The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
The lord will come suddenly and unexpectedly on a day not expected and at an hour not known, catching the evil unfaithful servant who is not watching for him. That servant says inwardly that his lord delays his coming, not by open denial but by putting the day far off and presuming on the supposed delay while banishing from others the conviction that the coming is near. He shows it by smiting his fellow servants with accusation and evil speaking, by joining the world in pleasure seeking and transgression, and by neglecting to give the household its food in due season while using his trust for self. To him the lord comes and catches him unprepared, cuts him asunder and appoints his portion with the hypocrites where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth and eternal loss, while the faithful servant found watching and feeding the household is blessed and made ruler over all his goods unto eternal life. Therefore all professing faith must take heed to themselves, watch and pray and work, examine whether the warning refers to them, repent and be converted while mercy lingers, and give faithful warning in due season.
Discourse Setting and Wording
The discourse to which this verse belongs blends together the destruction of Jerusalem with the coming of Christ and the end of the world, reaching beyond Jerusalem to final judgment and given also for those living in the last scenes of earth's history. It briefly covers the whole Christian dispensation and outlines what is to come upon the world, with this verse standing as part of its closing warning to be lived out amid the perils of the last days when calamities and punishment come upon those rejecting divine warnings. The destruction of Jerusalem foretold in the same chapter serves as a type of the world's final destruction by fire, while the prophecy concerns events before the coming of the Son of man.
The discourse in Matthew 24 and 25 was spoken shortly before entering Gethsemane, while Jesus was weary from the day's work and from answering the Pharisees who hoped to find grounds to condemn Him, and it included predictions and warnings.
The verse belongs to teaching about two classes of servants awaiting His appearing, and the church living in the last days is represented by these servants together with the ten virgins of the next chapter. It forms the closing warning of that outline of what is to come upon the world, to be lived out amid the perils of the last days.
In its wording, the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looks not for Him and in an hour he is not aware of, at a time unknown to an unwatchful servant. The absent Lord returns suddenly at a time His servant does not expect or know, bringing sudden reckoning upon unfaithfulness, and the servant entrusted with the Lord's household and interests must therefore watch, wait, and prepare faithfully lest he be found sleeping.
Sudden Unexpected Coming
The lord will come suddenly and unexpectedly upon the evil, unfaithful servant in a day he does not expect and in an hour he does not know, because he is not watching for him. That servant assumes his coming is delayed, and his carelessness and worldly pursuit of gain leave him unready for that sudden arrival. Having treated the supposed delay as permission to mistreat fellow servants and to indulge in wrongdoing, striking them and eating and drinking with the drunken and the dissolute, he is caught unprepared when the return he did not anticipate brings judgment. That sudden coming cuts him asunder and appoints his portion with the hypocrites, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. The picture portrays the condition of the church at Christ's second coming and should arouse earnest zeal in the true believer to watch and be ready, and it applies to people who profess faith yet remain indifferent to His coming and fail to give the timely warnings that should prepare the world for judgment.
No one knows the exact day or hour, yet the signs Christ described show His coming is near and at the door. People are therefore required to recognize its nearness and heed the warning, and claiming the Lord delays and refusing to watch or heed the signs brings judgment. Neglecting Christ's warning and refusing to recognize that His coming is near is fatal, while faithful servants who watch and teach His coming and are found diligently doing their work are regarded, blessed, and rewarded differently. The belief that Christ delays His coming can take root in the heart and show itself in words and actions, and spiritual dullness in this time of watching can blind people to the signs of the times and leave them in sleepy indifference and apathy. God is sending judgments upon cities because their inhabitants have dishonored Him, to arouse the world from that apathy, and now is the opportunity to warn the world that the end of all things is at hand and to be found as a faithful and wise servant diligently searching the Word and speaking faithful warnings and truth in due season.
The suddenness is the same as in the days of Noah before the Flood, when people were eating and drinking and marrying and absorbed in ordinary life and wrongdoing until destruction came. The very same condition exists now, when from pulpit and press it is proclaimed that the law of God is done away. As in Noah's time, people may remain absorbed in ordinary life and wrongdoing until the coming overtakes them, so they must not be caught unready like those who ignored Noah's warning before the Flood but must stay watchful and ready because the hour is unknown. Disregarding the warning is as fatal as failing to recognize the coming Flood, and those who know the truth must like Noah lift the voice in warning that the end of all things is at hand.
The servant's claim that his lord delays does not prevent the sudden reckoning, and his unfaithfulness ends in judgment and a place among hypocrites. Apparent delay does not make the warning false, so the warning also applies to those who ridicule the nearness of the Son of man. Christ's long-foretold coming is no reason to conclude that the teaching is mistaken, for God's patience with the wicked serves His merciful purpose of seeking their salvation. The promised coming will take place after the message has been borne to all nations, tongues, and peoples.
Evil Servant's Saying and Doing
The evil servant says within his heart that his Lord delays His coming, putting the day to a distant period and guiltily presuming upon the supposed delay. This is not open denial or scoffing at the second coming but an inward declaration shown by heart, words, and actions, denying the speedy appearing in spirit, works, and words by saying peace and safety, the time is not yet, and all things continue as they were from the beginning. Having outgrown advent faith and living for the world, with love grown cold because iniquity abounds, he banishes from others the conviction that the Lord is coming quickly and leads them to presumptuous careless delay, confirmation in worldliness and stupor, and possession of the mind by earthly passions and corrupt thoughts. To say this and to smite the fellow servant makes a man a scoffer bringing sudden denunciation, so that the belief taking root in the heart and showing itself in words and actions, with spiritual dullness blinding to the signs, leaves him to be caught when not watching and not heeding, and calls sinners to turn and seek preparation and to wake from sleep and repent.
He begins to smite his fellow servants by accusing and condemning those faithful to their Master. He is ready to pass censure on those better than himself, with the poison of asps under his lips, expressing suspicion and doubt and evil thinking and evil speaking, weakening confidence and turning it into doubt and unbelief and failing to help establish others in the truth. He oppresses his fellow men from the same principle by which Cain killed Abel, because Abel worshiped God according to God's direction while Cain followed his own plans, refused to acknowledge dependence on Christ, and hated Abel because God favored him. The Lord has a controversy with all who by unbelief and doubt say He delays His coming and do these works, for they are drunken but not with wine and stagger but not with strong drink, with reason controlled by Satan so they know not at what they stumble.
He eats and drinks with the drunken, uniting with the world in pleasure-seeking and in gatherings for pleasure, adopting its maxims and conforming to its practices. He neglects eternal interests, mingles with the world until like grows with like in transgression in a fearful assimilation, and becomes to all intents and purposes one with worldlings. As soon as he loses the spirit and power of the message he manifests unbelief by this downward course, going downward until careless living disparages fellow believers and joins the ungodly, working from the very same principle as the drunken. Neglect of watchfulness and secret prayer begins this decline, so that remaining under the Spirit's control through continual watching and prayer is the safeguard.
He neglects his duty to give the household meat in due season, though as steward made ruler over the household he was set to minister to and faithfully educate church members and families. A steward identifies with his master, accepts responsibility to act in his stead as his master would do, and makes his master's interests his own, and his position is one of dignity because his master trusts him. If he acts selfishly for his own advantage, turns advantages gained by trading with his lord's goods to his own advantage, buries talents in the world, serves Satan instead of the Lord, and misuses goods for selfish pleasure, he perverts that dignified trust and can no longer be looked upon as a trustworthy servant to be depended on. He looks at earthly things as the chief good, spends his life to gain worldly riches, and spends in self-gratification money lent him as treasure for opening doors for gospel work, and with ambitions reaching to the ends of the earth sustains commercial enterprises God forbids. Such do-nothings who knew their Master's will but did it not, who had the light of truth and every advantage but chose selfish interests and did nothing to unfold truth, hold forth the words of life, warn of danger, and save others, absorb themselves in worldly pursuits and leave themselves unready when the Lord comes.
He refuses to restrict appetite and passion and to deny self for Christ even after receiving light and knowledge of truth. He lacks moral courage to war against appetite and passion, will not be an overcomer, opposes the work to reach the most depraved, and walks in darkness while indulgence in appetite with neglect and abuse of fellow servants leaves him unready. This danger is present now among brethren, ministers, and medical missionary workers, where some with great opportunities and great light backslide while many poor outcasts, even publicans and sinners rescued from the lowest depths, grasp the hope set before them in the gospel and go into the kingdom before them.
After the passing of the expected time in the Advent movement, ministers who said in their hearts that their Lord delayed His coming and attacked those who continued giving spiritual food to the household illustrated the unfaithful servant. By contrast the faithful servants strengthened others with Bible teaching that upheld God's hand in the movement. The unfaithful servant is further illustrated by the Sabbath-school worker who makes pretension of guiding souls to the path of holiness while his own life is marked with pleasure-loving, pride, and love of display and is not in accordance with his profession, so that his influence is an offense to God. His heart is filled with rubbish with no room for ennobling, elevated truth, Satan rather than Christ abiding within, and his soul temple needs to be refined, purified, and cleansed through thorough conversion by the transforming grace of Christ that brings a person from death unto life.
Servants entrusted with sacred interests can be found unfaithful by working contrary to God's will and purpose and acting as traitors betraying sacred interests. In a time of peril over Sunday this includes counseling believers to refrain from labor on Sunday in a way that respects and reverences Sunday as the child of papacy, for elevating it is idolatry. Counsel to brethren must therefore be given very carefully, neither honoring Sunday nor urging presumptuous defiance of the law.
Judgment and Reward
The Lord comes upon that servant in a day when there is no expectation and in an hour unknown to him, because he is not watching, and catches him with the world in the snare. Having said in his heart that his Lord delays His coming, he has smitten his fellow servants and eaten and drunk with the drunken instead of giving the household meat in due season, and the sudden return exposes his neglect and wrongdoing and brings judgment. As a steward made ruler over the household to minister and faithfully educate and to act in his master's stead and make his master's interests his own, he has perverted a dignified trust by acting selfishly for his own advantage, trading with his lord's goods for himself, looking at earthly things as the chief good, spending for worldly riches and self-gratification money lent as treasure for gospel work, and he can no longer be looked upon as trustworthy and to be depended on. He is cut asunder and appointed his portion with the hypocrites, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
That cutting asunder is eternal loss, when what he trusted crumbles to dust. Stewards, watchmen and soldiers of the cross who knew the Master's will but did it not, who had the light of truth and every advantage but chose selfish interests and did nothing to unfold truth, hold forth the words of life, warn of danger and save others, will be left with those they did not try to save. The unfaithful, dishonorable steward is charged with all the good he might have done but did not do, and his unfaithfulness will not withstand examination so that he fears to meet his Lord. In the last great day the door will be shut, and the cry, Lord, Lord, open unto us, will be in vain.
By contrast the faithful and wise servant watches and is ready, warns those perishing in sin, denies self, sacrifices earthly riches, and gives meat in due season. When the Lord comes and finds him so doing he is blessed, regarded and rewarded differently from those who deny the coming and refuse to watch or heed the signs of its nearness. He wars the good warfare through much tribulation without laying down his weapons until Christ bids rest, gives all to Christ, invests means to advance the last message of mercy and sustain gospel work, and lets his light shine to those in darkness. Found so doing, he is made ruler over all his goods, and secures the inheritance that endures through all eternity and gains eternal life.
At that reckoning many poor outcasts, even publicans and sinners, grasp the hope set before them in the gospel and go into the kingdom of heaven. They include people rescued from the lowest depths and from deep degradation who accept the gospel, while brethren, ministers, medical missionary workers, and others with great opportunities and great light backslide. The evil servant among them is one who has had light and knowledge of truth but will not be an overcomer, will not restrict appetite or deny self for Christ, lacks moral courage to war against appetite and passion, and opposes the work to reach the most depraved. While such walk in darkness, the repentant outcasts enter before them when the door is shut, and both some rescued from the lowest depths and some with great opportunity and great light who fail are cut asunder and appointed with the hypocrites to weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Prophetic Fulfillment Studied
The prophecies of Matthew 24 are to be studied and brought before believers and unbelievers, with ministers and teachers to present them and leave matters of lesser consequence aside, because their truths decide eternal destiny and call the church to arouse as it sees their unmistakable fulfillment. That chapter teaches that Christ's second coming is still future and did not take place at the destruction of Jerusalem. Saying my Lord delays His coming and smiting the fellowservant makes a man a scoffer and brings that sudden coming and its denunciation upon him, so sinners must turn and seek preparation for His coming.
Setting dates for Christ's return and having them pass would weaken faith, and the time of trouble must come before His coming. Rejecting such date-setting was wrongly accused as siding with the evil servant who says his master delays and is caught unprepared. Its prediction is being fulfilled today, showing Christ's coming is at hand and near, at the door, amid disasters, earthquakes, shipwrecks, floods, fires, plagues, calamities, and judgments upon cities whose inhabitants dishonor God and reject calls to repentance. The chapter outlines what is coming upon the world and its warning applies to the perils of the last days, when calamity and punishment come upon those who reject God's commandments and warnings and underscore the need to heed Christ's warnings and be ready. Yet many who have long expected Christ remain listlessly indifferent, apathetic, and sleepily indifferent to daily events declaring the nearness.
Call to Watchful Readiness
The verse portrays the condition of the church at Christ's second coming, when the Lord comes upon the evil servant in a day he does not expect and in an hour he does not know, because he says in his heart that his Lord delays His coming and begins to smite his fellow servants and to eat and drink with the drunken, bringing upon himself being cut asunder and appointed his portion with the hypocrites where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. That portrayal should arouse earnest zeal in the heart of the true believer to watch and be ready, to watch and pray continually and to watch, pray and work ever in the spirit of prayer. Readiness for that unlooked-for coming is to take heed lest hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness and cares of this life, and to remain under the Spirit's control. This decline begins with neglect of watchfulness and secret prayer, showing itself in careless living that neglects eternal interests, adopts worldly maxims and practices, disparages fellow believers, and joins the ungodly until like grows with like. The servant entrusted with the Lord's household and interests must therefore watch, wait, and prepare faithfully, lest the Lord find him sleeping when He comes.
Everyone should ask, Does this Scripture refer to me, Lord, is it I, for the warning belongs to the closing period of earth's history when disasters, earthquakes, shipwrecks, floods, fires, plagues and judgments upon cities declare the coming near and at the door, yet many long expecting Christ remain listlessly indifferent, apathetic and asleep. The warning must not be put aside with, It does not mean me, and must not be passed by unheeded, but calls all to take heed to themselves, to study Christ's words and see the fulfillment of His predictions, to stop deceiving their own souls, and to recognize that every soul will be tested and held accountable for leading others toward good or evil. Now is the opportunity to make diligent work for repentance, to repent and be converted and forsake sins that they may be blotted out, while probation still lingers and mercy's gracious voice is still heard, for the end of all things is at hand. The faithful and wise servant gives meat in due season and when found so doing is blessed and made ruler over all goods, so believers must diligently search the Word and speak faithful warnings and truth in due season.
The warning applies to people who profess faith yet remain indifferent to Christ's coming and fail to give the timely warnings that should prepare the world for judgment, and to those whose words and actions say that their Lord is delaying His coming. Even those placed upon the walls of Zion to watch with eagle eye and lift the voice of warning are themselves asleep, neglecting duty and bringing upon themselves the blood of souls, and such is the condition of very many today. They must wake from spiritual sleep and repent and be ready, because the unprepared will be caught by His return in sudden, unlooked-for coming. Each person will be tested, and a servant's example can lead others into false paths, so careless presumption must be put away for watchfulness.
It applies to pastors and leaders as stewards made rulers over the household to minister to and faithfully educate church members and families, and to every Christian as a steward entrusted with his Lord's goods and interests to act in his stead and make his master's interests his own. The position is one of dignity because the master trusts him, but if he acts selfishly for his own advantage, buries talents in the world, and turns advantages gained by trading with his lord's goods to his own advantage, he perverts that trust and can no longer be looked upon as trustworthy to be depended on, charged with all the good he might have done but did not do. It means judgment upon stewards, watchmen, and soldiers of the cross who knew their Master's will but did it not, who had the light of truth and every advantage but chose selfish interests and did nothing to unfold truth, hold forth the words of life, warn of danger, advance in knowledge, establish others, and save others. Those employed in the Echo office must be loyal and true in appointed work, a light amid moral darkness, and those who have no relish or love for the truth and are not made better by connection with the office are after sufficient trial to be separated from the work, because their irreligion and unbelief will be felt, evil angels will work through them to mislead apprentices, and promising youth who love God will be in constant danger of being leavened by those never brought under God's control. The same warning applies to people who have received truth and opportunity but fail to overcome and turn from faithful service, to leaders who deny Christ's soon coming in words and actions, oppress others and live for the world, and to one who wastes gifts and rejects repeated calls and cannot be made fit at the late hour.
It warns physicians and all persisting in forbidden conduct to watch and repent before God, for the Lord's coming will catch the unrepentant unprepared in a day and hour unknown. Those whose ambitions reach to the ends of the earth with many commercial enterprises and who have for years sustained a course of action God forbids, whatever their calling, must watch and repent before God, or they will never see the kingdom of heaven. It warns workers failing to overcome appetite and living indulgently while abusing fellow servants, who must repent and remain ready as the sudden coming brings them to account. It warns those who ridicule the nearness of the Son of man, showing that their unpreparedness, disregard of fellow servants, mistreatment of them and careless living meet sudden judgment with the hypocrites.
The lord will come suddenly and unexpectedly on a day not expected and at an hour not known, catching the evil unfaithful servant who is not watching for him. That servant says inwardly that his lord delays his coming, not by open denial but by putting the day far off and presuming on the supposed delay while banishing from others the conviction that the coming is near. He shows it by smiting his fellow servants with accusation and evil speaking, by joining the world in pleasure seeking and transgression, and by neglecting to give the household its food in due season while using his trust for self. To him the lord comes and catches him unprepared, cuts him asunder and appoints his portion with the hypocrites where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth and eternal loss, while the faithful servant found watching and feeding the household is blessed and made ruler over all his goods unto eternal life. Therefore all professing faith must take heed to themselves, watch and pray and work, examine whether the warning refers to them, repent and be converted while mercy lingers, and give faithful warning in due season.
Discourse Setting and Wording
The discourse to which this verse belongs blends together the destruction of Jerusalem with the coming of Christ and the end of the world, reaching beyond Jerusalem to final judgment and given also for those living in the last scenes of earth's history. It briefly covers the whole Christian dispensation and outlines what is to come upon the world, with this verse standing as part of its closing warning to be lived out amid the perils of the last days when calamities and punishment come upon those rejecting divine warnings. The destruction of Jerusalem foretold in the same chapter serves as a type of the world's final destruction by fire, while the prophecy concerns events before the coming of the Son of man.
The discourse in Matthew 24 and 25 was spoken shortly before entering Gethsemane, while Jesus was weary from the day's work and from answering the Pharisees who hoped to find grounds to condemn Him, and it included predictions and warnings.
The verse belongs to teaching about two classes of servants awaiting His appearing, and the church living in the last days is represented by these servants together with the ten virgins of the next chapter. It forms the closing warning of that outline of what is to come upon the world, to be lived out amid the perils of the last days.
In its wording, the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looks not for Him and in an hour he is not aware of, at a time unknown to an unwatchful servant. The absent Lord returns suddenly at a time His servant does not expect or know, bringing sudden reckoning upon unfaithfulness, and the servant entrusted with the Lord's household and interests must therefore watch, wait, and prepare faithfully lest he be found sleeping.
Sudden Unexpected Coming
The lord will come suddenly and unexpectedly upon the evil, unfaithful servant in a day he does not expect and in an hour he does not know, because he is not watching for him. That servant assumes his coming is delayed, and his carelessness and worldly pursuit of gain leave him unready for that sudden arrival. Having treated the supposed delay as permission to mistreat fellow servants and to indulge in wrongdoing, striking them and eating and drinking with the drunken and the dissolute, he is caught unprepared when the return he did not anticipate brings judgment. That sudden coming cuts him asunder and appoints his portion with the hypocrites, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. The picture portrays the condition of the church at Christ's second coming and should arouse earnest zeal in the true believer to watch and be ready, and it applies to people who profess faith yet remain indifferent to His coming and fail to give the timely warnings that should prepare the world for judgment.
No one knows the exact day or hour, yet the signs Christ described show His coming is near and at the door. People are therefore required to recognize its nearness and heed the warning, and claiming the Lord delays and refusing to watch or heed the signs brings judgment. Neglecting Christ's warning and refusing to recognize that His coming is near is fatal, while faithful servants who watch and teach His coming and are found diligently doing their work are regarded, blessed, and rewarded differently. The belief that Christ delays His coming can take root in the heart and show itself in words and actions, and spiritual dullness in this time of watching can blind people to the signs of the times and leave them in sleepy indifference and apathy. God is sending judgments upon cities because their inhabitants have dishonored Him, to arouse the world from that apathy, and now is the opportunity to warn the world that the end of all things is at hand and to be found as a faithful and wise servant diligently searching the Word and speaking faithful warnings and truth in due season.
The suddenness is the same as in the days of Noah before the Flood, when people were eating and drinking and marrying and absorbed in ordinary life and wrongdoing until destruction came. The very same condition exists now, when from pulpit and press it is proclaimed that the law of God is done away. As in Noah's time, people may remain absorbed in ordinary life and wrongdoing until the coming overtakes them, so they must not be caught unready like those who ignored Noah's warning before the Flood but must stay watchful and ready because the hour is unknown. Disregarding the warning is as fatal as failing to recognize the coming Flood, and those who know the truth must like Noah lift the voice in warning that the end of all things is at hand.
The servant's claim that his lord delays does not prevent the sudden reckoning, and his unfaithfulness ends in judgment and a place among hypocrites. Apparent delay does not make the warning false, so the warning also applies to those who ridicule the nearness of the Son of man. Christ's long-foretold coming is no reason to conclude that the teaching is mistaken, for God's patience with the wicked serves His merciful purpose of seeking their salvation. The promised coming will take place after the message has been borne to all nations, tongues, and peoples.
Evil Servant's Saying and Doing
The evil servant says within his heart that his Lord delays His coming, putting the day to a distant period and guiltily presuming upon the supposed delay. This is not open denial or scoffing at the second coming but an inward declaration shown by heart, words, and actions, denying the speedy appearing in spirit, works, and words by saying peace and safety, the time is not yet, and all things continue as they were from the beginning. Having outgrown advent faith and living for the world, with love grown cold because iniquity abounds, he banishes from others the conviction that the Lord is coming quickly and leads them to presumptuous careless delay, confirmation in worldliness and stupor, and possession of the mind by earthly passions and corrupt thoughts. To say this and to smite the fellow servant makes a man a scoffer bringing sudden denunciation, so that the belief taking root in the heart and showing itself in words and actions, with spiritual dullness blinding to the signs, leaves him to be caught when not watching and not heeding, and calls sinners to turn and seek preparation and to wake from sleep and repent.
He begins to smite his fellow servants by accusing and condemning those faithful to their Master. He is ready to pass censure on those better than himself, with the poison of asps under his lips, expressing suspicion and doubt and evil thinking and evil speaking, weakening confidence and turning it into doubt and unbelief and failing to help establish others in the truth. He oppresses his fellow men from the same principle by which Cain killed Abel, because Abel worshiped God according to God's direction while Cain followed his own plans, refused to acknowledge dependence on Christ, and hated Abel because God favored him. The Lord has a controversy with all who by unbelief and doubt say He delays His coming and do these works, for they are drunken but not with wine and stagger but not with strong drink, with reason controlled by Satan so they know not at what they stumble.
He eats and drinks with the drunken, uniting with the world in pleasure-seeking and in gatherings for pleasure, adopting its maxims and conforming to its practices. He neglects eternal interests, mingles with the world until like grows with like in transgression in a fearful assimilation, and becomes to all intents and purposes one with worldlings. As soon as he loses the spirit and power of the message he manifests unbelief by this downward course, going downward until careless living disparages fellow believers and joins the ungodly, working from the very same principle as the drunken. Neglect of watchfulness and secret prayer begins this decline, so that remaining under the Spirit's control through continual watching and prayer is the safeguard.
He neglects his duty to give the household meat in due season, though as steward made ruler over the household he was set to minister to and faithfully educate church members and families. A steward identifies with his master, accepts responsibility to act in his stead as his master would do, and makes his master's interests his own, and his position is one of dignity because his master trusts him. If he acts selfishly for his own advantage, turns advantages gained by trading with his lord's goods to his own advantage, buries talents in the world, serves Satan instead of the Lord, and misuses goods for selfish pleasure, he perverts that dignified trust and can no longer be looked upon as a trustworthy servant to be depended on. He looks at earthly things as the chief good, spends his life to gain worldly riches, and spends in self-gratification money lent him as treasure for opening doors for gospel work, and with ambitions reaching to the ends of the earth sustains commercial enterprises God forbids. Such do-nothings who knew their Master's will but did it not, who had the light of truth and every advantage but chose selfish interests and did nothing to unfold truth, hold forth the words of life, warn of danger, and save others, absorb themselves in worldly pursuits and leave themselves unready when the Lord comes.
He refuses to restrict appetite and passion and to deny self for Christ even after receiving light and knowledge of truth. He lacks moral courage to war against appetite and passion, will not be an overcomer, opposes the work to reach the most depraved, and walks in darkness while indulgence in appetite with neglect and abuse of fellow servants leaves him unready. This danger is present now among brethren, ministers, and medical missionary workers, where some with great opportunities and great light backslide while many poor outcasts, even publicans and sinners rescued from the lowest depths, grasp the hope set before them in the gospel and go into the kingdom before them.
After the passing of the expected time in the Advent movement, ministers who said in their hearts that their Lord delayed His coming and attacked those who continued giving spiritual food to the household illustrated the unfaithful servant. By contrast the faithful servants strengthened others with Bible teaching that upheld God's hand in the movement. The unfaithful servant is further illustrated by the Sabbath-school worker who makes pretension of guiding souls to the path of holiness while his own life is marked with pleasure-loving, pride, and love of display and is not in accordance with his profession, so that his influence is an offense to God. His heart is filled with rubbish with no room for ennobling, elevated truth, Satan rather than Christ abiding within, and his soul temple needs to be refined, purified, and cleansed through thorough conversion by the transforming grace of Christ that brings a person from death unto life.
Servants entrusted with sacred interests can be found unfaithful by working contrary to God's will and purpose and acting as traitors betraying sacred interests. In a time of peril over Sunday this includes counseling believers to refrain from labor on Sunday in a way that respects and reverences Sunday as the child of papacy, for elevating it is idolatry. Counsel to brethren must therefore be given very carefully, neither honoring Sunday nor urging presumptuous defiance of the law.
Judgment and Reward
The Lord comes upon that servant in a day when there is no expectation and in an hour unknown to him, because he is not watching, and catches him with the world in the snare. Having said in his heart that his Lord delays His coming, he has smitten his fellow servants and eaten and drunk with the drunken instead of giving the household meat in due season, and the sudden return exposes his neglect and wrongdoing and brings judgment. As a steward made ruler over the household to minister and faithfully educate and to act in his master's stead and make his master's interests his own, he has perverted a dignified trust by acting selfishly for his own advantage, trading with his lord's goods for himself, looking at earthly things as the chief good, spending for worldly riches and self-gratification money lent as treasure for gospel work, and he can no longer be looked upon as trustworthy and to be depended on. He is cut asunder and appointed his portion with the hypocrites, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
That cutting asunder is eternal loss, when what he trusted crumbles to dust. Stewards, watchmen and soldiers of the cross who knew the Master's will but did it not, who had the light of truth and every advantage but chose selfish interests and did nothing to unfold truth, hold forth the words of life, warn of danger and save others, will be left with those they did not try to save. The unfaithful, dishonorable steward is charged with all the good he might have done but did not do, and his unfaithfulness will not withstand examination so that he fears to meet his Lord. In the last great day the door will be shut, and the cry, Lord, Lord, open unto us, will be in vain.
By contrast the faithful and wise servant watches and is ready, warns those perishing in sin, denies self, sacrifices earthly riches, and gives meat in due season. When the Lord comes and finds him so doing he is blessed, regarded and rewarded differently from those who deny the coming and refuse to watch or heed the signs of its nearness. He wars the good warfare through much tribulation without laying down his weapons until Christ bids rest, gives all to Christ, invests means to advance the last message of mercy and sustain gospel work, and lets his light shine to those in darkness. Found so doing, he is made ruler over all his goods, and secures the inheritance that endures through all eternity and gains eternal life.
At that reckoning many poor outcasts, even publicans and sinners, grasp the hope set before them in the gospel and go into the kingdom of heaven. They include people rescued from the lowest depths and from deep degradation who accept the gospel, while brethren, ministers, medical missionary workers, and others with great opportunities and great light backslide. The evil servant among them is one who has had light and knowledge of truth but will not be an overcomer, will not restrict appetite or deny self for Christ, lacks moral courage to war against appetite and passion, and opposes the work to reach the most depraved. While such walk in darkness, the repentant outcasts enter before them when the door is shut, and both some rescued from the lowest depths and some with great opportunity and great light who fail are cut asunder and appointed with the hypocrites to weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Prophetic Fulfillment Studied
The prophecies of Matthew 24 are to be studied and brought before believers and unbelievers, with ministers and teachers to present them and leave matters of lesser consequence aside, because their truths decide eternal destiny and call the church to arouse as it sees their unmistakable fulfillment. That chapter teaches that Christ's second coming is still future and did not take place at the destruction of Jerusalem. Saying my Lord delays His coming and smiting the fellowservant makes a man a scoffer and brings that sudden coming and its denunciation upon him, so sinners must turn and seek preparation for His coming.
Setting dates for Christ's return and having them pass would weaken faith, and the time of trouble must come before His coming. Rejecting such date-setting was wrongly accused as siding with the evil servant who says his master delays and is caught unprepared. Its prediction is being fulfilled today, showing Christ's coming is at hand and near, at the door, amid disasters, earthquakes, shipwrecks, floods, fires, plagues, calamities, and judgments upon cities whose inhabitants dishonor God and reject calls to repentance. The chapter outlines what is coming upon the world and its warning applies to the perils of the last days, when calamity and punishment come upon those who reject God's commandments and warnings and underscore the need to heed Christ's warnings and be ready. Yet many who have long expected Christ remain listlessly indifferent, apathetic, and sleepily indifferent to daily events declaring the nearness.
Call to Watchful Readiness
The verse portrays the condition of the church at Christ's second coming, when the Lord comes upon the evil servant in a day he does not expect and in an hour he does not know, because he says in his heart that his Lord delays His coming and begins to smite his fellow servants and to eat and drink with the drunken, bringing upon himself being cut asunder and appointed his portion with the hypocrites where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. That portrayal should arouse earnest zeal in the heart of the true believer to watch and be ready, to watch and pray continually and to watch, pray and work ever in the spirit of prayer. Readiness for that unlooked-for coming is to take heed lest hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness and cares of this life, and to remain under the Spirit's control. This decline begins with neglect of watchfulness and secret prayer, showing itself in careless living that neglects eternal interests, adopts worldly maxims and practices, disparages fellow believers, and joins the ungodly until like grows with like. The servant entrusted with the Lord's household and interests must therefore watch, wait, and prepare faithfully, lest the Lord find him sleeping when He comes.
Everyone should ask, Does this Scripture refer to me, Lord, is it I, for the warning belongs to the closing period of earth's history when disasters, earthquakes, shipwrecks, floods, fires, plagues and judgments upon cities declare the coming near and at the door, yet many long expecting Christ remain listlessly indifferent, apathetic and asleep. The warning must not be put aside with, It does not mean me, and must not be passed by unheeded, but calls all to take heed to themselves, to study Christ's words and see the fulfillment of His predictions, to stop deceiving their own souls, and to recognize that every soul will be tested and held accountable for leading others toward good or evil. Now is the opportunity to make diligent work for repentance, to repent and be converted and forsake sins that they may be blotted out, while probation still lingers and mercy's gracious voice is still heard, for the end of all things is at hand. The faithful and wise servant gives meat in due season and when found so doing is blessed and made ruler over all goods, so believers must diligently search the Word and speak faithful warnings and truth in due season.
The warning applies to people who profess faith yet remain indifferent to Christ's coming and fail to give the timely warnings that should prepare the world for judgment, and to those whose words and actions say that their Lord is delaying His coming. Even those placed upon the walls of Zion to watch with eagle eye and lift the voice of warning are themselves asleep, neglecting duty and bringing upon themselves the blood of souls, and such is the condition of very many today. They must wake from spiritual sleep and repent and be ready, because the unprepared will be caught by His return in sudden, unlooked-for coming. Each person will be tested, and a servant's example can lead others into false paths, so careless presumption must be put away for watchfulness.
It applies to pastors and leaders as stewards made rulers over the household to minister to and faithfully educate church members and families, and to every Christian as a steward entrusted with his Lord's goods and interests to act in his stead and make his master's interests his own. The position is one of dignity because the master trusts him, but if he acts selfishly for his own advantage, buries talents in the world, and turns advantages gained by trading with his lord's goods to his own advantage, he perverts that trust and can no longer be looked upon as trustworthy to be depended on, charged with all the good he might have done but did not do. It means judgment upon stewards, watchmen, and soldiers of the cross who knew their Master's will but did it not, who had the light of truth and every advantage but chose selfish interests and did nothing to unfold truth, hold forth the words of life, warn of danger, advance in knowledge, establish others, and save others. Those employed in the Echo office must be loyal and true in appointed work, a light amid moral darkness, and those who have no relish or love for the truth and are not made better by connection with the office are after sufficient trial to be separated from the work, because their irreligion and unbelief will be felt, evil angels will work through them to mislead apprentices, and promising youth who love God will be in constant danger of being leavened by those never brought under God's control. The same warning applies to people who have received truth and opportunity but fail to overcome and turn from faithful service, to leaders who deny Christ's soon coming in words and actions, oppress others and live for the world, and to one who wastes gifts and rejects repeated calls and cannot be made fit at the late hour.
It warns physicians and all persisting in forbidden conduct to watch and repent before God, for the Lord's coming will catch the unrepentant unprepared in a day and hour unknown. Those whose ambitions reach to the ends of the earth with many commercial enterprises and who have for years sustained a course of action God forbids, whatever their calling, must watch and repent before God, or they will never see the kingdom of heaven. It warns workers failing to overcome appetite and living indulgently while abusing fellow servants, who must repent and remain ready as the sudden coming brings them to account. It warns those who ridicule the nearness of the Son of man, showing that their unpreparedness, disregard of fellow servants, mistreatment of them and careless living meet sudden judgment with the hypocrites.