The Parable Of The Faithful & Wise Servant Series

Please turn over to Matthew 25

Just as in the parable the master, upon his return, rewards his faithful servant by setting him over all his possessions, so also Jesus himself at his glorious coming shall bestow upon all his faithful ones a high degree of glory and honor. Cf. 25:21, 23, 34–40; Luke 19:17, 19.

Matthew 25:23, 34-40 [23]His master said to him, ’Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ [34]Then the King will say to those on his right, ’Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. [35]For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, [36]I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ [37]Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ’Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? [38]And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? [39]And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ [40]And the King will answer them, ’Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ (ESV)

Illustration: Reward, Eternal

C.S. Lewis once said: “We must not be troubled by unbelievers when they say that this promise of reward makes the Christian life a mercenary affair. There are different kinds of reward. There is the reward which has no natural connection with the things you do to earn it, and is quite foreign to the desires that ought to accompany those things. Money is not the natural reward of love; that is why we call a man a mercenary if he married a woman for the sake of her money. But marriage is the proper reward for a real lover, and he is not mercenary for desiring it.

The proper rewards are not simply tacked on to the activity for which they are given, but are the activity itself in consummation (C. S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory [New York: Macmillan, 1980]).

In exercising heavenly wisdom we see the contrast between the 1) Faithful & Wise servant (Matthew 24:44-47) from the Foolish 2) Wicked Servant (Matthew 24:48-51). First,

a) The Creed of the Wicked Servant (Matthew 24:48)

Matthew 24:48 [48]But if that wicked servant says to himself, ’My master is delayed,’ (ESV)

There is a mistaken belief in foolishness. Unbelievers, represented by the wicked servant/evil slave in verse 48, will also be held responsible for what they do with their stewardship from God. The evil conduct of the wicked servant springs from unbelief, which, however, in his official position, he can utter only in his heart. But his unbelief is specifically unbelief in regard to the coming of the Lord and His award (Lange, J. P., & Schaff, P. (2008). A commentary on the Holy Scriptures : Matthew (435). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.).

Please turn to 2 Peter 3

During this end time, some unbelievers will remain openly sinful and rebellious against God, caring nothing for His truth or His mercy. Others will be aware of their lost condition and of their need of a Savior but will put off believing, thinking they will have time after fulfilling their own selfish interests but before He comes in judgment. They will say by their lives if not by their words, My master is delayed/not coming for a long time.