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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Matthew 24:45 - 24:51
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_24:45-51
45Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. 47Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48But if that evil slave says in his heart, 'My master is not coming for a long time,'49and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with the drunkards; 50the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, 51and will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mat_24:45 "put in charge of his household" Some see this as relating this parable to Christian leaders (cf. Luke 12-40-48). In this context it related to Jesus' continuing confrontation with the Jewish leaders of His day.
Mat_24:46 Believers must remain active, ready, and faithful (cf. Luk_12:37-38; Jas_1:12; Rev_16:15). The when and how of the Second Coming is not the issue!
Mat_24:47 "he will put him in charge of all his possessions" See Mat_13:12; Mat_25:29, and Luk_19:17.
Mat_24:48 "if" This is a third class conditional sentence, which meant potential future action.
▣ "heart" See Special Topic at Mat_5:8.
▣ "My master is not coming for a long time" This represents the concept of a delay in the Second Coming (cf. Mat_25:5; 2 Thessalonians 2; 2Pe_3:4).
Mat_24:50 "the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know" See Mat_24:27; Mat_24:44; Mat_25:6; Mat_25:13. This reflects the "any moment" return of the Lord.
Mat_24:51 "will cut him to pieces" There is uncertainty as to whether this is metaphorical or literal (cf. 2Sa_12:31; Heb_11:37). It is surely a description of OT judgment.
▣ "with the hypocrites" The parallel in Luk_12:46 has "unbelievers." Matthew calls the Pharisees "hypocrites" several times. See Special Topic at Mat_6:2.
▣ "weeping" These last two items are judgment metaphors. Weeping was a sign of great sadness (cf. Mat_25:30).
▣ "gnashing of teeth" This represents anger or pain (cf. Mat_8:12; Mat_13:42; Mat_13:50; Mat_22:13; Mat_25:30).
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