Matthew 24:48-51

Matthew 24:48-51

[48] But and  if  that  evil  servant  shall say  in  his  heart,  lord  delayeth  [49] And  shall begin  to smite  his fellowservants,  and  to eat  and  drink  with  the drunken;  [50] The lord  of that  servant  shall come  in  a day  when  he looketh  not  for him, and  in  an hour  that  not  aware of,  [51] And  him  asunder,  and  appoint  him his  portion  with  the hypocrites:  there  weeping  and  gnashing  of teeth. 

What does Matthew 24:48-51 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Other disciples may conclude that Jesus" delay indicates a postponement of His appearing. This conclusion may lead to their abusing their fellow disciples and their carousing. Jesus" return will surprise such disciples who will not be ready for it. The fate of such unfaithful and unwise servants will be tragic. Jesus will cut them to pieces, a graphic and hyperbolic description of personal destruction ( Matthew 24:51; cf. 1 Samuel 15:33; Hebrews 11:37). [1] Their lot will be with the hypocrites, those whom Jesus predicted would experience God"s most severe judgment (cf. Matthew 6:2; Matthew 6:5; Matthew 6:16; Matthew 16:3; Matthew 23:13-29). Furthermore they will eventually go to hell.
"Invariably throughout Matthew this phrase [2] refers to the retribution of those who are judged before the millennial kingdom is established ( Matthew 8:12; Matthew 13:42; Matthew 13:50; Matthew 22:13; Matthew 25:30)." [3]
These unfaithful servants must be disciples of Jesus during the Tribulation who are not genuine believers. There will be some people who claim to be followers of Jesus in the Tribulation but who have not trusted in Him for salvation. There were many such in Jesus" day, and there are many today.
In this parable the good servant was prudent and faithful ( Matthew 24:45). Jesus next gave the parable of the10 virgins to illustrate prudence, and then He gave the parable of the talents to illustrate faithfulness. [4]
"This [5] part of the Olivet Discourse [6] goes beyond the "sign" questions of the disciples ( Matthew 24:3) and presents our Lord"s return in three aspects: (1) as testing profession, Matthew 24:1-13; (2) as testing service, Matthew 24:14-30; and (3) as testing individual Gentiles, Matthew 24:31-46." [7]