Introduction
A. Turn back to the beginning of Matthew 24
B. Just to reiterate the situation here, Peter, James, John, and Andrew had asked Jesus two questions in response to His statement that the temple would be completely destroyed
Matthew 24:2-3 (NKJV)
And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down." {3} Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"
1. Remember the many things Jesus told them
a. False Christs
b. False religion
c. Wars and Rumors of wars
d. Famine
e. Pestilence
f. Earth quakes
g. Persecution
h. Torture and death
2. In our passage this morning, Jesus tells a number of parables
a. But, to begin turn to Matthew 24:42
(1) I guess that this should have been part of the previous message, I say that because the verse begins with “Watch therefore”
(2) When you see the word “therefore” we need to look and see what that “therefore” is there for.
(3) Because of everything Jesus has already told us, we are admonished to watch therefore.
Matthew 24:42 (NKJV)
"Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
b. Jesus has told us two things
(1) We are not told the day or hour nor the times or seasons
(2) And we have been given some very specific things to watch for which we shall not repeat
(a) Watch
i) Now we turn to Matthew 24:43 - 44
II. Body
A. Watch
Matthew 24:43-44 (NKJV)
"But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. {44} "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
1. Jesus had told us what to do
a. Watch
b. Look for the signs that Jesus has told us about
(1) Remember that the things Jesus has described have been happening since Cain murdered Able
(a) There has always been man’s inhumanity to man
(b) There has always been natural disasters
(c) There has always been famine
(d) There has always been murder
i) Remember that murder has been committed through out the Bible
ii) Remember the cruelty of man to man
iii) Remember natural disasters are recorded in Scripture
iv) There is nothing new in the world
(2) But, as we begin to see these things coming in ever increasing numbers and ever increasing intensity our watching must become more intense more concentrated,
(a) Look back at Matthew 24:43
2. Now Jesus begins to give us some very poignant illustrations just to emphasize His points
a. The goodman of the house
Matthew 24:43 (NKJV)
"But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
(1) I have read several thoughts concerning this verse
(a) One casts the goodman of the house as a nominal Christian
i) One that does not watch for the thief
(b) One that casts the good man as a faithful servant of Christ but missed the thief
(2) Neither of these ideas are to the point
(a) The point of Christ’s parable is found in the word “IF”
(b) How often do we know when a thief is going to break into our house?
i) How often do we even suspect that anyone might break into our house?
ii) Suppose that you insurance agent told you that there has been a rash of burglaries in your neighborhood
iii) And they always happen in the dark and the thieves take only pistols
iv) And you are an avid collector of antique and modern pistols, wouldn’t you take precautions to protect your collection?
a) You would be a fool not to take extra precautions
b. I have a friend who, like me, is a man who likes HO model railroading. He had a small collection and one engine that he was especially proud of. This engine was worth a great deal of money. And he had it displayed on the wall of his living room. This was a conversation piece and he and his friends talked model railroading into the night. One evening, after taking his wife out to dinner, as they returned he found out that his home had been broken into and the only thing stolen was his prize engine.
(1) If he had known that a thief had his eye on that engine he could have taken steps to safe guard his prize
(2) Jesus is simply pointing out that had the house holder known, he would have guarded his property
(a) Turn to Matthew 24:44 again
Matthew 24:44 (NKJV)
Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
i) Therefore, what’s the “therefore” there for?
ii) In light of Christ’s parable He points out do not be like the home owner who had has property ripped off
(b) Jesus has said, over and over again that we do not know when He will return
(c) Therefore, watch
i) Be ready
ii) Stand guard
iii) Do the Lord’s business diligently until He comes again
(d) It is not hard to see that reason why we are not given the day, hour, time, or season of Christ’s return
(e) In your experience how many times have you heard about a church, a congregation that has divested themselves of everything, gone and sat in their building waiting for Christ only to discover they have been deceived and all their life’s work has been for naught.
(f) If we knew when Christ would return, how many of us would be out trying to win the world to Christ?
i) Not many, if the evidence of the deceptions are of any value
ii) It would not be the time to sit back and wait, but that is precisely what has happened in the past.
c. The Lord is our insurance agent warning us that there have been robberies in our neighborhood, watch
d. Jesus says, therefore watch
(1) Turn to Romans 13:11, Jesus told them to watch
(2) Paul tells us, wake up, watch
Romans 13:11 (NKJV)
And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
(a) We do not know the day, hour, time, or season
(b) But, we have two things
i) We have Christ’s description of the things to watch for
ii) And we have Christ’s promises
a) Lets turn to Matthew 24:45 - 47
B. The second parable, the faithful servant
Matthew 24:45-47 (NKJV)
"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? {46} "Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. {47} "Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.
1. Having spoken about the home owner that was ripped off because he did not watch
a. Jesus begins to illustrate the faithful steward
(1) A steward is a servant and he is given his stewardship by the master
b. I don’t know, does Jesus words capture your attention?
(1) Who is a faithful and wise servant?
(2) Should we compare ourselves with Jesus description of the faithful steward?
c. Just look at that description
(1) The first thing Jesus points out is that this servant is faithful
(a) This servant does what he has been commissioned to do
i) Jesus says that the servant gives them food in due season
ii) That is he understands the necessity of feeding the household on time
iii) I am a person who’s life has been military
a) I try my very best to be on time
b) If I have an appointment, I try to get where I need to be at least 15 minutes before hand
1) That’s on the positive side
2) On the negative side
c) If the party I had an appointment with is still 30 minutes late without an explanation, I get up and leave
1) Now, for certain individuals I will wait, my wife is the primary example
(b) Now, what is our commission?
i) What are we to be doing?
ii) I can’t say, what has the Lord commissioned you to do
iii) I can only say that I have promised that if there is one person who wants to worship here at Grace Baptist, I will be here
a) Until such time as the Lord relieves me of that duty
1) Turn to Matthew 24:46
2. Jesus makes a second point in this parable
Matthew 24:46 (NKJV)
Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.
a. When the master returns home, the servant, the faithful servant, will be blessed, if he finds that the servant has done as instructed to the best of his ability
(1) Turn to Matthew 25:15
(2) Note in this verse these important words, “to each according to his own ability”
Matthew 25:15 (NKJV)
"And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.
(3) The master knew his servants
(a) He knew their intellectual ability
(b) He knew their enterprise
(c) He knew their experience
(d) He knew their work ethic
(e) He tasked each servant according to his own ability
i) The Lord knows each of us intimately
ii) He know our ability
iii) And He would not task us beyond our ability
iv) What has the master tasked you to do?
b. Remember is parable, the parable of the talents?
(1) The first servant received five talents
(a) He traded with it, he was diligent and earned 5 more talents
i) The man had great ambition
ii) Great business sense
iii) Great enterprise
iv) Great work ethic
v) The Billy Graham of his day
vi) The D.L. Moody of his time
(2) The second servant received two talents
(a) He traded with it, he was diligent and earned 2 more talents
i) The man was faithful
ii) He had knowledge of the business world
iii) He was energetic
iv) He did what he had been commissioned to do
v) The Pastor of a church, churches around the world, mega-churches, medium sized churches, small churches
vi) he feed his congregation the Word of God every Sunday, Wednesday, and counseled in his office as needed
vii) There are hundreds of servants like this
(3) The third servant received one talent
(a) He was lazy, he was fearful, he was worthless
i) He buried the talent
ii) When he returned the talent to his master he might have given the master back the talent and some dirt as well
iii) Unfortunately, many church goers are like this
a) Sunday pew sitters
iv) There are a myriad of things we can do
a) Clean a house for some one who needs it done, maybe only once or twice
b) Pray for your friend or neighbor
c) Give some one a ride to the doctor
d) Listen to a spark for 30 minutes once a week
e) This may not seem like much, but, the question is, “Who then is a faithful and wise servant?”
1) Turn to Matthew 24:47
c. All the faithful servants are commended and rewarded
Matthew 24:47 (NKJV)
Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.
(1) Turn to Matthew 25:19-23
(2) The faithful servants given the talents
Matthew 25:19-23 (NKJV)
"After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. {20} "So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.' {21} "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' {22} "He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.' {23} "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.
(a) But, lets turn to Matthew 24:48 - 51
C. The unfaithful servant
Matthew 24:48-51 (NKJV)
"But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' {49} "and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, {50} "the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, {51} "and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
1. It seems that this guy started out right but as the master delayed the servant began to consider that, It has been a long time, maybe the master won’t return.”
a. Rather a strange way to look at it, but humans do that
b. Maybe they believe that the Lord’s coming is so far away that they will not be around when He does come
(1) Watch, for you do not know the day, hour, time, or season of the master’s return
2. Some might say this is any church goer
a. Others might say that this is an apostate preacher
b. There certainly seem to be a lot of those kind on TV lately
(1) The apostate church goer ignores Christ’s warning, His admonition to watch
3. There is a contrast between the faithful steward and the evil servant
a. In actions
b. In attitudes
c. In loyalty
d. And in rewards
(1) The faithful servant waits for the master, while doing those things he has been tasked to do by the master
(a) The evil servant is slothful and negligent in his duties
(2) The attitude of the faithful servant is “I will do it” not necessarily with great enthusiasm or cheerfulness, but, “I will do it.”
(a) The attitude of the evil servant might approach a “Who cares” attitude
(b) To take advantage of everything to my advantage
(3) The faithful servant is loyal to his master, to please the master in all things
(a) The evil servant is loyal only to himself
(4) The faithful servant will be rewarded, as Jesus says, which is far beyond the servants hope or expectations
(a) The evil servant shall receive his deserved reward as well, as Jesus says, “the master “will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
i) Turn to 1 Peter 5:8
III. Conclusion
A. We must be awake, alert, and see that our home is not broken into and we are not consumed
1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV)
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
1. Turn to Matthew 25:21
B. We must be that faithful servant doing as our master has directed
Matthew 25:21 (NKJV)
His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.
1. Turn to Ecclesiastes 9:10
C. We must remember that what we are given authority over is not our’s, it belongs to our Lord
1. We should take the first clause of this passage to heart
Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NKJV)
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might
D. Be about the Lord’s business until you are called home.
