Matthew 24:45-51: “How Then Shall We Live?”

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant…?” Jesus in Matthew 24:45

"Is that all there is? If that's all there is to life, then let's break out the booze and have a ball."   

(late singer Peggy Lee, as quoted by Cal Thomas in his article, “Death of an Atheist” Dec 20, 2011)

"The Grand Doctrines of eternal truth are frequently treated as venerable non-entities, and have no effect whatever upon the conduct of those who profess to receive them, because they do not realize them as matters of fact... It is shocking to reflect that a change in the weather has more effect on some men's lives than the dread alternative of heaven or hell.  A woman's glance affects them more than the eye of God.”

(Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Preaching at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, London, 5 March 1876)

How Then Shall We Live? is the title of a classic book written by Francis Schaeffer first published in 1976.  As we study this passage about the inevitable return of Christ, the title of Schaeffer’s book presents a timely and contextual question: “How then shall we live?”  In answering that question Jesus contrasts two servants.

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, Jesus asks, whom his master has set over his household, to give them food at the proper time?” (v. 45) The one who continues working while his master is away.  Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes!   Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.” (vv. 45-47).  (Jesus will expand on this imagery in chapter 25 with the parable of the talents.)

The faithful and wise servant is not only “awake” (v. 42) and “ready” (v. 44) but he is serving others.   He is not using his authority to rule over others but is working diligently at the task his master gave him.    Jesus affirms this value by saying elsewhere, “the greatest among you shall be your slave,” (Matthew 20:26; 23:11). 

But “if that wicked servant, who shows no allegiance at all to his master, says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know,” (vv. 48-50). Amos 5:18 seems to speak directly to the lackadaisical attitude and hard heart of the wicked servant:  “Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD!  Why would you have the day of the LORD?  It is darkness, and not light.”

In Matthew 23, Jesus exposes and condemns the hypocrites and pronounces a sentence of hell upon them (see 23:15, 33).  It will be no less for the wicked servant.  The master “will cut him in pieces and assigned a place with the hypocrites.  In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth,” (vv. 51).  This phrase is used elsewhere by Matthew to speak of condemnation in judgment (see 8:12, 13:42, 13:50, 22:13, 25:30). 

The Thessalonians’ sin was that they stopped “feeding the household of God” and coasted, waiting for the return of the Lord.   Paul corrected that misbehavior with a second letter, exhorting them to not “walk in idleness,” not be “busybodies,” and have “nothing to do with” those who do (2 Thessalonians 3:12, 14). 

Our Lord may return early (see vv. 42-44) or He may be delayed, (v. 48).   Therefore, let us “shepherd the flock of God among us” (1 Peter 5:2), stay alert, be ready and found working, for He “will come on a day when we do not expect him and at an hour we do not know,” (v. 50).  This is how we should then live.