Who then is the faithful and wise servant?

Matthew 24:1-51

Key Verse 24:45

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?”

In this passage, prior to Jesus' departure, Jesus gave his disciples a brief summary of the events to occur and the things they are called to do until the day of his return.

1. Read v. 1 and compare this passage with 26:1-2. How many more days did Jesus have here on earth?

** Two more days to go till the day of his crucifixion

2. Read v. 2. When did the event Jesus spoke of happen? Why do you think it happened? (John 2:21; Eph 2:19-22)

** A.D. 70

** As of Jesus' death and resurrection, Jesus became the living temple, so this physical temple no longer became necessary. When we accept Jesus in our hearts, Jesus the living temple arises in us. 

3. Read v. 3 and compare the disciples' questions with the question Jesus asked the disciples in v. 45. What does this comparison indicate about the main concerns of: 1) Jesus' disciples; and 2) Jesus? 

** Jesus' disciples were concerned about when and what. They had a sort of unhealthy interest in the issue of the so called eschatology. 

Once you deeply repent and turn to Christ, that turn becomes determinative of the future, including your salvation. As you remain faithful to the Lord, no matter what happens in the future, either good or bad, will only work out for your own good; even bad things will turn out to be good opportunities for you such as doing good to others like sharing the gospel.  

** Jesus' concern was salvation/protection/provision for the flock of God put under the care of his disciples. Consider Jesus’ command to preach the gospel to all nations, despite unfavorable circumstances, feeding the flock of God in each fellowship or family. Jesus was about to leave the world, leaving the work to be done primarily in the hands of the disciples. (Cf. Mat 28:18-20) He is now concerned about the salvation of all to the end, to the last soul not losing even one. 

4. Think about the first question the disciples asked Jesus: "When will this happen?" Did Jesus answer the question? 

** Jesus did not say, "Oh, yes. It will come down on A.D. 70." He did not say a thing about when the temple might come down. Most likely Jesus knew that the disciples associated the time of the temple coming down with the time of Jesus' second coming and of the end of the age. So in order not to get them confused, Jesus did not specify the time of temple coming down. 

5. Consider Jesus' answer (4-44) to the disciples' second question: "What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" What is the point of Jesus' answer? (4, 44)

** Jesus covered a lot of ground, but the point is simple: watch out, so no one would deceive you; 'be ready'. 

[Some technical notes: 

a) Why do people get deceived? Answer: 2Ti 3:13 (it is due to the evil inside; see also 1Jo 3:8); 

b) Why do unbelieving people, their world/environments, get only worse (wars, rumors of wars, famine, etc. getting worse) (even the nature such as moon stars, sun etc.) becoming increasingly disorderly in crescendo? Answer: it is because of the decree the Lord called to set in motion, that the farther away one removes himself from the Lord, the worse the conditions of himself and his environment will get. Cf. Romans 1:18-32, Gen 3, Gen 15:16, etc.); 

c) one of the common threads that run through the events good or bad is termed as the process of birth pains, that is, the gospel (giving new birth to a dying soul) to be preached to the people of the world hostile to the gospel;

d) fig tree referring to the nation Israel, that is, fig tree withered and the nation Israel disappeared, but fig tree came back and nation Israel revived, indicating that in preparation for his second coming, the fig tree (cf. Jeremiah 24:1-7) mysteriously came back to life with its twigs getting tender just as the nation Israel came to be up and running again beginning May 14, 1948; 

e) most likely 'this generation' in v. 34 refers to the generation of the fig tree having sprouted, going through the summer into the fall season that is, the time of second crop of harvest; 

f) Most likely the events described in vs. 15-25 are yet to occur, and when they do occur, they will hit Jerusalem/Judea first; 

g) Holy place referred to in v. 15 is indicative of the third temple to come in sooner than later in Jerusalem, only to be desecrated by the lawless man/antichrist to come; 

h) Arguably the block buster events esp. unequaled distress described in vs. 15-25 will last a relatively short period of time (three and a half years plus 30 days or 1290 days (Dnl 12:11) (cf. Mat 24:22); 

i) the elect in v. 22 - believers in Jesus be it Jews or Gentiles; 

j) v. 28 might refer to the weeds bound to be uprooted (cf. Mat 13:30); 

k) 'taken' (destroyed) vs.  ‘left’ (spared) (cf. 39). 

6. Read vs. 45-51. Suppose you are the master. On your return, how would you treat: 1) the good servant; and 2) the wicked servant? 

** I would do more or less the same as the master in the passage.

7. Read vs. 50-51 again. Why would the master of the wicked servant come (or return) on a day when his servant does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of? Why do you think Jesus ended his answer to the disciples’ questions this way?

** That is the way to make a correct assessment of the work/evil/abuse committed.

** It is to warn the disciples to focus on their duties rather than being busy to save their skin.

The end

 

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