←
Explanation for:
Matthew
24
:
48
But if that evil servant shall say in his heart: My lord is long a coming:
11
more explanations
& daily audio-books
spoken by
– enjoy in Theosis App –
Start your
Bible-journey
with explanations
& daily audio-books
only 4$* per month
{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"If a malicious servant were to think in his heart, “My Master delays His return,” he would begin to mistreat his fellow servants and indulge in excess with the drunken. It can be inferred from this that just as a faithful servant who diligently awaits his Master's arrival provides sustenance to his fellow servants in due time, and in turn, is entrusted with all the Master’s possessions; so too, the one who, as the prophet Ezekiel states, reassures himself with the notion that many days will elapse (Ezek. 12:22), neglects the imminent return of the Lord. As a result, he becomes negligent, squandering time in feasting and indulgence. Such a servant will not encounter a compassionate Master but a stern Judge."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Christ, in His usual manner, instructs the listener by illustrating the rewards designated for the righteous while also warning of the consequences awaiting the unrighteous. If one were to argue, \\"Consider the thought that arose in the servant due to the uncertainty of the day,\\" recalling, \\"My lord delays his coming,\\" we can respond that this thought originated not from the lack of knowledge about the day, but rather from the servant's own shortcomings. Indeed, why did the same doubt not cross the mind of a wise and faithful servant? Alas! Even if the master takes His time, why do you continue to wait idly for His return? Why does this not concern you? From this, we understand that the Lord is not slack in His promises. Such an outlook belongs to the servant of wickedness, leading to his condemnation. To affirm that the Lord is not tardy, consider the words of Paul, who declares, \\"The Lord is at hand. He who is coming will come and will not delay\\" (Hebrews 10:37). Furthermore, take note of how frequently Christ brings our attention to the hiddenness of the day, revealing the value of this obscurity as it serves to awaken the servants from their slumber. What if some have not gleaned any advantage from it? Many other beneficial opportunities have also been overlooked by others. Yet, the Lord remains steadfast in His purpose."},{"author-name":"Cyrill of Alexandria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88a8ea5c988a4fc073480_Cyrill%20of%20Alexandria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"This message is directed at teachers who indulge in excess. The Lord refers to an unfaithful instructor as a wicked servant who, in the absence of an overseer to judge his wrongdoing, mistreats his followers and consorts with those driven by worldly desires. Those who commit transgressions do so as if there were no final judgement and no consequences for their actions. The suffering inflicted on others is noted as indicative of the harm caused to their minds by the indulgence of their teachers, as the apostle writes: \\"Sinning thus against the brethren, and bruising their weak consciences\\" (1 Cor. 8:12). Those who consider themselves wise act contrary to righteous thought, merely donning the facade of virtue. On the terrible day of judgement, they will suffer a severing from the Spirit, facing eternal separation. Though He does not unite with the unworthy, the Lord still remains present in a spiritual sense with those who have been marked by Him, awaiting their repentance and redemption. In that time, He will reject every soul that has tarnished His grace, condemning them to share the fate of the hypocrites (Matthew 24:51). He labels hypocrites as those who attempt to instruct others in righteousness, resulting in greater harm to those they teach. Thus, it is said that those who misuse the ministry given to them by the Lord will find that He not only withholds further communion with the Spirit but will also revoke the fellowship they once received upon their selection for service, leading to their correction. It is impossible for anyone to face correction while still in union with the Spirit; God's discipline does not involve physical punishment but rather the removal of spiritual sonship. Consequently, they will face punishment for those they have scorned and will gnash their teeth in anguish, contemplating the finality of their suffering and the severity of their judgement."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"If the unfaithful servant, who has demonstrated a lack of wisdom, believes that his lord will not return promptly..."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"After describing the honor that the faithful servant will be granted, the Lord proceeds to outline the consequences that the unrighteous will endure. If someone who has been given stewardship over a blessing neglects their duty and claims, \\"My master delays his coming,\\" meaning he does not enact judgment without delay; if he thereby ‘turns the patience of God into an opportunity for indulgence,’ and if he mistreats his fellow servants, which I interpret as leading them astray and striking at their consciences (for when subordinates witness the misdeeds of their leaders, they are tempted and harmed), then that servant will be severed from his position, meaning he will lose the blessing bestowed upon him; ultimately, it will be revealed what he truly is."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Jesus Christ teaches the listener by highlighting both the rewards awaiting the righteous and the consequences facing the unrighteous: “IF THAT servant, whom the master has placed in charge of his other servants during his absence, if that unfaithful servant, BEING Wicked, SAYS in his heart, ‘My lord will not return soon’ (perhaps he will not return at all),”"},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The servant entrusted by the master to oversee his household in the master's absence (Matt. 24:45) may think, \\"He will not return soon,\\" but the root of this servant's poor conduct lies not in the ambiguity of the master's return but rather in his nature as \\"an unfaithful servant.\\" This raises the question: why does such a thought not occur to a wise and devoted servant?"},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The timing of the return of the Son of Man remains uncertain, and therefore, it is essential for believers to remain spiritually vigilant: to watch, to watch, and to pray, for the exact moment is not known. To emphasize this call for spiritual vigilance in the hearts of His disciples, the Lord shared a parable. He depicted Himself as a householder who departs from His home, symbolizing the Church, to return to His Father in heaven, before coming back to hold His servants accountable for their assignments. As a person who leaves their house entrusts authority to the servants and assigns each their duties, He instructs the gatekeeper to remain alert. This directive for spiritual vigilance applies to all Christ's followers throughout time, until the end of days: \\"I say unto you, I say unto all, watch.\\" This imperative from the Lord is paramount. Be cautious, lest your hearts become burdened with excess and indulgence, and worldly distractions, and that day arrives unexpectedly, like a snare that captures all who dwell on the earth. Therefore, remain watchful at all times, praying so that you may escape from all these trials and stand before the Son of Man. The Lord disclosed what is necessary for wisdom, so that they would not be swept away by a tide of heedless excess. As it was in the days of Noah, so also will be the coming of the Son of Man: before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and engaging in life until the day Noah entered the ark; they did not recognize the impending judgment until the waters came and took everything away. Likewise, the return of the Son of Man will be sudden. In that time, there will be two people in a field: one taken, and the other left; two women grinding at the mill: one taken, and the other left. The Lord had previously alerted His disciples regarding the suddenness of His return for judgment, explaining the time not only of the night but also of the events to come. Reiterating this warning, He urged His faithful to be ever watchful for the final day: \\"Watch ye, for ye know not what hour your Lord will come.\\" To highlight the vital importance of readiness for His return and the severe results of neglecting the essential duty of the soul's salvation, the Lord reminded them of His previous teachings about the servants awaiting their master's return."},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Jesus Christ, in His teachings, urged His disciples to remain vigilant due to the unpredictability surrounding the arrival of the Son of Man, leaving behind lasting impressions among the Jewish people. In this regard, Luke records a succinct directive on the matter, later providing a summary of Jesus’ life and ministry from His triumphant entry into Jerusalem through to the Last Supper. Mark shares the parable of the servants and the watchful gatekeeper awaiting their master, while Matthew introduces four distinct parables: the homeowner at risk from a thief, the faithful versus the unfaithful servant, the wise and foolish virgins, and the parable of the talents, concluding with a depiction of the final judgment. In Mark's narrative of the servants and the gatekeeper, the Lord likens Himself to a home owner who entrusted responsibilities to His servants and instructed the gatekeeper to stay alert during His absence. Each servant is to be diligent, and the gatekeeper must remain watchful until their master returns. The uncertainty surrounding the master’s return necessitates that they maintain constant vigilance to be ready and presentable upon his arrival. Similarly, the Lord ascended to heaven after establishing His church on earth, promising His return at a time known only to God. Every believer is granted a unique role within Christ's church, with a distinct purpose and work to accomplish throughout their life. Given that the timing of Christ’s second coming is uncertain, which will precede the final judgment where every individual will account for their actions on earth (along with the moment of their own death, marking the end of their earthly endeavors), believers are called to remain alert and prepared to receive the returning Lord, the judge of both the living and the dead."},{"author-name":"Alexander Gorsky","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8884037c1e1c51e1332e2_Alexander%20Gorsky.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Lord emphasized the importance of vigilance and diligence, striving to impart to the disciples the necessity of their watchfulness, activity, and faithfulness in such moments. \\"Watch therefore: for you do not know at what hour your Lord will come.\\" In My absence, you are entrusted with the responsibility of caretaking the household. A good master remains alert, aware that any moment a thief could invade and disrupt his home. Alternatively, consider the slaves left in charge while the master is away. What will happen if the master returns and finds one of them squandering his resources? Conversely, how blessed is the faithful steward when the master hears no grievances against him, and all are pleased with his service."},{"author-name":"Innocentius of Kherson","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88d18072d36d1a976dd2c_Innocentius%20of%20Kherson.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Everyone should behave as a homeowner would if he spotted a burglar approaching at an unpredictable hour. He would remain vigilant, concerned that his home might be compromised. Similarly, we ought to be alert, particularly on the very day when the Son of Man is least expected to arrive. The anticipation of His return can be likened to the way servants await their master's return. Picture a master who departs on a journey, leaving his home in the care of his servants, each tasked with particular duties. Blessed is the servant who, upon his master’s return, is found fulfilling his responsibilities! Truly, he will be entrusted with all his master’s possessions. Conversely, the unworthy servant, who deceives himself by thinking, \\"My master will not return soon, perhaps never,\\" may misuse his authority, mistreat his fellow servants, squander his master’s goods, and indulge in excess with gluttons. What awaits this servant when his master unexpectedly arrives on a day he did not foresee? He will face severe punishments and be cast among the wicked, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Keep watch and pray at all times; for you are unaware when the householder will arrive—whether in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—so that he may not come suddenly and find you unprepared. What I say to you, I communicate to all my disciples: remain vigilant! After a brief pause, the God-Man resumed speaking to deeply engrain these truths in the hearts of His followers."}]}
Support this project and get full access for only 4$/month
Commentarie text can’t be scrolled on PC at the moment. Please use your phone. We’re working on a fix.
