Faithful vs. Evil Slaves
In Matthew 24–25, our Lord Jesus Christ teaches His disciples in His Olivet Discourse. Our Lord answered two key questions (24:3). He prophesied of signs to indicate when His second coming is near (24:4–28). Jesus then described some events that will occur on the actual day of His second advent (24:29–31). He taught them a parable (Fig Tree), and warned them of the sudden surprise of His glorious appearing and the lack of preparedness by many people (24:32–35). He illustrated this truth by recollecting the story of Noah and the Great Deluge (24:36–41). Jesus further illustrated the necessity to prepare, by explaining the surprise appearing of the thief (24:42–44).
Our focus here is the contrasting slaves who serve Christ (24:45–51). One is faithful and sensible (24:45–47); while the other is unfaithful and evil (24:48–51). Both slaves are employed to serve the Master.
First, the faithful slave is given a stewardship to minister in the Master’s household. Faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). It is the Spirit who is the catalyst, willing and working in the believer, according to His good pleasure (Phil 2:13).
Paul was entrusted with a stewardship to preach the Word (1 Cor 9:17). He was found faithful because he was walking by the Spirit, who directed his steps (Prv 3:5–6; Gal 5:25). Some are given the provision for further distribution. Paul fought the good fight and he finished the race (1 Cor 9:24; 1 Tim 6:12; 2 Tim 4:7; Heb 12:1).
It is the steward’s task to distribute food to others at the proper time (24:45). The minister prepares the Word of God and then preaches and teaches it to Christ’s flock, where he serves as an elder, apt to teach, appointed by the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:28).
It is important to note that all Christians have a calling to serve Christ in the way He guides them. The Olivet Discourse is for all the disciples of Jesus. Paul’s stewardship was unique to him (1 Cor 9), and every believer needs to wait upon the Lord for his or her next assignment (Ps 27:14).
The faithful slave is happy, “Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes (24:46). Obedience is rarely presented by men, as a positive concept, but Jesus presents it this way. There is also a reward of greater responsibility. The one who is faithful in a little is granted more (Lk 16:10; 19:17).
Laboring for the Lord is never vain (1 Cor 15:10), and it is a labor of love (1 Thess 1:3). Simple tasks in obscure places, seen by few or none, can carry great satisfaction for the worker, who must give an account (Rom 14:12). Jacob faithfully served Laban. Joseph faithfully served Potiphar and Pharaoh. David was faithfully performing the lowest task when Samuel arrived at Jesse’s house. Let us be found faithful in our generation (Ps 78:8).
There is another servant in Jesus’ illustration. The disjunctive conjunction in 24:48 could not have more emphasis, “But…”
The second slave, who serves the same Master is described as, “evil.” The face of the Lord is against those who do evil (1 Pet 3:12). The devil is called, “the evil one (1 Jn 2:13–14).” Cain was of the evil one; and his deeds were evil (1 Jn 3:12). The inclination of the natural man is only evil all the time (Gen 6:5). Evil is in the mind, the heart, and the will of all people. It manifests in the wicked deeds of people. Salvation is delivering us from evil, but not all are saved (2 Thess 3:2).
There are fake Christians, who pretend to be Christ’s sheep (Jn 10:26). Some even rise up into positions of church stewardship (ie. Aaron’s sons; Eli’s sons; Korah; Caiaphas; Judas Iscariot; etc.). You will know them by their fruit (Mt 7:20).
The evil slave consults with himself in 24:48, and he reasons, “My Master is not coming for a long time.” The heart is deceitful above all else (Jer 17:9), which is why there is wisdom in many counselors. This slave disobeys the command of Jesus to be prepared for His coming again. Instead, he turns abusive toward the saints and revels with the rebels (24:49).
Whereas the sensible slave fed others, the evil slave squanders his Master’s resources on himself and with unworthy fellows (ie. Prodigal son before repentance). The unwarranted risk he takes, relates to the uncertainty of his Master’s return date and time (24:50).
The unfaithful servant is the Judas Iscariot in church ministry. He is described in some detail in Ezekiel 34. The pleasures of Egypt, of Sodom, of Samaria never end well.
The evil servant is labeled a hypocrite by our Lord (Mt 23). Hypocrites put on a show as man-pleasers, but God searches the heart (1 Sam 16:7). The evil hypocrite has a terrible end at the time of Jesus’ second coming (Jn 5:29; Rev 20:15).
Jesus warned against the impostors: false teachers, false prophets, even false Christs posing as angels in the church (Mt 24:24; 2 Cor 11:13). God is all-knowing. He is a just Judge (Gen 18:25; Acts 10:42; 2 Tim 4:1; 1 Pet 4:5). He knows the faithful slave, and He knows the evil slave. He has seen their deeds, and they must appear before His great white throne of judgment to receive their recompense (2 Cor 5:10; Rev 20:11).
Considering the threatened scrutiny, one would have to be reprobate to think he is getting away with his treachery against Almighty God. The fact is he is not a believer, which makes perfect sense (Jn 10:26; Rom 8:9). His eternal home is hell, and his judgment day will be gruesome (24:51). He will gnash his teeth, forever.
Christian, take heed to the contrast in this illustration from Jesus. Abhor what is evil (Rom 12:9); and do the good deeds prepared for you by the Lord (Eph 2:10), in the power and under the direction of the indwelling Spirit. Be diligent, and press on in your high calling in the Spirit of Christ (Phil 3:14), who is accomplishing what concerns you (Ps 57:2; 138:8).
Finally, prepare each day to hear those words of promise, “Well done, good and faithful slave…enter the joy of the Lord (Mt 25:21, 23; 1 Cor 4:5). That will be a good day, indeed.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
April 5, 2022
