But if that evil servant should say in his heart, ‘My lord is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards, the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn’t expect it, and in an hour when he doesn’t know it, and will cut him in pieces, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.
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Matthew 24:48-51 sits inside this longer paragraph.
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes. Most certainly I tell you that he will set him over all that he has. But if that evil servant should say in his heart, ‘My lord is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards, the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn’t expect it, and in an hour when he doesn’t know it, and will cut him in pieces, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.
Parallel Translations
-
But if that evil servant should say in his heart, ‘My lord is delaying his coming,’
and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards,
the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn’t expect it, and in an hour when he doesn’t know it,
and will cut him in pieces, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.
-
But and yf that evill servaut shall saye in his herte my master wyll defer his comynge
and beginne to smyte his felowes ye and to eate and to drinke with the dronken:
that servauntes master wyll come in adaye when he loketh not for him and in an houre that he is not ware of
and wyll devyde him and geve him his rewarde with ypocrites. There shalbe wepinge and gnasshinge of tethe.
Show all 3 translations
-
But if that euil seruant shall say in his heart, My master doth deferre his comming,
And begin to smite his fellowes, and to eate, and to drinke with the drunken,
That seruaunts master will come in a day, when he looketh not for him, and in an houre that he is not ware of,
And will cut him off, and giue him his portion with hypocrites: there shalbe weeping, and gnashing of teeth.
Cross-references (45)
- Matthew 8:12 (v51) but the children of the Kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
- Matthew 18:32 (v48) Then his lord called him in, and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me.
- Isaiah 32:6 (v48) For the fool will speak folly, and his heart will work iniquity, to practice profanity, and to utter error against Yahweh, to make empty…
- Luke 12:45 (v48) But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My lord delays his coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and…
- Luke 12:46 (v51) then the lord of that servant will come in a day when he isn’t expecting him, and in an hour that he doesn’t know, and will cut him in two,…
Show all 45 cross-references
- 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 (v50) For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. For when they are saying, “Peace and safety,” then…
- 2 Peter 3:3-5 (v48) knowing this first, that in the last days mockers will come, walking after their own lusts and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming?…
- Revelation 3:3 (v50) Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If therefore you won’t watch, I will come as a thief, and you won’t…
- Matthew 22:13 (v51) Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness. That is where the…
- Matthew 24:42-44 (v50) Watch therefore, for you don’t know in what hour your Lord comes. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of…
- Deuteronomy 9:4 (v48) Don’t say in your heart, after Yahweh your God has thrust them out from before you, “For my righteousness Yahweh has brought me in to…
- Job 20:29 (v51) This is the portion of a wicked man from God, the heritage appointed to him by God.”
- Isaiah 33:14 (v51) The sinners in Zion are afraid. Trembling has seized the godless ones. Who among us can live with the devouring fire? Who among us can live…
- Micah 3:5 (v49) Yahweh says concerning the prophets who lead my people astray; for those who feed their teeth, they proclaim, “Peace!” and whoever doesn’t…
- Matthew 7:15 (v49) “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.
- Mark 7:21 (v48) For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts,
- John 13:2 (v48) During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,
- Acts 5:3 (v48) But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the price of the land?
- Revelation 17:6 (v49) I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered with great…
- Deuteronomy 15:9 (v48) Beware that there not be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, “The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,” and your eye be evil…
- 1 Samuel 2:13-16 (v49) The custom of the priests with the people was that when anyone offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant came while the meat was boiling,…
- 1 Samuel 2:29 (v49) Why do you kick at my sacrifice and at my offering, which I have commanded in my habitation, and honor your sons above me, to make…
- 2 Kings 5:26 (v48) He said to him, “Didn’t my heart go with you, when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to receive money, and to…
- Ecclesiastes 8:11 (v48) Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
- Isaiah 56:12 (v49) “Come,” say they, “I will get wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow will be as today, great beyond measure.”
- Isaiah 66:5 (v49) Hear Yahweh’s word, you who tremble at his word: “Your brothers who hate you, who cast you out for my name’s sake, have said, ‘Let Yahweh…
- Ezekiel 12:22 (v48) “Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days are prolonged, and every vision fails?’
- Ezekiel 12:27 (v48) “Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, ‘The vision that he sees is for many days to come, and he prophesies of times that…
- Ezekiel 34:3 (v49) You eat the fat. You clothe yourself with the wool. You kill the fatlings, but you don’t feed the sheep.
- Matthew 25:26 (v48) “But his lord answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn’t sow, and gather where I didn’t scatter.
- Matthew 25:30 (v51) Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
- Luke 13:28 (v51) There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God’s Kingdom, and yourselves being…
- Luke 19:22 (v48) “He said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant! You knew that I am an exacting man, taking up that which I…
- Acts 8:22 (v48) Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
- Romans 16:18 (v49) For those who are such don’t serve our Lord, Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and flattering speech, they deceive the…
- 2 Corinthians 11:20 (v49) For you bear with a man if he brings you into bondage, if he devours you, if he takes you captive, if he exalts himself, or if he strikes…
- Philippians 3:19 (v49) whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who think about earthly things.
- Titus 1:11-12 (v49) whose mouths must be stopped: men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for dishonest gain’s sake. One of them,…
- 1 Peter 5:3 (v49) not as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.
- 2 Peter 2:13-14 (v49) receiving the wages of unrighteousness; people who count it pleasure to revel in the daytime, spots and defects, reveling in their deceit…
- 3 John 1:9-10 (v49) I wrote to the assembly, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, doesn’t accept what we say. Therefore if I come, I will call…
- Jude 1:12 (v49) These are hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds who without fear feed themselves; clouds without…
- Revelation 13:7 (v49) It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given…
- Revelation 16:6 (v49) For they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. They deserve this.”
- Proverbs 29:1 (v50) He who is often rebuked and stiffens his neck will be destroyed suddenly, with no remedy.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (14 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v51 To wit, from the rest, or will cut him…
To wit, from the rest, or will cut him into two parts, which was a most cruel kind of punishment, wherewith as Justin Martyr witnesseth, Isaiah the Prophet was executed by the Jews: the like kind of punishment we read of, 1 Sam. 15:33 and Dan. 3:29.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv48–51 48 But and if that evil servant shall say…
48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
Ver. 48. But and if that evil servant] All places are full of such evil servants (and so is hell too), as future their repentance, and so fool away their salvation. Of such dust heaps we may find in every corner: this is a depth of the devil, brimfull with the blood of many souls, to persuade them that they have yet long to live, and many fair summers to see; that there is no such haste, but that hereafter may be time enough. In space comes grace, and a few good words at last will waft them to heaven.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
William Burkitt 1703 · Public Domain On v48 Our Lord in these verses describes an unfaithful and…
Our Lord in these verses describes an unfaithful and negligent steward, and denounces the dreadful sentence of wrath hanging over him.
He is described, 1. By the character of infidelity; he believeth not Christ’s coming to judgment, though he preaches it to others: he saith in his heart, My Lord delayeth his coming.
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2. He is described by his hatred, envy, and malignity against his fellow-servants, that were more painful and faithful than himself. He begins to smite, at least with the virulence of his tongue, if not the violence of his hand.
3. By his associating with the wicked, and strengthening their hands by his ill example, He eateth and drinketh with the drunken; that is, as their associate and fellow-companion.
Thus the unfaithful servant is described; next his judgment and sentence are declared.
Observe, 2. The tremendous judgment that shall come upon unfaithful stewards.
1. Christ will surprise them in their sin and security, by coming in an hour when they look not for him.
2. He will execute temporal vengeance upon them: He will cut them asunder, or hew them in pieces, as the Jews did their sacrifices; that is, separate their souls from their bodies by untimely death.
Hence some observe, That God seldom suffers slothful, sensual, wicked, and debauched ministers to live out half their days.
3. Christ will punish them with eternal destruction also: appointing them their portion with hypocrites; that is, with the worst of sinners, they shall have a double damnation. As the hypocrite has a double tongue, a double heart, and is a double sinner, so shall he undergo a double damnation.
Learn hence, That such ministers as neglect the service of God, and the souls of their people; as they are ranked amongst the worst of sinners in this life, so shall they be punished with them in the severest manner in the next.
When Satan destroys the souls of men, he shall answer for it as a murderer only, not as an officer that was entrusted with the care of the soul. But is the steward doth not provide, if the shepherd doth not feed, if the watchman doth not warn, they shall answer not only for the souls that have miscarried, but for an office neglected, for a talent hidden, and for a stewardship unfaithfully administered.
Woe unto us, if at the great day we have distressed souls roaring out their complaints, and howling forth that doleful accusation against us; "Lord! our stewards have defrauded us, our watchmen have betrayed us, our guides have misled us."
William Burkitt's Expository Notes on the New Testament (1700–1703) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv48–50 And shall begin to smite his fellow servants,.... By…
And shall begin to smite his fellow servants,.... By abusing the power lodged in him, usurping a dominion over their faith, and imposing on their consciences things which Christ has never commanded; vexing and burdening them with trifling rites and ceremonies, and other unnecessary things; wounding, grieving, offending weak minds by his conduct and example; or persecuting the saints, such of them as cannot come into everything in his way of believing and practising:
and to eat and drink with the drunken; giving himself up to luxury and intemperance; feeding himself instead of the family; serving his own belly, and not his Lord and Master Christ; living an ungodly and licentious life, altogether unbecoming the Gospel of Christ: such servants and stewards have been, and are in the church of God; but sad will be their case, when their Lord comes, as follows. Respect seems to be had either to the ecclesiastical rulers among the Jews, who went under the name of the servants of the Lord, but persecuted the apostles, and those that believed in Christ; or the "Judaizing" Christians, and false teachers, that were for imposing the ceremonies of the law upon believers; or Simon Magus, and his followers, a set of licentious, men; or all of them; who lived in this period of time, between the death of Christ, and the destruction of the temple.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv48, 51 But if that evil servant - Now evil, having…
But if that evil servant - Now evil, having put away faith and a good conscience.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv48, 50, 51 Verse 48. But, and if that evil servant] Here…
Verse 48. But, and if that evil servant] Here are three characters of a bad minister.
1. He has little or no faith in the speedy coming of Christ, either to punish for wickedness, or to pardon and sanctify those who believe. It may be, he does not outwardly profess this, but he says it in his heart, and God searches his heart, and knows that he professes to teach what he does not believe.
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2. He governs with an absolute dominion, oppressing his colleagues and doing violence to the followers of Christ. And shall begin to smite, &c.
3. He leads an irregular life does not love the company of the children of God, but eats and drinks with the drunkards, preferring the tables of the great and the rich, whose god is their belly, and thus feeds himself without fear. Great God! save thine inheritance from being ravaged by such wolves!
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv48, 49, 51 48. My lord delayeth his coming — There is…
48. My lord delayeth his coming — There is a clear allusion to the coming of Christ to judgment implied under all these symbolical expressions of its conceptual nearness, yet real distance.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On v51 51. shall cut him asunder] See Dan_2:5; Dan_3:29. “The…
51. shall cut him asunder] See Dan_2:5; Dan_3:29. “The angel of God waiteth with the sword to cut thee in two,” (Susanna, 59.) Comp. also “Multos honesti ordinis aut ad bestias condemnavit, aut serra dissecuit.” Sueton. Calig. 17, quoted by Wetstein, who gives other instances.
his portion with the hypocrites] St Luke has “with the unbelievers.” Such adaptations of the Gentile Evangelist to his readers are always interesting. Hypocrisy was especially a Jewish sin. St Luke adds our Lord’s words on the degrees of punishment, varying with the degrees of responsibility.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv48, 51 (48) But and if that evil servant.—Better, but if…
(48) But and if that evil servant.—Better, but if that evil servant, the “and” being in modern English usage superfluous, and representing originally a different conjunction.
My lord delayeth his coming.—The temper described is identical with that portrayed in 2Pe_3:3-4. The words are memorable as implying the prescience, even in the immediate context of words that indicate nearness, that there would be what to men would seem delay. Those who looked on that delay as St. Peter looked on it would continue watchful, but the selfish and ungodly would be tempted by it to forget that Christ comes to men in more senses and more ways than one. The tyranny and sensuality which have at times stained the annals of the Church of Christ have had their origin in this forgetfulness, that though the final coming may be delayed, the Judge is ever near, even at the doors (Jas_5:9).
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv48–51 But and if (ea). is a remnant of an…
But and if (ea). is a remnant of an old use of the word, meaning "it"," so that it is here redundant, and the translation should he simply, but if; si autem. That evil servant (oo kako ) is in a sense the same as he who, in ver. 45, was regarded as faithful and prudent. The opposite case is here put; he is supposed to be wicked and untrustworthy; he no longer is always watching for his lord"s coming and endeavouring to be always ready, because he knows that he may at any moment be called to account. My lord delayeth his coming. B, a, and other good manuscripts omit elyein as unnecessary. Revised Version, my lord tarrieth, he brings himself to believe that the day of reckoning is still distant, and that he will have plenty of time to prepare his accounts before the settlement is called for. So men put off the day of repentance, saying, "Tomorrow, tomorrow," when they ought to feel that the present alone is theirs in which to prepare for judgment.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v51 Mat_24:45; Mat_24:51
Mat_24:45; Mat_24:51
Who, then, is that faithful and wise servant.
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I. The particular relation in which we are here represented as standing to the one that is above us.
II. The representation that is here given of that attitude in which the servant is found who is obedient to his Master. There are terms used particularly descriptive of the conduct of the individual.
1. Fidelity.
2. Wisdom is associated with faithfulness-faithful and wise.
3. Habitual and persevering continuance in well-doing.
III. The blessedness which is included in this benediction of the Master.
1. Blessed at the appearance of Christ, also while he lives, in his present activity.
2. Positive reward.
3. Contrast the deception of the evil servant. (T. Binney, D. D.)
The faithful servant and his reward
I. The character of the faithful servant.
1. The faithful servant is one whose service is sincere.
2. The faithful servant is one whose service is unreserved, limited only by his capability.
3. His service is uniform.
4. His service is according to the prescribed rule, If a man strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
5. His service is that of faith-the living faith of the heart in the truth of God as revealed to us in Jesus Christ.
II. His reward. The reward is here made to depend upon the servant being found occupying the position assigned him, with all fidelity, when his Lord cometh. We must not infer that the faithful servant is not blessed prior to his Lords coming, at the hour of death. Nor do his onerous duties diminish, but rather contribute to, the blessedness of the faithful servant. He has to suffer, it is true; but these minister to his blessedness. The master promotes his servant to the highest post of honour because of his fidelity in an inferior position. He is made a ruler. These pleasures will be internally progressive. The reward, however, will not be equal in degree. It is a matter of the first importance to determine whether we are in deed and truth the servants of Christ. (R. Scott.)
The activity of service
Christs departure from this earth is no reason for His Churchs inaction, but the source of her activity. Far from withdrawing His Churchs interests from earth by His withdrawal, He endows it with more effective energies, larger capacities for action. She can do more on earth, and not less, now He is gone. He shows this by picture after picture. He tells us that we are to be a society carefully and shrewdly organized, and this organization is to he formed with a view to work, production, fruit. We are to be organized with a view to our capacities, so to be arranged as to serve best for direct, present, practical usefulness here on earth; we are to be as a house which a householder has left, in which house every one is in his place, each according to his gift; and in this house there will be careful provision, that each shall have his food in due season-food brought him prepared through the hands of officers appointed for that one service, while at the door will ever sit the porter, who will have the office of watching while the others work. How careful, how orderly it all is! No loose shiftiness to fill up an interval. No indifference as to what may be done in the long waiting time. His going does not destroy or diminish the seriousness or care with which the interval is to be organized. How busy it all is to be. What! did we fancy that the haste and urgency of worldly business would conflict with the solemnity of watching for the Lord? Why, this kingdom of His is to be, during all the waiting time, like a house of business. It will be as a merchant house, in which everybody is bent on making all he can out of the money given him. He gives no picture of a Church ever on its knees at some silent shrine, praying for a far-off time. He foresees a body of men busy and intent, absorbed in the practical use of their gifts, bent on turning five talents into ten or two into four. (Canon Scott-Holland.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain On vv48–51 48. My lord delayeth his coming. The worst enemy…
48. My lord delayeth his coming. The worst enemy of Christ is the professed servant of the Lord who practices are evil, and who supposes he can evade punishment for his crimes.
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On v48 The unfaithful servant:
The unfaithful servant:
v. 48. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming,
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v. 49. and shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken,
v. 50. the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
v. 51. and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The opposite side of the picture: the servant that takes advantage of the supposed delay of his master. Frivolously, exultingly, he says in his heart: There is no danger, the master is tardy about coming. The very remark proves that his work is mere eye-service. And this is borne out by his behavior: playing the tyrant in beating his fellow-slaves, especially such as are anxious to do their duty, indulging to excess in eating and drinking with such as are willing to join him in his debauch. Here the unexpected arrival of the master brings the curse and punishment, an unmerciful thrashing and a condemnation to the lot of the hypocrites, the dungeon with a remorse of weeping and gnashing of teeth. The same doom awaits the false Christians that abuse the trust of their Lord Jesus Christ, delay true repentance, are unmerciful in their dealings with others, join with the children of the world in all the lusts and vices of the flesh, and try to console themselves with the thought: The Day of Judgment is not yet coming. While the Lord rewards the true believers with the fullness of His heavenly blessings and all the riches of the mansions above, the false servants will be doomed to everlasting torment in hell. And not without reason have commentators of all times made special application of this parable to the ministers of the Word, upon whom special responsibilities devolve. The greater the trust placed by God in any man, the more exact will be the reckoning.
Summary.Jesus foretells the destruction of the Temple and of the city of Jerusalem, with all the signs that are intended as a warning to believers; He makes this a, type of the coming to Judgment, which He briefly describes, adding an earnest admonition to be watchful and faithful.
Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v48 Connecting Statement:
Connecting Statement:
Jesus concludes his proverb of a master and servants to illustrate that his disciples should be prepared for his return. (See: Proverbs)
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says in his heart
Here "heart" refers to the mind. AT: "thinks in his mind" (See: Metonymy)
My master has been delayed
This can be stated in active form. AT: "My master is slow to return" or "My master will not return for a long time" (See: Active or Passive)
on a day that the servant does not expect and at an hour that he does not know
Both of these statements mean the same thing. They emphasize that the master will come when the servant is not expecting him. (See: Parallelism)
cut him in pieces
This is an idiom that means to make the person suffer terribly. (See: Idiom)
assign him a place with the hypocrites
"put him with the hypocrites" or "send him to the place where hypocrites are sent"
there will be weeping and grinding of teeth
"Grinding of teeth" here is a symbolic act, representing extreme suffering. See how you translated this in Matthew 8:12. AT: "people will weep and grind their teeth because of their suffering" (See: Symbolic Action)
translationWords
evil
servant
heart
lord
drunk
hour, hours
hypocrite
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.