that the Lord delays His coming now takes the form of listless indifference to daily earthquakes, shipwrecks, floods, fires, plagues and other disasters that prove His coming draws near in the closing period of earth's history. Signs in sun, moon and stars, distress of nations, roaring sea, failing hearts and shaken powers show the Son of man coming in power and great glory is nigh and redemption draweth nigh, leaving no time to lose in establishing the work. The world is fast becoming as Sodom and Gomorrah and as in the days of Noah and the Flood, with no life safe except under God's protection, which proves the coming is near. Refusing by choice to watch repeats the antediluvians who knew not until the flood came, and saying delay in the heart leads to smiting fellow servants and eating and drinking with the drunken, bringing the lord in a day not looked for and an hour not known, to cut asunder and appoint a portion with the hypocrites where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. That denial is echoed by worldly-wise men and unfaithful religious leaders who say Christ will not come soon, offer assurances of peace, dismiss warnings as fanaticism, quiet alarm, and turn people from prophecy, repentance and readiness.
The warning is given to take heed, study the predictions and see their fulfilment, stop deceiving the soul and cheating it of blessing through unbelief and disobedience, and make diligent work for repentance now. It calls for repenting and being converted and forsaking sins that they may be blotted out while probation still lingers and mercy's voice is still heard, guarding the heart from being overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness and cares of this life lest that day come unawares as a snare upon all the earth, and watching and praying always to be counted worthy to escape and stand before the Son of man. No one must hold this attitude in the close of earth's history, put off the day of the Son of man's speedy appearing in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, or let expectation weaken, for God has given no man light for that claim. The shortness of time must be kept before the mind, the day talked of as speedy, each person pressed to ask whether he will stand at the right or left hand of the Judge, and instead of indifference the message sounded in earnest warning to repent, flee wrath to come, keep souls in the love of God, and rouse all to immediate preparation by watching, praying, working and waiting in the last remnant of time.
Date Setting Mischarge Corrected
Opposing repeatedly set dates for the coming was falsely charged as joining the evil servant who inwardly claims his master puts off his return, and rejecting such predictions after the dates passed was misrepresented as making that delay claim. The accusation fell on warning that dates set for the coming would pass, not on setting dates or on teaching that the return would not occur. The warning rested on the showing that the time of trouble must take place before the coming, so every proposed date would pass by. Each date that is set and then passes only weakens the faith of God's people.
That warning is not uttering the evil servant's inward word, and charging it as fellowship with that servant is false. It does not condemn teaching that no definite time should be set to test the people after the great test of time in 1843 and 1844. Refusing to accept proclaimed periods of time is not saying the coming is delayed, and heaven does not record such refusal as unbelief under this verse. Loving and longing for the appearing while waiting and watching unto prayer, holding confidence, working to prepare others, and refusing impatience or drawing back proves the heart is not speaking these words. Oft-repeated definite-time messages weaken Adventist faith, fasten the world in unbelief, and serve the enemy's purpose to unsettle faith in the first proclamation of time that was of heavenly origin, while the apparent tarrying is not real tarrying, for at the appointed time the Lord will come.
After the time passed in 1844 the light of the open and shut door showed that God had opened a door no man could shut and shut a door no man could open, with a great work still to be done in the world for those who had not had the light and rejected it, even while many believed the Lord was soon to come in the clouds of heaven. Those holding to the immediate appearing, especially the fanatical ones, turned the verse into a charge of delay against teaching that continued work. Those who rejected the light brought by the message of the second angel went into great darkness.
No one is given light or message to proclaim that earth's history will close in five or ten or twenty years, nor would authorization be given to proclaim forty or one hundred years, because no living being will be given an excuse for delaying preparation for the appearing. Putting off that day must give place to talking of the speedy appearing of the Son of man in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Saying the end lies years ahead leads to reckless neglect of opportunities and privileges to prepare for that great day, so every soul claiming to be God's servant must do His service as if every day might be the last. Assuming the coming is delayed in this way leads to neglecting the duties given to prepare for it.
The message of delayed return can be used to unsettle faith when Scripture is misinterpreted and new theories are presented as light. Theories now presented that the coming is delayed are false and must be discerned as error rather than accepted in place of holding fast received truth. The wickedness of the world proves the coming is near, with no life safe except under divine protection, the world fast becoming as Sodom and Gomorrah and as in the days of Noah. Because the Son of man comes in a day not expected and an hour not known, readiness requires no longer being lukewarm but being wholly consecrated, pure and holy, living in holy conduct and godliness with anointed eyes, clothed in Christ's righteousness and walking with God, inquiring whether one will stand at the right hand or the left of the Judge. The lord of that servant will come unexpectedly and cut him asunder and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth, while suspicion, evil thinking and evil speaking that smite fellow servants turn confidence to doubt and unbelief and join eating and drinking with the drunken.
Living Ready Every Day
The warning reaches even those who have received great light and truth, and it names workers, ministers, pastors, and all in positions of trust. Failing to overcome appetite and passion, failing to deny self for Christ, and failing to recognize God's Spirit and voice marks the servant who inwardly counts on delay. Opportunity and knowledge do not protect such ones from unexpected reckoning and judgment with hypocrites. Even publicans and sinners may accept the gospel and enter the kingdom before those who had great light yet walked in darkness. Unsanctified ministers who profess to know God and claim to believe truth reveal the same heart by thought and action unless their lives are changed.
Unfaithful stewardship is specified as pastors remiss in ministering and faithfully educating church members. Concluding the return is delayed, such a steward no longer identifies with his master, no longer accepts a steward's charge to act in his master's stead and make his master's interests his own, but acts selfishly, turns advantage from trading with his lord's goods to his own advantage, perverts the trust, forfeits the dignity of one trusted, and can no longer be looked upon as dependable. Publishing workers with no relish for truth and no love for God are to be loyal and true as light amid moral darkness and to advance in knowledge, and if connection with the work does not make them better and bring them to love truth they are after sufficient trial to be separated, lest promising youth who love God and serve as apprentices be leavened by irreligion and unbelief through which evil angels work to mislead. Physicians and others entrusted with responsibility in Christ's absence are warned against living unready while pursuing ambition to the ends of the earth and many commercial enterprises in a forbidden course, telling themselves they need not answer for conduct, and unless there is repentance they will never see the kingdom when the Lord comes in a day not looked for and an hour not known. Sabbath-school workers who profess to guide souls to holiness while marked by pleasure-loving, pride, and love of display are unfaithful servants whose life contradicts profession and whose influence offends God, needing thorough conversion because hearts filled with rubbish leave no room for ennobling truth and Satan rather than Christ abides within until the soul temple is refined, purified, and cleansed. Advising believers in the South to refrain from Sunday labor so as to reverence Sunday, a child of papacy, betrays sacred interests contrary to God's will, whereas quiet work should be done quietly without presumptuous or needlessly provocative display.
Inward delay leaves those charged to warn others failing to give the timely message that prepares the world for coming judgments. It leads to neglect of feeding the household truth for its time, caring for souls, warning and saving others, and watching, praying, and working together with personal piety placed ahead of worldly concerns. Each soul's teaching and example leads others to good or evil and will be tested, so members must examine their influence and watchmen must warn faithfully and remain alert to dangers that would weaken the church. Even without openly denying the soon return, acting as though that day is far off presumes on delay, grows careless, conforms to the world, loses the spirit and power of the message, criticizes the faithful, and joins worldlings in pleasure.
Treating probation as though many days remain brings carelessness, spiritual slumber, sleepy indifference, weakening faith, and dullness to the signs of the times amid spreading iniquity and wickedness. It exerts a soothing worldly influence that dims light and causes stumbling, while long acquaintance with present truth and the Bible without establishment in truth produces a defective gospel, defective Christian life, and defective eyesight that forgets the work of preparing a people for everlasting life. Such ones bind up with the world for self-glorification, work away from soul-saving principles, are destitute of the Holy Spirit, and stand only with the obedient or the disobedient with no middle ground. Presuming delay does not excuse neglect or wrongdoing but exposes unfaithfulness, abuses mercy and patience despite received light, and ends in sudden destruction without escape, for probation has limits though the return remains certain and its time unknown. Diligence, living testimony, and exercise of faith are needed to keep sin out and to stand ready rather than perish in self-deception.
Instead of indifference and boasting that the coming is delayed while wickedness spreads and warnings are not given, the message must sound in earnest warning. Men everywhere are to be persuaded to repent, flee from wrath to come, seek the Lord while He may be found, and know the end of all things is at hand, because souls are to be saved or lost. Believers must keep souls in the love of God, get ready to meet Him in peace, be wholly consecrated and no longer lukewarm, live pure and holy, have eyes anointed to discern truth from error, be clothed in the white garments of Christ's righteousness, and walk and talk with God under His protection as the world becomes as Sodom and Gomorrah and as in the days of Noah. This rousing to immediate preparation belongs to the last remnant of time when prophecy is fulfilling and Christ will soon come with power and great glory, leaving no time to lose.
The verse forbids harboring delay thought in the close of earth's history. Obedience requires thorough acquaintance with Scripture through the Holy Spirit's teaching to enlighten minds about transgression of God's law, purify hearts, guide in duty, shield from danger, keep in the fear and love of God, and keep in patient waiting. Any word suggesting decreasing faith, anything weakening confidence that ought to be strengthened, and anything bewildering minds that ought to be enlightened expresses the forbidden thought. Christ has entrusted His household and interests to followers while He is in heaven, so they must watch, wait, prepare, and not only watch but pray and work and wait, standing before God with fear and trembling for what is coming upon the world lest He return suddenly and find them asleep.